Schedule your Phantoms to Run Automatically

This guide shows you how to set up automatic, recurring Phantom launches so your automation runs continuously without manual input.

Access launch settings

Scheduling launches is available for most Phantoms. Some prebuilt automations have launch settings that are configured automatically and can’t be adjusted manually.

Each Phantom has its own launch schedule. If you want multiple steps to run in sequence, you can either chain Phantoms manually or use a multi-action Phantom that already combines steps.

To configure the launch schedule: 

1. Log in to your PhantomBuster workspace and go to your Dashboard page if you want to update one of your existing Phantoms.
   → If you’re setting up a new Phantom, launch options will be included in the final step of the setup.
2. Click on the three dots on the Phantom’s card you want to update, select Setup and go to the Launch settings step to choose a scheduling option. 
   

Set up repeated launches

This option lets your Phantom run multiple times per day, at regular intervals. Most Phantoms will pick up where they left off between launches when scheduled automatically. 

Use this when:

• You want to collect fresh data throughout the day.

• You want to space out lead engagement.

• You need to comply with platform rate limits.

By default, your Phantom will be set to launch once. You can update this to a repeated schedule in the steps below.

Steps:

1. In Launch settings, select Repeatedly.

2. Set how often the Phantom should run: for example, every 2 hours or 6 times per day. Adjust your frequency based on rate limits.
   → For example, with LinkedIn Search Export, we recommend processing one search over at least 5 launches, so a frequency of 6+ times per day is ideal.
   

3. Click Save.

For platforms like LinkedIn, we recommend scheduling runs during weekday business hours to mimic human behavior and reduce the risk of account restrictions. 

Use advanced launch scheduling

Advanced mode gives you precise control over when your Phantom runs, down to the minute, hour, day, or month.

Use this when:

• You want tighter control over timing than the Repeatedly option offers.

• You're spacing out launches for platforms like LinkedIn to mimic human behavior and reduce restriction risks.

• You have multiple Phantoms and want to avoid overlaps or rate limit spikes.

• Your team works with strict operating hours or syncs Phantom launches with other automated tools.

Steps:

1. In your Phantom's Launch settings, select Advanced.
   
   
2. Choose any combination of:
   • Minutes (e.g. 15, 45)
   • Hours (e.g. 9, 13, 17)
   • Days of the week (e.g. Monday to Friday)
   • Months (e.g. January, March, October)
3. Click Save.

Example: In the setup shown in the Gif below, the Phantom is scheduled to run four times each weekday, at 13:10, 13:50, 16:10, and 16:50, making it ideal for spacing out LinkedIn activity and staying within daily limits.

All launch times follow your workspace’s time zone.

Trigger launches after another Phantom

If one Phantom needs to run only after another completes, you can chain them together using the After another Phantom option in your Phantom's Launch settings.

This creates an automated sequence: once the first Phantom finishes, the next one will launch automatically.

Steps:

1. In your Phantom's Launch settings, select After another Phantom and choose the Phantom that should trigger this one.
   

2. Click Save to apply.

For example: Extracting LinkedIn profiles first, then sending connection requests only after the list is ready.

Setting a launch trigger does not automatically pass data between Phantoms. If your second Phantom needs input, make sure to configure it using the My Phantoms option during setup.
→ Learn how to chain Phantom outputs using My Phantoms

Stop or pause scheduled launches

Phantoms will keep launching on their schedule, even if there’s no new data to process. In that case, you’ll see a message like “Input already processed.”

To pause a scheduled Phantom:

1. Go to your Dashboard.

2. Toggle the ON/OFF switch on the Phantom’s card:

   • Blue = ON (scheduled launches active)

   • Grey = OFF (scheduled launches paused)
     

Once toggled off, the Phantom will only run if you launch it manually.

You can set up email notifications to be alerted when a Phantom has no more data to process. For setup steps, see the full guide. 

→ Learn more in the guide: Stop or Pause a Phantom and Understand What Happens Next