# Scheduling a Rule with Start and End Dates

> Source: https://primemoq.app/help/managing-rules/schedule-a-rule
> Collection: Managing Rules
> Updated: 2026-08-02

Set a future start date, an end date, or both, so a limit turns itself on and off for a drop, a season or a promo window.

**Short answer.** By default a rule activates the moment you save it and runs indefinitely. The Schedule card sets a future start date, an end date, or both. Until the start date arrives the rule shows as Scheduled rather than Active, and once the end date passes it shows as Expired and stops enforcing on its own.

## Key takeaways

- A rule with a future start date shows as Scheduled, not Active, until that time.
- An expired rule is not deleted. It stays in the list so it can be extended or reactivated.
- Times use your store's configured timezone, not your browser's.
- Scheduling is the reliable way to remove a drop cap without having to remember to do it.

## What it does

By default a rule activates the moment you save it and runs indefinitely. The
**Schedule** card instead sets a future **start date**, an **end date**, or both.
It is useful for limited drops, seasonal weight caps, and a wholesale minimum
that only kicks in after a trial period.

| Goal | Setup |
|---|---|
| Start a limit at a future date | Enable schedule, set a start date and time |
| Remove a limit automatically after a period | Enable schedule, set an end date |
| Run a limit only during a window | Set both a start and an end date |

## Schedule a rule

**Open the Schedule card** in the rule editor and toggle it on.

**Set a start date.** Pick the date and time the rule should begin enforcing.
Times are shown in your store's timezone.

**Set an end date, optionally.** Check **Set end date** and pick when the rule
should stop enforcing. Left unchecked, the rule runs indefinitely once started.

**Save.** Until the start date arrives the rule shows as **Scheduled** in the
Rules list rather than Active.

## How scheduled rules show up

The Rules list reflects a rule's *effective* status, not just what you set it to.

| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Active** | Enforcing right now |
| **Scheduled** | Set to Active, but the start date has not arrived |
| **Expired** | Set to Active, but the end date has passed |
| **Deactivated** | Manually deactivated, or matching zero products |

See [Rule Statuses Explained](/help/managing-rules/rule-statuses) for the full
breakdown.

## Common mistakes

- **The rule does not enforce even though Active was selected.** Check the badge.
  A future start date shows as *Scheduled* until that time arrives.
- **The rule stopped enforcing unexpectedly.** Check whether an end date passed.
  It shows as *Expired* rather than being deleted, so it can be extended.
- **Timezone confusion.** The start and end times use your store's configured
  timezone, which may differ from your browser's local time.

## FAQ

### What happens to a rule when its end date passes?

It stops enforcing and shows as Expired. Nothing is deleted, so you can edit the end date to extend it, or reactivate it later, without rebuilding the rule.

### Which timezone are the start and end times in?

Your store's configured timezone, not your browser's. If the two differ, a rule can appear to start an hour or several hours away from what you expected.

### Can I schedule a rule without an end date?

Yes. Set only a start date and leave Set end date unchecked. The rule starts enforcing at the chosen time and continues indefinitely.

### Why does my scheduled rule not show as Active?

Because it is not enforcing yet. The Rules list shows effective status, so a rule with a future start date is labelled Scheduled. It flips to Active on its own at the start time.

### Can I schedule an existing live rule?

Yes, but deactivate it first, since active rules lock their fields for editing. Set the schedule, then reactivate.

### Does a schedule affect a repurchase period?

They are independent. The schedule decides when the rule is enforcing at all. The repurchase period is the rolling window over which a customer's purchases are totalled while it is.

**Best for:** Limited drops, seasonal weight caps, and any limit that should only apply during a defined window.

**Applies to:** All limit types