Scheduled paths versus time-dependent workflow actions
Key Takeaway
A scheduled path is the Flow equivalent of a workflow time trigger, but with finer timing. A scheduled path can run minutes after a record change, while a workflow time trigger accepts only days or hours.
Time-dependent workflow actions and scheduled paths both let automation wait and run later, at a time based on a record event or a date field on the record. Time-dependent actions belong to workflow rules, which reached end of support after December 31, 2025. Scheduled paths do the same job inside record-triggered flows. The two tools schedule, cancel, and reschedule work in different ways. Those differences tell you which tool fits a scenario and what happens when a record or the automation changes.
Time-dependent workflow actions
A time-dependent action is a workflow rule action that runs at a set time, such as 10 days before a record's close date. To build one, you add a time trigger to the rule. A time trigger is a number of days or hours before or after a date on the record. Then you add actions to that trigger.
When the time arrives, the rule reevaluates the record and runs the actions only if the record still meets the rule criteria.
Time triggers accept only days or hours, from 0 to 999, and don't support minutes or seconds.
A DATE or DATETIME field that uses a function such as TODAY or NOW can't drive a time trigger. A formula field that includes related-object merge fields can't drive one either. Salesforce ignores time triggers that reference a null field.
Even after end of support, existing workflow rules keep running. You can still activate, deactivate, and edit them.