# How to configure cron jobs

> Cron lets you schedule commands to run automatically at times you choose, directly from cPanel.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/dev-cli/how-to-configure-cron-jobs
Updated: 2026-06-04

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:::warning
Cron jobs interact directly with your server environment. We recommend this feature for advanced users only.
:::

Cron is a Unix utility that lets you schedule commands to run automatically at times you specify. For example, you might want a PHP script to generate invoices once a day at 2am.

## Accessing cron jobs in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel. You can do this by visiting `http://www.yourdomain.ext/cpanel`, replacing `yourdomain.ext` with your domain name.
2. In the **Advanced** section, click **Cron Jobs**.

## Choosing the configuration editor

cPanel offers two ways to set up a cron job:

- **Standard** - a form-based editor that lets you pick timing from drop-down menus. Use this if you are not familiar with crontab syntax.
- **Advanced** - a single text field where you enter a full crontab expression. Use this if you are comfortable with Unix crontab syntax.

## Server timezone

All cron jobs run in the server's timezone, which is **UTC**, not your local time. UTC stays constant throughout the year with no daylight saving adjustments, which suits our global client base. Bear this in mind when choosing your scheduled time, and adjust accordingly if your local timezone differs from UTC.

## Using the `nice` command

We require all cron jobs to use the `nice` command to reduce their impact on server resources and keep things running smoothly for everyone.

Prefix every cron command with:

```bash
/usr/bin/nice -n 15
```

For example, to run a PHP invoicing script you would enter:

```bash
/usr/bin/nice -n 15 /usr/local/bin/php /home/USERNAME/billing_program/run_invoices.php
```

Replace `USERNAME` with your actual cPanel username and adjust the script path to match your account.

:::tip
Not sure what path to use for PHP or other binaries? You can find the correct path by running `which php` in the cPanel terminal, or by contacting our support team.
:::

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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/dev-cli/how-to-configure-cron-jobs · © Kualo Ltd._