Have you ever wanted to send a message at a specific time without having to press send yourself? Thankfully, you can schedule a text on your phone, much like you can with an email or a social media post.
Before diving into the process, it’s essential to note that scheduling a text on Android requires Android 7 or newer and an active internet connection at send time. For the native iPhone method, you need iOS 18, and the recipient must also use iMessage.
Depending on your device and operating system, there are several methods you can use to schedule your text messages to be sent at a later time or date.
Scheduling a text on Android is a straightforward process. To start, compose a text in your Messages app, ensuring your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data when the message is scheduled to be sent. Tap and hold on the Send button, and a menu titled “Schedule send” will appear. Select a date and time for your message; you can choose a preset time or tap “Pick date and time” to set a custom schedule. Tap the Send button to confirm, and the message will now have a clock icon and a notification in the conversation indicating it is scheduled. You can tap the scheduled message to edit its content, send it immediately, or delete it.
For iPhone users with iOS 18, the native “Send Later” feature is available. To use this feature, open the Messages app on a compatible device, which includes iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later, iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, iPhone 11 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14 series, iPhone 15 series, and iPhone 16 series. Open a conversation with another iMessage user, as this feature only works if both you and the recipient have iMessage enabled in Settings > Messages. Tap the + icon next to the text field and select “Send Later,” which has a blue clock icon. A blue box will appear above your message field; tap this box to use the scroll dials to set a specific date and time, up to two weeks in advance. Write your message, and notice that the send button has changed to a transparent blue button, indicating it’s in scheduling mode. Tap the send button to schedule the message, which will appear in your chat with a blue dashed outline, visible only to you until it is sent. You can tap “Edit” next to the message to change the time, send it now, or delete it. After scheduling, tap the “x” on the blue “Send Later” box to return to regular texting.
iPhone users with older iOS versions can use the Shortcuts app to schedule texts. Open the Shortcuts app, which is pre-installed on iOS 13 and later. Navigate to the Automations tab and tap “New Automation” or the + icon. Select “Time of Day” and set the time and date for your message. For a one-time message, choose Monthly and select the specific day. Ensure that “Run Immediately” is selected and tap “Next.” Tap the “Send Message” action, then tap the placeholder for “Message” to write your text, and tap “Recipients” to choose who will receive it. Tap “Done” to save the automation. Note that this creates a recurring monthly automation, so after the message is sent, you must manually disable or delete the automation in the Shortcuts app to prevent it from sending again.
Another option for iPhone users is to use the Reminders app, available on iOS 13 or later. While this method does not send the text automatically, it creates a notification to remind you to send it. Open the Reminders app and tap the + New Reminder button. Give the reminder a title and write the full text of your message in the “notes” section. Tap the “i” button next to the reminder to set a specific date and time for the alert. When the reminder notification appears, you can send the text directly from the app by opening the reminder, highlighting the message text in the notes, tapping the “Share” button from the pop-up menu, selecting the Messages icon, choosing your contact, and tapping Send.
Alternatively, you can use third-party apps to schedule texts. Consider Moxy Messenger, which can schedule texts, iMessages, and messages for other platforms like WhatsApp and Slack, with premium features requiring a subscription. Try Reminderbase, marketed to small businesses, which lets you schedule a limited number of texts and emails for free, with paid plans for more volume. Use Carrier Messaging, a simple iPhone and iPad app focused only on scheduling SMS, offering a limited number of free scheduled messages with a one-time fee for an unlimited pro upgrade.
As a pro tip, double-check the scheduled time and date before confirming, especially if you’re scheduling messages across different time zones, to avoid sending them at an inconvenient hour.
Scheduling messages offers a significant advantage for both personal and professional communication. For businesses, it allows you to send appointment reminders, marketing updates, or follow-ups to clients at the most effective times without manual intervention. This ensures your communication is timely and consistent, improving customer engagement and operational efficiency. On a personal level, scheduling texts is perfect for sending birthday wishes or anniversary messages right on time, even if you’re busy or in a different time zone. It can also serve as a great way to send yourself important reminders or to make sure you check in with friends and family on a specific day, helping you maintain connections without relying solely on your memory.
