If there are tasks on Windows that you simply do daily, like launching a course when you start your system, copying files, closing Windows at a specific time, etc., then the thing you need is Windows Task Scheduler. Though it looks simple, Windows Task Scheduler is very powerful and enables you to automate just about anything in Windows.
I automate several tasks on my Windows machine. For instance, I have a task to spread out Thunderbird and Firefox when I get on my system, an activity to backup Thunderbird, an activity to launch FreeFileSync batch files, an activity to backup data, a task to auto shutdown Windows when asleep, etc.
TL;DR, I use Task Scheduler extensively to automate quite a few things on Windows.
As useful as it is, for whatever reason, once you create a task within the Task Scheduler, you cannot rename scheduled task. You are tied to whatever name you gave while creating the task.
Why Can’t You Rename Task in Task Scheduler
There is no definitive answer to why you cannot rename a task in Task Scheduler. Maybe it somehow messes with how Task Scheduler works together with the duties. But that is not the case on older versions of Windows. In Windows XP and Windows 2000, the task files are usually saved in the %SystemRoot%\Tasks folder with .job extension. Whenever you want to rename an activity, all you need to do is rename the file and you’re simply all set.
In the newer Windows versions, you can no more do this. Should you visit the Tasks folder, you will not even find any files, at least using the .job extension.
But, i am not saying you can’t rename scheduled tasks. Without further ado, let me show you how you can rename task in Task Scheduler in Windows 10.
Rename Scheduled Task
I’m showing the process in Windows 10, however it will work on Windows 7 and Windows 8 too.
The secret to rename scheduled task in task scheduler is to export the job and import it again. It sounds complicated but it’s not. Follow the steps and you will rename the task all right.
1. First, search for “Task Scheduler” within the start menu and open it.
2. In the Task Scheduler, select “Task Scheduler Library” on the left panel to determine all the tasks. Now, right-click around the task you need to alter the name and select “Export.”
3. Browse to any location and save the file by clicking the “Save” button. You are able to name the file anything you want, just mind the .xml file extension.
4. We have to import the task again to rename it. On the right-panel, select “Import task” option.
5. Browse towards the previous location, choose the exported task and click on the “Open” button.
6. While importing you can rename the job. Go into the new task name in the “Name” field, enter a proper description in the “Description” field and click on the “Ok” button.
7. That’s it. You’ve successfully renamed scheduled task in Task Scheduler.
8. Don’t forget to delete the duplicate task with the old name. To delete the job, right-click on it and choose “Delete.” If you want to be careful, disable the task by selecting the “Disable” option. When you are sure the imported or renamed scheduled task is being employed as it ought to, you are able to delete that old disabled scheduled task.
I know this can be a roundabout way but it’s the very best you have to rename scheduled task in Task Scheduler on Windows.