What causes "Trello Automation (Butler) Not Working"?

Workspace automation run or operation quota used up (resets on the 1st at midnight GMT) Workspace is view-only because it exceeds the free collaborator limit Several rules share the same trigger and one gets skipped Board has too many checklists for a single request Due-date trigger conditions not met (e.g. card already marked complete) More than 20 actions in a single automation

How do I fix "Trello Automation (Butler) Not Working"?

1. Check your quota: Open any board > Board menu > Automation > Activity Select the Workspace activity tab to see runs and operations used this month Free: 250 runs/2,500 ops; Standard: 1,000 runs/20,000 ops; Premium: unlimited runs 2. Read the error in the automation log: In Automation > Activity, open the failed run to see the error message 3. Fix collaborator limit lockout: If the Workspace is over 10 collaborators on Free, automations don't run until you remove people or upgrade 4. Split overlapping rules: If several rules use the same trigger, combine them or chain them so each trigger runs once 5. Reduce checklists on the board: For 'too many checklists' errors, delete old checklists or move cards to another board 6. Recreate the rule: Delete and recreate a rule that silently stopped; users report this fixes stuck checklist triggers 7. Upgrade for unlimited runs: Premium removes the run cap (operations are still capped)

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Trello Automation (Butler) Not Working

Ongoing Web, Desktop Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Most often the Workspace has used up its monthly automation quota (250 runs on Free, 1,000 on Standard), which is shared across all boards. Check Workspace activity in the automation log.

Most likely fix: Check your quota.

Symptoms

Rules stop firing, buttons do nothing, scheduled commands skip, or the automation log shows errors like 'too many checklists'.

Why it happens

Workspace automation run or operation quota used up (resets on the 1st at midnight GMT)
Workspace is view-only because it exceeds the free collaborator limit
Several rules share the same trigger and one gets skipped
Board has too many checklists for a single request
Due-date trigger conditions not met (e.g. card already marked complete)
More than 20 actions in a single automation

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. Check your quota
1. Open any board > Board menu > Automation > Activity
2. Select the Workspace activity tab to see runs and operations used this month
3. Free: 250 runs/2,500 ops; Standard: 1,000 runs/20,000 ops; Premium: unlimited runs
2. Read the error in the automation log
1. In Automation > Activity, open the failed run to see the error message
3. Fix collaborator limit lockout
1. If the Workspace is over 10 collaborators on Free, automations don't run until you remove people or upgrade
4. Split overlapping rules
1. If several rules use the same trigger, combine them or chain them so each trigger runs once
5. Reduce checklists on the board
1. For 'too many checklists' errors, delete old checklists or move cards to another board
6. Recreate the rule
1. Delete and recreate a rule that silently stopped; users report this fixes stuck checklist triggers
7. Upgrade for unlimited runs
1. Premium removes the run cap (operations are still capped)

This guide also covers

trello automation not working
trello butler not working
trello rule not triggering
trello automation quota
trello command runs limit

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