The ranking queue manages moving beatmaps from Qualified to Ranked. Every day, around 16 beatmaps from each game mode are able to move from Qualified to Ranked.
A timer of 7 days is set when a beatmap enters Qualified. It counts how many days a beatmap should stay in Qualified before it can be ranked. When the timer of a beatmap reaches zero, it is eligible to be ranked on that day. The exact time of day that beatmaps get ranked is random.
Problem or suggestion stamps posted on a beatmap's discussion page will not stop the timer from counting down, but will stop the beatmap from being ranked after the timer reaches zero in 7 days. Once all problems and suggestions are resolved, the beatmap will be able to become ranked.
Some qualified beatmaps may be stalled from entering the ranked section for a variety of reasons, usually due to a lack of closure on open problems or suggestions. Any beatmap with issues that have not been addressed after a period of 48 hours since the date it was supposed to be ranked will be disqualified by the Nomination Assessment Team. After resolving all issues, the beatmap may be re-qualified, which can alter the timer. Beatmaps may also be disqualified earlier to apply changes from already addressed discussions.
Beatmaps that are stalled for exceptional reasons such as being placed under a veto or while actively undergoing a content moderation vote are exempt from the aforementioned limits and will be appropriately handled by either the Nomination Assessment Team or Global Moderation Team, respectively.
When a beatmap is disqualified, its time spent in Qualified is saved. If it gets re-qualified, it will enter the queue as if it had been in the queue for that duration already. This ability to "skip" time spent in the queue caps at 6 days to ensure that beatmaps always stay in Qualified for at least a full day after being re-qualified.
Additionally, for every week a beatmap stays disqualified, the timer will increase by 1 day, up to a maximum of 14 days.
If a beatmap is re-qualified with either new difficulties added or is nominated by new beatmap nominators, the ranked timer will be reset to 7 days instead of the saved time.