# Scheduled chats

Write a chat's first message now and have it start once at a time you pick, on the computer that runs it, by that computer's clock.

*Where in Studio: New chat → composer → Schedule first message*

*Last updated: 2026-10-25*

A scheduled chat is a new chat whose first message waits for a time you choose. It starts once, at that time on the target computer's clock, with the message and settings you saved. After it starts it is an ordinary chat. To run something again and again, use an [automation](https://kelrova.com/docs/studio/automation/automated) instead.

## Schedule a new chat

*New chat → composer → Schedule first message*

1. **Set up the chat**

   Open a new chat, choose the project and write the first message. Pick the model, the checkout and Orchestra as you would for a chat you send now: they are saved with the schedule. Attachments are saved too.

2. **Open the time picker**

   Choose the clock button in the row under the message box, beside **+** and Orchestra. Its tooltip reads **Schedule first message**. The dialog of the same name opens.

3. **Pick the time**

   Type the start in **Start at** as `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM`, on the target computer's clock, and choose **Check**. Or use a quick pick: **In 1 hour**, tomorrow at 09:00 or next Monday at 09:00. The dialog confirms the start, for example "Starts Tomorrow at 09:00", with its UTC offset.

4. **Confirm the time**

   Choose **Use this time**. The clock button widens into a chip that names the start, and the send button turns into **Schedule**. To drop the time before you schedule, use the **×** on the chip or **Remove time** in the dialog.

5. **Schedule it**

   Choose **Schedule**. The chat moves to the **Scheduled** card in the sidebar.

![The Schedule first message dialog with the target computer and its clock, the Start at field, the quick picks and Use this time.](https://kelrova.com/docs/img/studio-automation/schedule-dialog.png)

*Schedule first message: the target computer and its clock, the start field and the quick picks.*

The chat starts once at that time. If the computer is asleep or offline then, it starts when it is back.

## Whose clock counts

The time belongs to the computer that will run the chat, not to the one you are typing on. The dialog shows that computer's name, its time zone with the UTC offset, and its current time as **Now**. The quick picks count from that clock too. This matters when you schedule a chat on [another computer](https://kelrova.com/docs/studio/devices/run-remote) in another time zone.

When the clocks change:

- A time that does not exist, because the clocks skip forward over it, is refused: **This time is past or does not exist. Choose another time.**
- A time that happens twice, because the clocks go back, asks you to pick **First occurrence** (before the clocks change) or **Second occurrence** (after).

## Find and edit a scheduled chat

Scheduled chats sit on the **Scheduled** card at the top of the sidebar, below any running chats, with a count, soonest first. Each row says when it starts, for example **Scheduled · Tomorrow 09:00**.

Select one to open it. In place of a transcript you see what will start, when, and on which computer. The bar over the composer names the start and offers three actions:

| Action | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Save changes** | Saves your edits to the message, settings and time. Edits stay on this computer until you save. |
| **Start now** | Starts the last saved version now. |
| **Remove schedule** | Takes the time away. The chat and its message stay, marked **Not scheduled**. Pick a time and save, or start it now. |

To change the time, open the clock button again and pick a new one, then save. Under **Saved attachments** you can remove a file the plan carries.

![A scheduled chat opened for editing: the overview with its start and computer, and the bar with Remove schedule, Start now and Save changes over the composer.](https://kelrova.com/docs/img/studio-automation/scheduled-edit.png)

*A scheduled chat opened for editing: the start, Remove schedule, Start now and Save changes.*

## States

| State | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| **Scheduled** | Waiting for its time. You can still edit it. |
| **Starting** | The computer is starting the chat with the saved first message. It can no longer be edited. |
| **Not scheduled** | No start time. Pick one and save, or start it now. |
| **Blocked** | The computer could not start the chat at its time. Fix the cause shown, then save or start it now. |
| **Couldn’t start** | The chat could not start. Review its settings and schedule it again. |

Once it has started, the chat leaves the **Scheduled** card and behaves like any other chat.

## Changed on another computer

If someone saves the same plan from another computer while you edit it, the bar says **A newer version was saved on another device. Your draft is kept.** It shows the latest saved message and its revision. Choose **Keep my changes** to put your draft on top of that version, then **Save changes**.

## Schedule on another computer

You can schedule a chat on any computer you can start chats on. The chat starts there, so that computer must be up to date and must have approved the computer you schedule from. Otherwise the clock button's tooltip or the dialog says what is missing, for example **Update the target computer to use scheduled chats.** or **Approve this device on the target computer before scheduling.**

> **Note: Removing a computer**
>
> Removing a computer from sync does not cancel the scheduled chats it holds. They can still start if that computer comes back online.

## Messages you may see

| Message | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **Choose a project or topic before scheduling.** | Pick where the chat runs first. |
| **Choose a model first.** | Pick a model in the composer. |
| **The saved model is unavailable on the target. Choose another model.** | Pick a model that the target computer can run. |
| **The selected checkout is unavailable. Choose a branch or worktree again.** | Pick the checkout again. |
| **Wait for attachments to finish uploading to the target.** | Save again once the files are on the target. |
| **The target did not confirm this change. Your draft is kept. Retry to check the same request.** | Choose **Retry** on the bar. |
| **This chat is already starting. The last saved version will run.** | Wait for it to start, then follow up in the chat. |

A chat can also suggest a scheduled chat for you, which you approve on a card. See [When a chat proposes a schedule](https://kelrova.com/docs/studio/automation/schedule-proposals).

## Related

- [When a chat proposes a schedule](https://kelrova.com/docs/studio/automation/schedule-proposals)
- [Automated and Workflows](https://kelrova.com/docs/studio/automation/automated)
- [The composer](https://kelrova.com/docs/studio/chats/composer)
- [Start sessions on a server](https://kelrova.com/docs/studio/devices/run-remote)