Guide · updated November 5, 2026

Scheduling Claude Code tasks on your own Mac: /loop vs routines vs launchd

For one recurring prompt, use what Claude Code already has. For a job that must run on your Mac, with your files and tools, at a set time, use launchd. For several agents that should work through a day together, you need a scheduler that also coordinates them.

1. /loop: repeat a prompt inside a session

As of November 2026, Claude Code includes a /loop command that re-runs a prompt or slash command on an interval while the session is open. It's the simplest choice for "check this every 10 minutes while I'm working". It stops when the session ends. See Anthropic's documentation for current details.

2. Scheduled cloud agents (routines)

Claude Code can also create agents that run on a cron schedule in Anthropic's cloud. They don't need your Mac to be on, which suits jobs that only touch remote things (a repository, an API). They don't see files that live only on your machine. Check Anthropic's documentation for availability on your plan.

3. launchd on your Mac

For a task that needs your local files, tools or logins, schedule a headless run with a LaunchAgent. StartCalendarInterval sets the time:

<key>StartCalendarInterval</key>
<dict><key>Hour</key><integer>7</integer><key>Minute</key><integer>30</integer></dict>
<key>ProgramArguments</key>
<array><string>/bin/zsh</string><string>-lc</string><string>cd ~/projects/app && claude -p "Run the test suite and summarize failures in REPORT.md" --permission-mode acceptEdits --allowedTools "Bash(npm test:*)"</string></array>

Load it with launchctl bootstrap gui/$(id -u) ~/Library/LaunchAgents/<name>.plist. The Mac has to be awake at that time; see keeping it awake.

When you want a scheduled team instead

Single scheduled tasks don't talk to each other. When you have several jobs (one builds, one reviews, one plans) you also want them to start in order, hand work to each other, keep going until a cap, and save their questions for you. That's what Elco Console does on your Mac: Start my day runs the coordinator first, then starts the other agents a few seconds apart; auto-continue keeps them working inside your hours; npm run init -- --launchagent keeps the console itself running. $99 once, 14-day refund.

Elco Console runs Claude Code, Anthropic's command-line tool, on your own plan. It isn't made by, affiliated with or endorsed by Anthropic, and it doesn't promise any amount of usage fits your plan.