Table of contents
Why schedule posts in WordPress?How to schedule a WordPress postManaging scheduled postsScheduling posts in the Classic EditorWhat happens when a post is scheduled?Troubleshooting scheduled posts that don’t publishBonus: Use plugins and tools to plan contentGetting startedAdditional resources
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WordPress Guide → Post → Schedule

How to schedule posts on WordPress

Lines of code on a desktop computer screen.

Want your post to go live tomorrow morning while you’re still asleep? WordPress makes that easy. Instead of hitting Publish right away, you can choose a specific date and time in the future—and WordPress will automatically take care of the rest.

Let’s walk through exactly how to schedule a post, how to manage scheduled content, and what to do if scheduling doesn’t work as expected.

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Why schedule posts in WordPress?

Scheduling posts helps you stay consistent, especially if you want to:

  • Maintain a regular posting schedule
  • Publish content during high-traffic hours
  • Plan ahead for holidays, travel, or time off
  • Build a content calendar for your blog or business

Once a post is scheduled, WordPress will publish it automatically—even if you’re logged out or away from your computer.

How to schedule a WordPress post

Here’s how to schedule a post step by step:

  1. In the post editor, look for the sidebar on the right.
  2. Find the Publish section. It usually says Immediately next to the publish date.
  3. Click the date or the word “Immediately.” A calendar and time picker will appear.
  4. Choose the future date and time when you want the post to go live.
  5. Click the blue Schedule button at the top.

You’ll see a confirmation that your post is scheduled. WordPress will now publish the post automatically at the date and time you selected.

What time zone does WordPress use?

By default, WordPress uses the time zone set under Settings > General in your dashboard. You may want to check that setting to make sure it matches your local time or the time zone of your audience.

Managing scheduled posts

You might need to manage scheduled posts to update content before it goes live, reschedule for better timing, or cancel posts that are no longer relevant. It also helps you stay in control of your publishing calendar as plans or priorities change.

View scheduled posts

Finding a previously scheduled post is easy:

  1. Go to Posts > All Posts.
  2. Click the Scheduled link at the top of the post list.
  3. You’ll see all upcoming posts with their scheduled publish times.

Edit or reschedule a post

You might need to edit or reschedule a post if the information changes, a new event affects the timing, or you want to align the publish date with your content strategy. It ensures your post goes live at the most effective and relevant moment.

  1. Click the post you want to change.
  2. In the sidebar, click the scheduled date.
  3. Choose a new date and time, then click Update.

Cancel or publish now

You might want to cancel a scheduled post if the topic is no longer relevant or timely, or if you decide not to publish it at all. On the other hand, publishing it now can be useful if you want to share breaking news, respond to a trend, or simply change your plans.

  1. Open the scheduled post in the editor.
  2. Change the scheduled date to the current date and time.
  3. Click Publish to post it immediately.

Scheduling posts in the Classic Editor

Still using the Classic Editor? No problem. The steps are almost the same:

  1. In the right sidebar, look for the Publish box.
  2. Click Edit next to “Publish immediately.”
  3. Use the date and time fields to schedule your post.
  4. Click OK, then click Schedule.

What happens when a post is scheduled?

WordPress uses an internal system called “WP-Cron” to manage scheduled tasks. When someone visits your site, WordPress checks for scheduled posts and publishes any that are due.

That means the post won’t go live exactly on time unless your site is getting regular traffic. If you have very low traffic, it’s possible for scheduled posts to be delayed by a few minutes (or more).

Troubleshooting scheduled posts that don’t publish

If your scheduled posts aren’t being published, here are some common causes and fixes:

Causes

  • Your site isn’t getting traffic, so the WordPress cron system isn’t triggered.
  • Your web host’s server time is out of sync.
  • A plugin or theme is interfering with post scheduling.

Fixes

  • Install a cron plugin: Use something like WP Crontrol to manage and monitor scheduled tasks.
  • Use a real cron job: Some web hosts let you set up a real server cron job using cPanel. This triggers WP-Cron at regular intervals.
  • Check your site’s time zone: Go to Settings > General and make sure the time zone is correct.

If you’re still having trouble, try disabling your plugins one by one to see if any of them are causing conflicts.

Bonus: Use plugins and tools to plan content

If you want more control over your publishing schedule, these tools can help:

Editorial Calendar

A free plugin that shows all your scheduled posts in a calendar view. You can drag and drop posts to reschedule them quickly.

SchedulePress

Lets you schedule drafts, manage missed schedules, and automate publishing workflows.

Nelio Content

Includes an editorial calendar, team features, and social media scheduling.

Third-party tools

Tools like Buffer or Zapier can connect your WordPress site to a content calendar or social media accounts, helping you automate even more of your publishing process.

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