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Cron job not running: debug checklist
A practical checklist for debugging cron jobs that do not run when expected.
When a cron job does not run, start with the boring checks first.
Checklist
- Confirm the cron expression is valid.
- Confirm the file was installed in the expected crontab.
- Use absolute paths for scripts and commands.
- Capture stdout and stderr.
- Check the scheduler timezone.
- Check file permissions and executable bits.
Fast test
Replace the command temporarily with a simple timestamp write. If that works, the schedule is fine and the command environment is the problem.