These Frequently Asked Questions have been especially prepared for people who are not yet using New World Scheduler and want to learn more. If you are already using New World Scheduler, we recommend also checking Help & Support.
Installing New World Scheduler
Any computer with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10 or Windows 11 can run New World Scheduler.
- Please make sure you have Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 installed. This can be installed via Windows Update or from the Microsoft website.
NW Scheduler should also run fine on Windows tablets or Surface Pro devices using an ARM processor. However NW Scheduler will not run on Windows S mode. You will need to leave S-Mode to install NW Scheduler.
NW Scheduler can also be installed on Apple Mac computers and Linux computers running a Windows Emulator.
NW Scheduler cannot be installed on Chrome OS, iOS or Google Android or Amazon devices.
NW Publisher app can be installed on Apple iOS, Google Android and Amazon devices.
Yes! Please see Install New World Scheduler on Apple Mac
No.
To install and run New World Scheduler you must please use either:
- Desktop computer or Laptop running Windows or Mac
- Linux computer running a Windows Emulator.
Apple iOS, Google Android and Windows S-Mode are mobile operating systems that are very limited and were not designed for developing complex desktop applications. They also have very limited and restrictive data storage, and often rely on cloud storage to function.
Congregation data is stored on your local computer only.
Tablets and phones are wonderful tools for attending meetings & the ministry, but they are not designed for deep study, research, congregation management and scheduling.
It is entirely reasonable that all appointed brothers own a simple and affordable laptop or desktop computer. That way they can use Watchtower Library, write and print talks, perform in-depth research, write correspondence to the branch and perform other congregation duties.
In fact, a cheap laptop can be purchased for just a few hundred dollars, which is cheaper than an iPad and many smart phones!
Only the NW Publisher app (designed for publishers) runs on iOS, Android and Amazon phones and tablets.
NW Publisher mobile app also includes some additional features for appointed brothers only, such as viewing publisher data and emergency contact information, submitting reports for others, submitting meeting attendance.
Some brothers have had success installing NW Scheduler on a Linux computer, either running a Windows Emulator or using WINE.
However we are unable to assist with doing so. We do not own any Linux computers, nor do we have any experiencing installing Windows software on Linux computers.
Please either ask a local brother in your congregation who is good with computers to assist you, or ask a local computer technician.
Of course, the easiest solution is simply purchase a cheap Windows laptop, which may only cost a few hundred dollars.
Yes of course.
In some congregations different elders might choose different software to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
- Example: The Secretary might use different software to the Public Talk Coordinator.
While NW Scheduler has been designed to help all elders fulfill all roles and responsibilities, it can still effectively used by a single elder to fulfill his responsibility.
You might find that after using NW Scheduler to fulfill your role, other elders come on board and realize how beneficial it is.
New World Scheduler is not an official app or program created by the Watchtower Society. Therefore, New World Scheduler is obviously not “endorsed by”, “recommended” or “officially approved” by the organisation.
This makes sense. The organisation does not and will not create a list of books, songs, movies, websites, programs or apps we can or cant use. (see w14 7/15 14)
The branch is fully aware of New World Scheduler and has no objections to its use. They have been in contact with us several times.
In fact, New World Scheduler and our NW Publisher app are both used by hundreds of thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide every single day! This includes elders, pioneers, missionaries, Bethelites and even Branch Committee members.
Please feel free to read the comments of many spiritually mature elders around the world, including in your local area.
Data Security, Storage and Privacy
Yes, New World Scheduler takes data privacy and data security very seriously. We strongly believes that your congregation data is yours, and should be kept safe, secure and private at all times.
We also understand we are living in critical times, and soon the Great Tribulation will arrive. (2 Timothy 3:1)
NW Scheduler stores data on your local computer only and implements modern security best-practises, which makes NW Scheduler far more safe and secure than using PDFs, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, or using similar JW programs.
New World Scheduler fully complies with the data storage and data retention requirements of sfl.
Please see Data Security and Privacy for more information.
