{"id":8651,"date":"2009-08-06T23:06:15","date_gmt":"2009-08-06T17:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=8651"},"modified":"2026-10-13T13:37:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:07:12","slug":"change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change Cron Time on a VPS with cPanel and WHM (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Need to change the cron time on your cPanel VPS so heavy jobs run when your site is quiet? I once changed our server clock to local time and found the nightly cPanel jobs still running at 1 AM as before. Back then a WHM plugin called cronconfig was the fix. In 2026 WHM has built-in settings. Here is how to <strong>change cron time<\/strong> on a cPanel VPS, for both system jobs and your own cron jobs.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-64084\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/change-cron-time-cpanel-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Change cron time on VPS cPanel\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/change-cron-time-cpanel-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/change-cron-time-cpanel-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/change-cron-time-cpanel-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/change-cron-time-cpanel-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/change-cron-time-cpanel.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> As root, open WHM&#8217;s <strong>Configure cPanel Cron Jobs<\/strong> interface (search &#8220;cron&#8221; in WHM) to change when cPanel updates (upcp) and backups run. For your own scripts, open <strong>cPanel &gt; Advanced &gt; Cron Jobs<\/strong>, pick a schedule or enter minute, hour, day, month and weekday values, and add the command. Check the server time zone in WHM first.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aea300193c8a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aea300193c8a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#Step_1_Check_your_server_time\" >Step 1: Check your server time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#Step_2_Change_cPanel_system_cron_times_WHM\" >Step 2: Change cPanel system cron times (WHM)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#Step_3_Add_or_change_your_own_cron_jobs_cPanel\" >Step 3: Add or change your own cron jobs (cPanel)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#Understanding_cron_time_fields\" >Understanding cron time fields<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#Common_cron_jobs_for_WordPress_sites\" >Common cron jobs for WordPress sites<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#Why_does_my_cron_job_run_at_the_wrong_time\" >Why does my cron job run at the wrong time?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#Can_I_change_cron_time_without_root_access\" >Can I change cron time without root access?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/08\/change-cron-time-on-vps-cpanel\/#How_do_I_stop_cron_emails\" >How do I stop cron emails?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Check_your_server_time\"><\/span>Step 1: Check your server time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cron uses the server&#8217;s time zone, not yours. In WHM, search for <strong>Server Time<\/strong> to see and change the time zone. If your audience is mainly in India, for example, you might set Asia\/Kolkata so schedules are easier to plan.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Change_cPanel_system_cron_times_WHM\"><\/span>Step 2: Change cPanel system cron times (WHM)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>WHM&#8217;s <strong>Configure cPanel Cron Jobs<\/strong> interface controls three built-in scripts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>upcp:<\/strong> updates cPanel and WHM. By default it runs at a random time between 9 PM and 6 AM server time.<\/li>\n<li><strong>backup:<\/strong> runs the backups set in Backup Configuration, by default at 2 AM.<\/li>\n<li><strong>cpbackup:<\/strong> legacy backups, by default at 1 AM.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Set each to your quietest hours, and avoid running updates and backups at the same time. Details are in cPanel&#8217;s documentation for <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.cpanel.net\/whm\/server-configuration\/configure-cpanel-cron-jobs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Configure cPanel Cron Jobs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Add_or_change_your_own_cron_jobs_cPanel\"><\/span>Step 3: Add or change your own cron jobs (cPanel)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Log in to cPanel and open <strong>Cron Jobs<\/strong> under Advanced.<\/li>\n<li>Choose a <strong>Common Setting<\/strong> such as &#8220;Once Per Day&#8221;, or fill in the five time fields.<\/li>\n<li>Enter the command, such as <code>\/usr\/local\/bin\/php \/home\/user\/public_html\/wp-cron.php<\/code>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Add New Cron Job<\/strong>. Edit or delete existing jobs from the list below.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_cron_time_fields\"><\/span>Understanding cron time fields<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Minute:<\/strong> 0 to 59<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hour:<\/strong> 0 to 23<\/li>\n<li><strong>Day of month:<\/strong> 1 to 31<\/li>\n<li><strong>Month:<\/strong> 1 (January) to 12 (December)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weekday:<\/strong> 0 (Sunday) to 6 (Saturday)<\/li>\n<li><strong>*<\/strong> means &#8220;every&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Example: <code>47 1 * * *<\/code> runs every day at 01:47. <code>*\/15 * * * *<\/code> runs every 15 minutes.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_cron_jobs_for_WordPress_sites\"><\/span>Common cron jobs for WordPress sites<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Run WP-Cron from the server instead of on page visits (set <code>DISABLE_WP_CRON<\/code> in wp-config.php). This keeps scheduled tasks like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2011\/04\/automatically-empty-wordpress-trash-daily\/\">emptying the trash<\/a> on time.<\/li>\n<li>Nightly database and file backups. See how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/02\/backup-websites-on-hosting-server\/\">back up websites on your hosting server<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Malware scans with tools from our list of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2015\/02\/essential-server-security-software\/\">server security software<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_cron_job_run_at_the_wrong_time\"><\/span>Why does my cron job run at the wrong time?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The server time zone differs from yours. Check Server Time in WHM, or adjust the hour in your cron entry.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_change_cron_time_without_root_access\"><\/span>Can I change cron time without root access?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You can change your own cPanel cron jobs, but system jobs like upcp need WHM root or reseller permission.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_stop_cron_emails\"><\/span>How do I stop cron emails?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Clear the Cron Email field in cPanel, or add <code>&gt;\/dev\/null 2&gt;&amp;1<\/code> to the end of the command.<\/p>\n<p>When do your server jobs run? Share your schedule tips in the comments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Need to change the cron time on your cPanel VPS so heavy jobs run when your site is quiet? I&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":64084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-8651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-domain-hosting","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8651"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65298,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8651\/revisions\/65298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}