> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.macro.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Routines

> Run an agent on a schedule or when activity happens in your workspace.

A routine is a saved prompt that an [agent](/product/agents) runs on a schedule or in response to workspace activity.

> To create a routine use shortcut <kbd>c</kbd> + <kbd>u</kbd>.

## Creating a routine

1. Press <kbd>c</kbd> + <kbd>u</kbd>, or open **Routines** in the Agents sidebar and click **Create Routine**.
2. Enter a name and instructions. Instructions support @mentions.
3. Select the model or agent from the first chip below the prompt.
4. Click **Add trigger**. A routine runs when any of its triggers fires.
5. Click **Create routine**. **Start enabled** is on by default.

## Triggers

### Scheduled

**Add trigger → Scheduled** supports **Hourly**, **Daily**, **Weekly**, **Monthly**, and **Custom** (cron). Schedules can also be typed in plain English, for example **every weekday at 9am**.

**Run once** runs the routine one time, for example **tomorrow 9am** or **in 2 hours**.

Recurring schedules use the time zone they were created in. One-time runs use your browser's local time.

### Activity

* **Channels**: channel created, message sent, or you are @mentioned
* **Documents**: document created or deleted
* **Tasks**: task created, status changed, priority changed, or any property changed
* **Email**: new email received. Spam, trash, and drafts are excluded.

Message, mention, deletion, and task triggers can be scoped to specific channels, documents, or tasks, or to everything you have access to. Changes made by agents and bots do not fire triggers.

Click a trigger chip to edit it. Choose **Remove trigger** to delete it.

## Managing routines

**Routines** in the Agents sidebar lists your routines with creator, status, model, and **Enabled** toggle. Press <kbd>cmd</kbd>+<kbd>f</kbd> to search by name, creator, or model.

**Overview** shows a routine's instructions, model, triggers, and next scheduled run. Changes save automatically. **Run now** runs the routine immediately, including when it is disabled.

**Run options** enables or disables the routine and copies its prompt. The menu next to the routine name duplicates or deletes it.

## Run history

**Run History** lists past runs with outcome, duration, and start time. Click a run to open its agent conversation. A notification appears on [Home](/product/home.md) when a run finishes.

## Privacy

Routines are visible only to their creator. Runs use the creator's permissions.

## MCP

Agents and [MCP clients](/AI/mcp/overview.md) manage routines with [`CreateRoutine`](/AI/mcp/tools/create-routine), [`ListRoutines`](/AI/mcp/tools/list-routines), [`ReadRoutine`](/AI/mcp/tools/read-routine), and [`UpdateRoutine`](/AI/mcp/tools/update-routine). Example prompts are in [Agent recipes](/AI/recipes.md).


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