NW Scheduler stores data on your local computer only and implements modern security best-practises, which makes NW Scheduler far more safe and secure than using PDFs, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, or using similar programs like KHS, Deckhand, TSWin or Hourglass.
New World Scheduler fully complies with the data storage and data retention requirements of sfl.
If you choose to enable the optional feature called Congregation Sharing, data is automatically shared and synchronized between approved brothers, allowing all appointed brothers to quickly and easily keep up-to-date with what is happening in the congregation.
Congregation Sharing does not store sensitive or confidential information online, therefore is fully compliant with sfl. Rather, if you choose to enable Congregation Sharing, non-confidential data strings are saved online for distribution to other appointed brothers in your congregation.
Please see Data Security and Privacy for more information.
- Only your first name and email are needed to use New World Scheduler.
- We do not collect personal information for advertising, tracking or any other purpose.
- We do not collect any information from any publisher.
- We have a very strict and comprehensive Privacy Policy, that is very similar to jw.org.
- New World Scheduler developers or support personnel do not and can not access your congregation or publisher data.
- We do not even know which congregations are using NW Scheduler, and we deliberately do not track or record this information.
Please see Data Security and Privacy for more information.
New World Scheduler is not web-based. It must be installed locally on your computer.
We recommend brothers be cautious about using web-based or cloud-based apps to store congregation information. While web-based applications are convenient, we personally feel the direction and principles found in sfl do not permit web-based applications to store congregation data.
Web-based applications store all congregation and person data permanently online and generally do not use end-to-end encryption.
Web-based applications by nature must allow any website administrators, developers and potentially support personnel full access to everyone’s data. This means they can potentially access every single persons data in every single congregation. We do not feel comfortable with this, nor do we feel this complies with the principles and direction in sfl.
Web-based applications are also much more prone to hacking or data theft. They provide a single point for a hacker to attack and obtain every single persons data in every single congregation.
Web-based applications also rely on the honesty and integrity of worldly hosting companies, sometimes located in countries with poor data integrity records.
Web-based applications can even be subject to government or company subpoenas, whereby the software company or hosting company must provide access to everyone’s data.
New World Scheduler is not web based. All data is stored on your local computer, and we use end-to-end encryption. This means your data is truly safe. It cannot be opened or accessed by our developers, support staff, or anyone else.
New World Scheduler does not use Email or a Mail Server to share or transfer data.
We recommend brothers be cautious about sharing congregation information via email. Using Email or a Mail Server to transfer data is relatively insecure and unsafe.
We recommend against using Email or a Mail Server to share data files, for at least the following reasons:
- Email and a Mail Server is almost always not encrypted. All data is freely viewable.
- For example, Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook do not use encryption
- Email is by default sent from server to server in clear text that can be read by anyone while in transit.
- Mail Server data can be easily accessed by any Server or Email Admin, at any time.
- For example: Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook have thousands of Server and Email Admins that can access this data.
- Email and Mail Server data is usually permanently kept on a mail server, even if you remember to click Delete.
- For example: Most large companies have data retention policies that require keeping data for many years.
- Most Email and Mail Servers have built-in “backdoor access” for government agencies. This means they can very easily access any data at any time.
- For example, google “Edward Snowden”.
“Email by default is not and was never intended to be a secure mechanism for sending data,” says Dr. Catherine J. Ullman, Senior Information Security Analyst for UB. “Although you need credentials to log in and access the e-mail in your mailbox, email is by default sent from server to server in clear text that can be read by anyone while in transit.”
New World Scheduler does not use Email or a Mail Server to share or transfer data.
Yes, data can be shared via JWPub email.
However we recommend using Congregation Sharing instead. Congregation Sharing is quicker and easier, especially if there are multiple elders using NW Scheduler.
Additionally, each email you send costs the branch a small amount of money.
Yes, please see How to Password Protect
No, please close NW Scheduler when you are not using it.
NW Scheduler will automatically close after 20 minutes of inactivity. A 1-minute warning is given, and then the program will close.
Using New World Scheduler
Yes of course.
In some congregations different elders might choose different software to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
- Example: The Secretary might use different software to the Public Talk Coordinator.
