How Auto Scheduling works
Auto Scheduling is optional. You can also generate clips first, then use Schedule to plan posts yourself. Both workflows publish posts automatically at their scheduled times.
Set up publishing when you create a project. ZoneClip generates clips, renders those that meet your score threshold, and adds them to your existing publishing schedule. You can plan content for the coming days without returning to schedule each batch, helping keep ready clips from being left unpublished.
| Workflow | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Choose finished clips and times yourself. Posts publish automatically. |
| Auto Scheduling | Choose accounts and rules in advance; qualifying clips enter the same schedule once ready. |
Both workflows use the same Posts Schedule. Auto Scheduling works with Local AI and Zone Cloud.
Set up Auto Scheduling
- Sign in and connect a publishing account in Social & Insight.
- Open Auto Scheduling. Under New project defaults, choose accounts, a publish window, and a minimum clip score, then select Save defaults.
- Create a project. Auto Scheduling turns on when allowance is available, unless you explicitly disabled it in your defaults. Review the settings and selected accounts before creating your clips.
A single connected account can be selected automatically. With multiple accounts, choose destinations or reuse your saved selection. You can turn Auto Scheduling off for an individual project.
To enable it for an existing project, use Add project under Project settings. Changes to new project defaults do not change existing projects.
Keep ZoneClip open while clips are prepared, uploaded, and scheduled. Once a post appears as scheduled in Posts Schedule, cloud publishing can continue while the app is closed.
Review or change scheduled posts
Open Posts Schedule to review upcoming posts, account destinations, and publishing status. Open the project's Publishing panel to edit or cancel a scheduled post before it publishes.
Turning Auto Scheduling off stops new automatic posts for that project. Posts already scheduled keep their times; cancel those separately if needed. Reconnect accounts or retry failed posts when attention is required.
Project allowance
| Source | Included Auto Scheduling projects | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Signup gift | 10 | One time; unused gift projects do not expire |
| Plus | 30 | Each monthly subscription allowance cycle |
| Pro | 90 | Each monthly subscription allowance cycle |
Subscription projects are used before gift projects. Auto Scheduling shares the same subscription cycle and rollover policy as cloud analysis. Eligible unused subscription projects carry over for one extra cycle, capped at one cycle’s allowance: up to 30 rollover projects on Plus or 90 on Pro. The total paid balance is capped at 60 on Plus or 180 on Pro; gift projects are separate and never expire. Rollover is used before the current allowance, then gift projects. Refreshes follow your subscription cycle, rather than the first of the calendar month. Annual subscribers also receive a monthly allowance on their subscription cycle. The next refresh date appears in the allowance help.
Auto Scheduling projects and cloud analysis minutes are separate balances. Local analysis does not consume cloud analysis minutes. Without Auto Scheduling allowance, you can still create clips and use Schedule to plan posts yourself; they still publish automatically at the scheduled times.
When a project is counted
One project is counted when its first post is successfully added to the cloud schedule by Auto Scheduling. Saving rules, analyzing footage, rendering, and failed uploads do not use a project.
More clips, more publishing accounts, and retries within the same project do not use additional projects. A project already counted remains covered when its other clips are scheduled later, including after a monthly reset. Copies created as new projects count separately.
Cancelling a scheduled post or deleting a project does not refund its allowance. Already accepted cloud posts keep their schedule if you turn Auto Scheduling off or use all your remaining allowance.
Scheduling and preparation
Automatic scheduling uses free 9 AM and 5 PM slots in your device's time zone, avoiding posts within 30 minutes on the same account. If the chosen window is full, extend it or adjust scheduled posts in the project's Publishing panel. Simultaneous changes from another device may still need review.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Auto Scheduling to have posts published automatically?
No. Leave it off, generate your clips, then use Schedule to create your publishing plan. Posts publish automatically at the scheduled times. This workflow does not use Auto Scheduling project allowance.
Will every generated clip be published?
Only clips meeting your minimum score and selected publishing rules are scheduled automatically. Check Posts Schedule and project status for failed preparation, account issues, or a full publishing window.
Do I need a paid subscription to try Auto Scheduling?
No. Sign in to use the 10 gift projects and connect a supported publishing account. Plus and Pro provide additional monthly projects.
Will a render failure or retry cost another project?
No. Preparation failures do not use allowance. After the first post is scheduled, the project's other clips, destinations, and retries are already covered.
What happens when my allowance runs out?
New projects cannot start Auto Scheduling. Existing scheduled posts continue, and previously counted projects remain covered. You can subscribe or upgrade, wait for the next monthly reset, or create clips with Auto Scheduling turned off.
What if I upgrade or my subscription ends?
Plan upgrades add a prorated increase for the remainder of the current cycle, using the same policy as cloud analysis. Projects already used remain used; changing plans does not restart the cycle. Gift projects stay available after a subscription ends. Cloud posts already scheduled continue.
Why is Auto Scheduling off during project creation?
You may have turned it off in New project defaults, have no remaining allowance, be signed out, or be unable to load your allowance. You can continue creating clips without Auto Scheduling. Connect or reconnect your accounts before scheduling.