Cron & Scheduled Tasks

Configure your hosting scheduler to call the site’s auction endpoints. Replace https://example.com with your actual WordPress home URL, including any installation subdirectory.

Endpoint schedule

Endpoint	Starting schedule
/?auction-cron=check	Every minute; processes due auction closures and lot checks.
/?auction-cron=mails	Every two hours, matching the plugin’s admin recommendation.
/?auction-cron=relist	Hourly, when using automatic relisting.
/?auction-cron=closing-soon-emails	Hourly, matching the plugin’s admin recommendation; use a shorter interval for short notice windows.
/?auction-cron=remind-to-pay	Daily, when using payment reminders.

Example server crontab

* * * * * curl --fail --silent --show-error 'https://example.com/?auction-cron=check' >/dev/null
0 */2 * * * curl --fail --silent --show-error 'https://example.com/?auction-cron=mails' >/dev/null
0 * * * * curl --fail --silent --show-error 'https://example.com/?auction-cron=relist' >/dev/null
0 * * * * curl --fail --silent --show-error 'https://example.com/?auction-cron=closing-soon-emails' >/dev/null
0 9 * * * curl --fail --silent --show-error 'https://example.com/?auction-cron=remind-to-pay' >/dev/null

The daily time uses the scheduler’s timezone. Use the scheduler equivalent for your hosting platform. Run only the optional mail/relist tasks your store needs.

Optional cron secret

The current plugin supports an optional secret under Auctions → Settings → Tools. After saving or changing it, update every external job with the current URL shown there. Authorized URLs include an auction-cron-key query parameter when a secret is configured; the token-free crontab above applies only when no secret is set.

Missing or incorrect tokens receive HTTP 403 when a secret is required. Keep authorized URLs out of public documentation, screenshots, and support logs. A successful authorized request still needs the processing checks below.

Lot scheduling

The plugin attempts to schedule auctions_for_woocommerce_lots_cron_event on the every_minute WordPress recurrence. Check that the recurrence exists and the event runs on your installation. The external check endpoint also invokes the lot check.

Do not disable WordPress cron without providing a replacement for WordPress and WooCommerce scheduled tasks. Calling auction endpoints alone is not a replacement for all site tasks.

Verify processing

Use a test auction with a near-future closing time. Check scheduler exit status, endpoint access, final auction state, winner processing, and email delivery. A blank HTTP response by itself does not prove that a particular auction changed state.

Exclude the auction-cron query endpoints from full-page caching, maintenance-page redirects, and access challenges that prevent scheduler requests from reaching WordPress.