Restrict Argo CD automated sync to maintenance windows using sync windows
domain: argo-cd.readthedocs.io · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
In the AppProject manifest, add spec.syncWindows entries with kind: allow or kind: deny, a schedule in standard cron syntax, and a duration (e.g. "1h").
Scope each window to the maintenance target using applications, namespaces, and/or clusters selectors under the window (wildcards supported); enable the 'Use AND operator' option if the selectors should be ANDed instead of ORed.
Set manualSync: true on a window to let operators trigger syncs by hand while automated syncs stay blocked, or leave it false/omitted to block manual syncs too.
Apply the AppProject, then confirm the effective state with `argocd proj windows list <PROJECT>` or `argocd app get <APP>` (shows SyncWindow status and Assigned Windows).
Alternatively manage windows imperatively: `argocd proj windows add <PROJECT> --kind allow --schedule "<CRON>" --duration 1h --applications "<APP_PATTERN>"`, and toggle manual overrides with `argocd proj windows enable-manual-sync <PROJECT> <ID>`.
Known gotchas
deny windows always override allow windows when both are active for the same Application — an active matching deny blocks syncs even during an active allow window.
If any allow window matches an Application, syncs are blocked at ALL other times by default — adding a single allow window silently turns every other hour into a deny period.
manualSync only controls whether manual syncs are permitted during a blocked window; it does not affect automated syncs, which remain blocked regardless of that flag.
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