Run the Laravel scheduler with cPanel cron

The cron job

In cPanel → Cron Jobs, add one entry with the full path to PHP:

* * * * * cd /home/cpaneluser/laravel-app && /opt/cpanel/ea-php83/root/usr/bin/php artisan schedule:run >> /dev/null 2>&1

Change 83 to your PHP version. On CloudLinux servers the path is usually /opt/alt/php83/usr/bin/php. The config generator writes the line for you, and these cron examples explain each schedule.

Why plain "php" often fails

Your website and cron can use different PHP versions. With plain php, cron may run an older version, and Laravel stops with "Your Composer dependencies require a PHP version >= 8.2". Use the full path. To check a path in the Terminal:

/opt/cpanel/ea-php83/root/usr/bin/php -v

Define your tasks

In Laravel 11 and 12, tasks go in routes/console.php:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schedule;

Schedule::command('reports:send')->dailyAt('08:00');
Schedule::command('backup:run')->daily();

If your host limits cron

If cron can only run every 5 or 15 minutes, use that interval. Laravel only checks tasks when cron runs, so:

• ->dailyAt('08:03') may never run with a 5-minute cron, because no run lands on 08:03. Use times like 08:00 or 08:05.
• ->everyMinute() tasks run once per cron run, not every minute.