On Windows 10, sometimes it’s necessary to automate certain routine tasks (e.g., mount a network drive, launch an app, run a batch file, show a message) and run them at specific scheduled times. Usually, you use Task Scheduler, as it’s a tool designed to execute task based on a wide range of criteria.

The only caveat is that while creating a task you can check a “Hidden” option, when the task runs the Task Scheduler will show a command window on the desktop briefly, which is not only annoying, but it’s also a bad user experience.

If you’re using the Task Scheduler on Windows 10 to run tasks on a specific time or during a trigger event and a command window keeps appearing every time the task runs, it’s possible to configure the task to stop producing a command window.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to configure a scheduled task to run hidden (silent) without flashing a command window every time it runs.

How to configure schedule a task to run hidden using Task Scheduler

In order to prevent a command window to appear when running a scheduled task, use the following steps:

  • Open Start.
  • Search for Task Scheduler, and click the top result to launch the experience.
  • Right-click the Task Scheduler Library folder.
  • Click the Create Task option.
  • Task Scheduler new task option
  • In the “General” tab, under the “Security options” section, select the Run whether user is logged on or not option. (This is the option that will make the command window not to appear when the task runs automatically.)
  • Clear the Do not store password option. (This is an optional step, but if the task isn’t working, check this option and supply the appropriate credentials to run the task.)
  • New task configuration to run hidden

Once you’ve selected the correct options, continue configuring the task with the command you want to run and schedule, but now every time the scheduled tasks run users will no longer see a command window flashing.

Open Start.

Search for Task Scheduler, and click the top result to launch the experience.

Right-click the Task Scheduler Library folder.

Click the Create Task option.

Task Scheduler new task option

In the “General” tab, under the “Security options” section, select the Run whether user is logged on or not option. (This is the option that will make the command window not to appear when the task runs automatically.)

Clear the Do not store password option. (This is an optional step, but if the task isn’t working, check this option and supply the appropriate credentials to run the task.)

New task configuration to run hidden

You can always test the configuration by right-clicking the task and selecting Run.

While we’re focusing this guide on Windows 10, you can also use these steps on Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.