The Task Scheduler service enables you to run automated (scheduled) tasks on a desired device. With this service, you can schedule any program to run at a convenient time for you or when a specific event occurs. The Task Scheduler monitors the time or event criteria that you choose and then executes the task when those criteria are met. In this article, I will show you how to resolve the “Task Scheduler shows task still running despite successful”. Please see the related articles: how to Run or Edit and Delete Tasks via Windows Task Scheduler, How to create an Advanced Windows Scheduled Task, How to Monitor Windows Server Backup via PowerShell, and Microsoft Management Console: How to fix Windows Task Scheduler Service Greyed Out in Services MMC.
Why was this error “Task Scheduler shows task still running” prompted?
I have scheduled this task and many others to run depending on my triggers on a daily/weekly/monthly basis in windows server 2022. Unfortunately, only this job kept running. Please see how similar errors were resolved: How to Fix Windows Task Scheduler Error 0x1, how to fix Windows Task Scheduler 0x2 Error, and how to fix Failed to create a new scheduled task name RemoteException: Cannot create the file when that file already exists.
This error was caused because the “matplotlib.pyplot.show function” was not commented out when added to the script or omitted in general as it is only relevant in the terminal and not from the automated task. This is why the desired result will be achieved, but the job will continue running as the output is displayed. Please see the image below for more information.
As you can see below, the task is still running. It should be ended by now. I will show you how I resolved this very quickly and how it you will be able to have your own issue(s) resolved as well.
You have to understand your script in order to be able to resolve this issue.
Other Solutions were tried and Task Scheduler Setting in place Never worked
1: Despite having to stop the running task manually, the following code was prompted. This Task Scheduler code means “The last run of the task was terminated by the user.”. This did not solve the issue. Do not bother restarting your PC or killing any process in order to fix this issue as claimed by many blogs!
Note: The Status Task Refresh does not also help or change the Status changed to Ready. Please see the following related article: Microsoft Management Console: How to fix Windows Task Scheduler Service Greyed Out in Services MMC. How to create an Advanced Windows Scheduled Task, and How to schedule Windows Defender Antivirus to scan on Windows.
2: As you can see from my Task Scheduler Settings, and trigger Tab. I have configured it to ask to stop, but this did not help because the script was not running correctly, but the image from the “matplotlib.pyplot.show function” displayed.
"Stop the task if it runs longer than" is set to 1 hour under settings tab and triggers tab.
"If the running task does not end when requested, force it to stop" is checked.
Before jumping to how I resolved this issue, I would like to explain what Matplotlib is. Please proceed as we work through this issue together.
What is Matplotlib?
Matplotlib is a library in Python and it is a numerical mathematical extension for the NumPy library. Pyplot is a state-based interface to a Matplotlib module which provides a MATLAB-like interface.
The solution to resolving Task Scheduler shows the task still running after completion
As I have hinted previously, the show() function in pyplot module of matplotlib library is used to display all figures. As this is displayed, the job cannot end. Since I have decided to automate this job, I will have to comment on this ut or remove it. In my case, I will just comment it out. For a similar script, please see Run Python Script via Windows Task Scheduler.
When this is done, run the job again manually, and it will end successfully. Please see the image below. Please see Export and Import Scheduled Tasks in Windows, How to configure log on as a batch job permissions on any server, How to apply Windows Updates with PowerShell, and How to fix “An Attempt Was Made to Reference a Token That Does Not Exist” in Windows 10.
After a successful run, it closes the Python script, and the task is done and changes its status to Ready.
I hope you found this blog post helpful on how to fix “Task Scheduler shows task still running despite successful”. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comment session.