Automation overview

Automation is Trello's built-in no-code tool that automates tasks and workflows on boards. It lets you automate a series of actions on a schedule, based on when a specific action occurs in Trello, or at the click of a button—just create the automation you want to execute, and it will automatically react to changes on your boards, handling all manual work for you. 

You can use Automation to perform simple tasks on a single board using basic functionality, like archiving cards or sorting lists or supercharge your Trello workflow by sharing automations with everyone in your team. Automation is available to all Trello accounts at no additional cost, however, it is subject to some quotas and limits that are covered in this article

What is an automation?

Automation lets you create the following types of commands:

  • Card Buttons automate workflows on a card level such as adding or removing card labels and archiving cards, by adding a button to the card back.

  • Board Buttons automate workflows on a board level such as reordering cards in lists or creating new lists, by adding a button to the board header.

  • Rules execute actions in reaction to something happening in Trello.

  • Scheduled automations execute actions on a regular cadence.

  • Due Date automations trigger actions on a card when its due date matches a specified time.

See also: Creating and managing automations

How to access the Automation

There are two ways how you can access automation in Trello—by creating automations from within your Trello board or by going to the Automation directory.

Opening an Automation from a Trello board

You can create and manage some Card Buttons directly on a board without the need to go through the Automation directory. They are also available on the card back in the Automation menu. 

Note: Some Card Button actions aren't available in the Automation menu. To create complex Card Buttons, go to the Automation directory.

Butler can be accessed under Automation in the card back on the bottom right

You can also automate workflows for Trello lists in the List actions menu, under the Automation section. 

List actions menu of a Trello card with the Automation section selected in the middle

Opening the Automation Directory

Automation directory is where all automations are created and managed. Here you can also add connected apps, such as Slack and Jira, review your account information, and inspect the Usage Log

To open the directory, select the Automation button at the top of your Trello board.

Automation is a button that will open up the automation directory in your card

 Alternatively, you can open the directory by going to Show menu > Automation.

Butler can also be accessed by selecting Show Menu and then Automation

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