> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.mergefreeze.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.mergefreeze.com/recurring-freezes.md). # Recurring freezes It can be useful for a team to establish specific times when merging is allowed/disallowed, such as during the weekends or holidays. Merge Freeze allows you to add weekly recurring freezes by opening up the “Schedules” panel of a protected branch (or [via the API](https://docs.mergefreeze.com/web-api#create-scheduled-freezes)) and selecting the days and times for your recurring freezes. If you add a recurring freeze and the current time is in the middle of it, then your branch will automatically freeze itself until the end of the recurring freeze. Recurring freezes can be manually overridden at any time to push out urgent fixes etc. ### What happens if I manually override a recurring freeze? If a recurring freeze is currently in place and you manually unfreeze it to push out an urgent fix and then refreeze it again, it will automatically unfreeze itself when the recurring freeze period ends. ### Will one-off freezes/unfreezes override a recurring freeze/unfreeze? The scheduler will skip an additional freeze/unfreeze if there already is a freeze/unfreeze in in place. The scheduler does not prioritize a one-off vs recurring schedule. *Example 1: You set a one-off freeze at 4:55pm and then a scheduled recurring freeze at 5p.* The scheduler will see at 5p that the branch is already frozen, and skip the second duplicative scheduled freeze. In this case, the one-off freeze won't override a recurring freeze and you'd only see the branch log associated with the one-off freeze. *Example 2: You set a recurring daily unfreeze at 8am and refreeze at 4pm. Then, you add a one-time freeze for 5 days from Monday @ 4:01pm through Friday @ 8:01am.* The scheduler will see the branch is already frozen at 4:01pm on Monday and skip its process. The scheduler will run the daily unfreeze at 8am on Friday and skip the one-time unfreeze because it sees the branch is already unfrozen. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.mergefreeze.com/recurring-freezes.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.