While NW Scheduler has been designed to help all elders fulfill all roles and responsibilities, it can still effectively used by a single elder to fulfill his responsibility.
You might find that after using NW Scheduler to fulfill your role, other elders come on board and realize how beneficial it is.
Your NW Scheduler Registration determines what features can use.
You can limit who can view or edit data via User Access. You can also disable NW Publisher app Features.
We do not provide a “Public Witnessing only” or “Public Talk only” version of NW Scheduler. There is no other way to “remove” NW Scheduler functions.
Yes of course.
Congregation Sharing is an optional feature that must be manually enabled.
Yes of course, data can be shared via JWPub email.
However we recommend using Congregation Sharing instead. Congregation Sharing is quicker and easier, especially if there are multiple elders using NW Scheduler.
Additionally, while JWPub is more secure that regular email, it is still unencrypted and each email you send costs the branch a small amount of money.
Yes of course.
NW Publisher app is an optional feature that must be manually enabled.
New World Scheduler is not web-based. It must be installed locally on your computer.
We recommend brothers be cautious about using web-based or cloud-based apps to store congregation information. While web-based applications are convenient, we personally feel the direction and principles found in sfl do not permit web-based applications to store congregation data.
Web-based applications store all congregation and person data permanently online and generally do not use end-to-end encryption.
Web-based applications by nature must allow any website administrators, developers and potentially support personnel full access to everyone’s data. This means they can potentially access every single persons data in every single congregation. We do not feel comfortable with this, nor do we feel this complies with the principles and direction in sfl.
Web-based applications are also much more prone to hacking or data theft. They provide a single point for a hacker to attack and obtain every single persons data in every single congregation.
Web-based applications also rely on the honesty and integrity of worldly hosting companies, sometimes located in countries with poor data integrity records.
Web-based applications can even be subject to government or company subpoenas, whereby the software company or hosting company must provide access to everyone’s data.
New World Scheduler is not web based. All data is stored on your local computer, and we use end-to-end encryption. This means your data is truly safe. It cannot be opened or accessed by our developers, support staff, or anyone else.
Congregation Sharing
Congregation Sharing is an optional feature that can be enabled inside New World Scheduler by a Congregation Administrator.
It allows you to automatically share and synchronize all New World Scheduler data with other appointed brothers in your congregation.
Please see Congregation Sharing Help for more information.
Yes. New World Scheduler takes data security and data protection very seriously and ensures your congregation data is fully secure at all times. We fear Jehovah and would never do anything to misuse or endanger your data.
“Prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves.” – Matthew 10:16
Congregation Sharing has been designed so that your congregation information can only be accessed by approved brothers in your congregation.
This is no way anyone else can ever see your congregation data, including New World Scheduler support personnel or programmers.
Please see How does Congregation Sharing work? for more information.
Yes. Congregation Sharing does not store any confidential data online, therefore is fully compliant with sfl. Congregation Sharing is also fully compliant with the strict European GDPR Privacy Laws, since the data is never accessed by anyone outside of the European Union.
Please see How does Congregation Sharing work? for more information.
Yes of course, data can be shared via JWPub email.
However we recommend using Congregation Sharing instead. Congregation Sharing is quicker and easier, especially if there are multiple elders using NW Scheduler.
Additionally, while JWPub is more secure that regular email, it is still unencrypted and each email you send costs the branch a small amount of money.
Please see Congregation Sharing Help for more information.
Yes, you would first setup and Enable Congregation Sharing on one computer, then Open Congregation from Sharing on your other computer.
Please see Congregation Sharing Help for more information.
No. Data can only be opened and accessed by your local copy of NW Scheduler. Data is end-to-end encrypted and cannot be accessed by an API or any other means.
This is for important security reasons.
New World Scheduler does not use Email or a Mail Server to share or transfer data.
We recommend brothers be cautious about sharing congregation information via email. Using Email or a Mail Server to transfer data is relatively insecure and unsafe.
We recommend against using Email or a Mail Server to share data files, for at least the following reasons:
- Email and a Mail Server is almost always not encrypted. All data is freely viewable.
