How to Open a URL Daily at 2 AM Using Task Scheduler

In many server administration or automation use cases, you may want to open a specific URL every day at a scheduled time—for instance, triggering a web-based report, monitoring system, or internal dashboard. This guide walks you through two simple methods to set this up on Windows Server using Task Scheduler:

---

Method 1: Using a .bat (Batch) File

Step 1: Create a Batch File to Open the URL

1. Open Notepad.

2. Paste the following code:

   @echo off
   start "" "https://example.com"

3. Save the file as open_url.bat in a secure location like C:\Scripts.

This command uses start to launch the URL with the default browser. The "" prevents Windows from treating the URL as a window title.

---

Step 2: Schedule It with Task Scheduler

1. Press Win + R, type taskschd.msc, and press Enter.

2. Click Create Basic Task.

3. Give the task a name (e.g., OpenURLDaily) and description.

4. Set the trigger to Daily, and choose 2:00 AM as the start time.

5. For the action, select Start a program.

6. Browse and select open_url.bat.

7. Finish the wizard.

Optional: Advanced Settings

• If using “Create Task” instead of Basic:

  • Check “Run whether user is logged on or not”

  • Check “Run with highest privileges”

  • Adjust Conditions to ensure it runs even if on battery or idle.

---

Method 2: Using a PowerShell Script

Step 1: Create a PowerShell Script

1. Open Notepad.

2. Paste the following:

   Start-Process "https://example.com"

3. Save the file as open_url.ps1 in C:\Scripts.

---

Step 2: Schedule It with Task Scheduler

1. Open Task Scheduler (taskschd.msc).

2. Click Create Basic Task.

3. Name the task and set the trigger to run daily at 2:00 AM.

4. In the Action step, choose Start a program.

5. Set the Program/script to:

   powershell.exe

6. Set Add arguments (optional) to:

   -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\Scripts\open_url.ps1"

Optional: Advanced Settings

• Use "Create Task" for more control.

• Choose “Run with highest privileges” and “Run whether user is logged on or not.”

Final Notes

• Both methods launch the URL using the default browser set on the system.

• Use PowerShell if you need more advanced control or want to expand the script in the future.

• Always test the script manually before scheduling to ensure it behaves as expected.

---

REFERENCES

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/taskschd/task-scheduler-start-page