How to schedule Python Telegram bot to stop at specific time and skip certain days?

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1

I need assistance with properly scheduling my Python Telegram bot.

I have developed a bot using the python-telegram-bot library which is intended to operate from Monday to Thursday, specifically from 10 AM until 4:15 PM. On Fridays, it should be entirely inactive. Currently, the bot fails to halt at 4:15 PM as intended.

Here is the code that handles the scheduling:

import schedule
import time
from datetime import datetime
import pytz
from telegram.ext import Application, CommandHandler

# Bot configuration
TOKEN = 'your_bot_token'
source_chat = '@PriceUpdates'
dest_chat = '@MyChannel'

# Tehran timezone
tehran_tz = pytz.timezone('Asia/Tehran')

# Bot status
bot_active = False

def get_local_time():
    return datetime.now(tehran_tz)

def start_bot_operations():
    global bot_active
    bot_active = True
    print("Bot started working")

def stop_bot_operations():
    global bot_active
    bot_active = False
    print("Bot stopped working")

async def check_working_hours():
    while True:
        current = get_local_time()
        weekday = current.weekday()  # 0=Monday, 4=Friday
        hour = current.hour
        minute = current.minute
        
        # Check if it's Friday (weekday 4)
        if weekday == 4:
            if bot_active:
                stop_bot_operations()
        # Check working hours Monday-Thursday
        elif weekday < 4:
            if 10 <= hour < 16 or (hour == 16 and minute < 15):
                if not bot_active:
                    start_bot_operations()
            else:
                if bot_active:
                    stop_bot_operations()
        
        await asyncio.sleep(30)  # Check every 30 seconds

async def message_handler(update, context):
    if not bot_active:
        return
    
    # Process messages only when bot is active
    message_text = update.message.text
    processed_msg = f"Updated: {message_text}"
    await context.bot.send_message(chat_id=dest_chat, text=processed_msg)

def main():
    app = Application.builder().token(TOKEN).build()
    
    app.add_handler(CommandHandler("start", message_handler))
    
    # Start the scheduler
    asyncio.create_task(check_working_hours())
    
    app.run_polling()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

The issue I’m facing is that my bot continues to run past the 4:15 PM mark. Could someone please help identify any flaws within my time checking logic? I would appreciate any assistance!

2

I’ve hit this timezone issue too. Your logic has a subtle bug - the condition if 10 <= hour < 16 or (hour == 16 and minute < 15) stops the bot at exactly 4:15 PM, but check_working_hours() runs every 30 seconds. So if it checks at 4:14:45 PM, it keeps running, then checks again at 4:15:15 PM and stops 15 seconds late. Drop the sleep interval to 10 seconds for tighter timing. Also, you’re creating the asyncio task wrong - asyncio.create_task() needs to be called inside an async context, but main() is synchronous. Use asyncio.get_event_loop().create_task() instead, or even better, make your main function async and use asyncio.run(main()).

3

You’re missing import asyncio at the top of your script. That’s why you’re getting errors when calling asyncio.sleep(30) and asyncio.create_task(). But there’s a bigger problem with your setup. You imported the schedule library but never use it, then you’re mixing asyncio tasks with polling. Running check_working_hours() as a background task while polling creates timing conflicts since run_polling() blocks everything. I’d switch to APScheduler instead. It plays much better with telegram bots and handles timezone-aware scheduling without messing with your polling. Your current approach with the global flag and checking every 30 seconds works, but it’s not great for production.

4

your time check is wrong. (hour == 16 and minute < 15) keeps the bot running until 4:14 pm, not stopping at 4:15. change it to (hour == 16 and minute <= 15) or just use hour < 16 if you want it stopping at 4:00 pm.