- For example, Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook do not use encryption
- Email is by default sent from server to server in clear text that can be read by anyone while in transit.
- Mail Server data can be easily accessed by any Server or Email Admin, at any time.
- For example: Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook have thousands of Server and Email Admins that can access this data.
- Email and Mail Server data is usually permanently kept on a mail server, even if you remember to click Delete.
- For example: Most large companies have data retention policies that require keeping data for many years.
- Most Email and Mail Servers have built-in “backdoor access” for government agencies. This means they can very easily access any data at any time.
- For example, google “Edward Snowden”.
“Email by default is not and was never intended to be a secure mechanism for sending data,” says Dr. Catherine J. Ullman, Senior Information Security Analyst for UB. “Although you need credentials to log in and access the e-mail in your mailbox, email is by default sent from server to server in clear text that can be read by anyone while in transit.”
New World Scheduler does not use Email or a Mail Server to share or transfer data.
NW Publisher app
NW Publisher app is a free mobile app designed for congregation publishers! It runs on Apple iOS, Google Android, Amazon Fire tablets and phones and some Windows 11 computers.
NW Publisher app is a different and separate program to New World Scheduler, with a different audience, different purpose and different functionality:
- New World Scheduler is a Desktop program designed for appointed brothers
- NW Publisher is a mobile app designed for publishers.
NW Publisher app allows publishers to see upcoming Christian Life and Ministry meeting & Public Talk assignments, upcoming Duties, submit Field Service Reports, view upcoming Congregation Events and any recent Congregation Announcements, and much much more.
Importing and Exporting Data to/from other programs or persons
Yes. New World Scheduler can import data from several other theocratic software programs, including Majestic KHS, Hourglass App, TSWin, CLM Explorer, Territory Helper or CSV file.
Please see:
Yes.
While it is generally best to import data when first creating a new Congregation in New World Scheduler, you can import the data into an existing New World Scheduler congregation.
Please see Import Help
Yes, New World Scheduler strongly believes your congregation and member data is your own, and you should be able to Import and Export your data as you wish. We also believe it is fair and right to allow data exchange between other scheduling programs.
New World Scheduler data can be exported to the common CSV format for importing into other programs.
Yes, please see Export for Circuit Overseer (CO)
Data can be exported is various ways, including to CSV, PDF, Timothy, Circuit Assistant or NW Scheduler format.
Field Service Reports
There are many, many ways to do this, depending on your preference:
In New World Scheduler
- In New World Scheduler, the congregation Secretary or his assistant can enter field service reports. They can use either the Congregation Field Service Report > Publishers or Persons > Publisher Records views.
- In New World Scheduler and after enabling Congregation Sharing, each Group Overseer or Assistant can enter their group field service reports. They can use either the Congregation Field Service Report > Publishers or Persons > Publisher Records views.
- In New World Scheduler, the congregation Secretary or his assistant can click the Send Field Service Collection to Group Overseers Quick Step.
- In New World Scheduler, the congregation Secretary or his assistant can Print or Email the Send Field Service Collection to Group Overseers report to Group Overseers.
Using NW Publisher app
- Using NW Publisher app, each publisher can quickly and easily submit their own field service report. The Congregation Secretary or Group Overseer can then Receive and Import this into New World Scheduler. Enable App Features – Allow Submit Reports.
- Using NW Publisher app, Group Overseers can be set as a Delegate for other publishers, and then submit field service reports for these publishers.
- Using NW Publisher app, Group Overseers can view and submit Field Service Reports for all publishers in their group. Enable App Features Show Publisher Information and set appropriate permissions.
- Using NW Publisher app, the Secretary can view and submit Field Service Reports for all publishers. Enable App Features Show Publisher Information and set appropriate permissions.
Yes, there are multiple ways to do this:
- If publishers are using the NW Publisher app, they will automatically receive multiple reminders to submit their Field Service report each month. Please see Notifications and Reminders for more information.
- The Secretary can use the Quick Steps Send Missing Reports List to Group Overseers, or Send Field Service Collection to Group Overseers. Please see Quick Steps for more information.
- The Secretary or Group Overseer can Email in NW Scheduler. Please see Email with New World Scheduler for more information.
No. New World Scheduler is designed for our worldwide brotherhood, not just the USA or certain western countries.
New World Scheduler is currently used by tens of thousands of brothers in over 90+ languages, living in over 174 countries. Different countries use different messaging apps and mobile phone networks.
It is completely impossible to send affordable SMS, TEXT or WhatsApp messages to brothers in more than 170 countries, nor is this necessary.
New World Scheduler already offer multiple ways to notify publishers to submit their reports. Please see How can we send reminders for publishers to submit Field Service reports? above.
New World Scheduler strictly follows the branch Congregation Records Retention Policy. We must remain obedient to direction given.
Congregation’s Publisher Record (S-21) for an active publisher are retained for the current service year and for the previous service year only. (see sfla). Obsolete data is removed on January 1.
For your reference, the current service year starts in September and ends in August of the next year.
For example:
- On September 1st, 2022, the current service year is September 2022 – August 2023 and the previous service year is September 2021 – August 2022.
- On August 30th, 2022, the current service year is September 2021 – August 2022 and the previous service year is September 2020 – August 2021.
When a publisher is set as Inactive their last Publisher Record is saved, regardless of time.
Updating New World Scheduler and Meeting Schedules
Congregation Merging or Splitting
It is not possible to merge multiple congregations in New World Scheduler.
However, if your congregation is merging with another, the easiest way to handle this is first choose which congregation has the most members, and make this the “new” congregation. You can change the Congregation Name and other details in Congregation Information.
Then transfer all members from the other congregation, and import them into the new congregation. You can also choose to transfer only some of the members.
The easiest way to handle a congregation split is to create a New Congregation for the smaller of the two new congregations, and continue to use existing congregation for the larger one. You can change the Congregation Name and other details in Congregation Information.
Then, transfer all members from the existing congregation and import them into the new congregation.
Finally, remove any members who were transferred from the existing congregation.
New World Scheduler Data and Backups
All data is saved on your local computer only, in your AppData folder (e.g. C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Local\NW Scheduler\MyData).
All data is fully encrypted at all times.
Each time you close New World Scheduler or Update New World Scheduler, an Automatic Backup is made on your local computer.
Your computer will store the last 30 Automatic Backups.
Automatic Backups are stored in the users AppData folder (e.g. C:\Users\\AppData\Local\NW Scheduler\Backups)
Even though New World Scheduler makes Automatic Backups, we still strongly recommend regularly making off-site backups (e.g. to USB) in case your computer crashes, is stolen or destroyed.
Please see Backup or Restore Data for more information.
All data is automatically saved. There is no need to press save.
Registration
Yes, you can install New World Scheduler on as many personal devices as you like. However, if you wish to use congregation sharing, you will need a CONGREGATION Registration.
If you want all brothers in your congregation to use New World Scheduler, please purchase a CONGREGATION Registration.
Please see Register New World Scheduler – Registration Questions for more information.
Yes, that is fine. To transfer an INDIVIDUAL registration please contact us with the email address you wish to transfer the registration from and the email address you wish to transfer the registration to.
A CONGREGATION Registration is linked to the New World Scheduler Congregation ID.
Please see Register New World Scheduler – Registration Questions for more information.
Please see Help > Registration Help for more information.
You can register, renew, upgrade or downgrade directly from within New World Scheduler. Simply click Me > Registration.
Please see Register New World Scheduler – Registration Questions for more information.
New World Scheduler Notifications
New World Scheduler allows brothers or publishers to be notified in the following ways:
No. New World Scheduler is designed for our worldwide brotherhood, not just the USA or certain western countries.
New World Scheduler is currently used by tens of thousands of brothers in over 100+ languages, living in over 174 countries. Different countries use different messaging apps and mobile phone networks.
It is completely impossible to send SMS or TEXT messages to brothers in more than 170 countries, nor is this necessary.
New World Scheduler already offer multiple ways to notify brothers or publishers of upcoming Public Talks, Assignments or Duties, such as: