How to Schedule a Text Message on iPhone

Automate and manage scheduled iMessages effortlessly with our step-by-step guide. Learn how to schedule a text message on iPhone to send personal or business messages without any delays:

Do you want a solution to help you remind your mother to take her medicine at exactly 8 p.m. every day? Or is it the birthday of your loved one, and you want to be the first one to wish them at exactly 12?

You don’t need to be afraid of forgetting to text, because today’s smartphones are extremely reliable in making such day-to-day tasks easier. For example, you can download apps for keeping notes, booking a taxi, ordering food online, doing yoga, scheduling a text to be sent later, and much more.

Table of Contents:

Can you Schedule a Text on iPhone: Complete iOS Guide
Quick Answer to How to Schedule a Text Message on iPhone
Comparing Methods for Scheduling Texts on iPhones
Troubleshooting Issues Faced By Users
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion

Can you Schedule a Text on iPhone: Complete iOS Guide

In this article, we will talk about scheduling a text message on an iPhone.

People usually set an alarm so that they can send their important message at a particular time. What if I told you that there are multiple ways to schedule a text message to be sent at a later date and time, at your preferred time?

The text scheduling feature is available in the iMessages app, but only iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, or later versions support this feature.

Check out how to schedule a text message on iPhone: How to use Send Later in Messages on iPhone or iPad | Apple Support

Quick Answer to How to Schedule a Text Message on iPhone

Quick Answer to How to schedule a text on iPhone

Text scheduling is done for different purposes, like sending a personal message, reminding your clients about their appointment, business marketing, etc.

Business Marketing

Maintaining a good relationship with customers is one of the most important tasks for a business. And for this purpose, businesses maintain continuous communication with their customers by wishing them on specific occasions, and by informing them about their latest products, offers, exclusive discounts, etc.

However, the issue at hand is listed below:

How to send scheduled messages in bulk?
How to schedule the messages to be sent at a specific time, so that the customer will have some spare time to go through the message?

We’ll discuss how you can do all this easily and quickly using apps.

Appointment Reminders

We all have to admit that sometimes we forget important dates like our appointments with a doctor, a lawyer, a business client, etc. All of us, at some point in time, have faced issues because of forgetting our important appointments or tasks.

So, many of the businesses today take this task of reminding their clients about the upcoming appointments. This avoids wasting their time and the need to reschedule appointments. If you are in search of an appointment scheduler, then read through our detailed guide on the Top Appointment Scheduling Software.

If you are a business (like a healthcare organization, a beauty salon, etc.) and you want to schedule a text message to be sent to your client at a specific time regarding their appointment with you, then you can just use the iMessage app (or some other app from the App Store) to do so.

Read the article further to learn how to schedule a message on iPhone, how to schedule a text to Android from iPhone, how to use the Shortcuts app for scheduling messages, and which third-party apps to use for this purpose.

How to Schedule a Text Message on iPhone in the iMessages App

To use the iOS 18 Send Later feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the iMessages app.

2. Search for the contact you want to send the scheduled message to.

3. Tap on the + icon.

4. Now select Send Later

5. Set date and time for the message.

6. Now type in the message.

7. Tap the Send icon.

How to Edit a Scheduled Message on iPhone

Here’s how to edit a message you’ve scheduled in iMessage:

Go to iMessages.
Find the message you have scheduled from the list of messages. You would most probably find the scheduled message at the bottom of your sent messages.
Now tap and hold your finger on the scheduled message.
Select the Edit option from the menu.
Change as needed, then send the message.

How to Edit Date & Time of a Scheduled Message on iPhone

Go through these steps to understand the process:

Open the iMessages application.
Find the scheduled message.
You will see the scheduled date above your message. Tap on the Edit option next to it.
Now you can change the date or choose to send the message instantly.

How to Use the Send Later Feature in a Group Chat

If you want to schedule a message in a group chat, you can do it by following these steps:

Open the iMessages app.
Open the chat where you want to schedule the message.
Tap the + icon located beside the text input bar.
Now select the Send Later.
Choose the date and time for your message.
Now enter the text.
Tap the Send icon.

Can I Use the Send Later Feature Through RCS & SMS/MMS

iMessage, RCS, and SMS/MMS are different ways of sending messages on an iPhone. iMessage texts can be sent and received from iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or Apple Vision users only; RCS and SMS/MMS messages can be sent to non-Apple users as well.

The Send Later option is available within the iMessage app (one with blue bubbles) only. RCS and SMS/MMS messaging (with green bubbles) do not offer the Send Later feature.

Please note that only iOS 18 and later versions are compatible with the Send Later feature.

If the Send Later option is not available in your iPhone version, you can use the Shortcuts app or other third-party apps for scheduling a text message.

iOS devices offer the Shortcuts app to schedule a recurring message. The Shortcuts app comes built-in on iOS 13 and higher versions. If you don’t have the app, you can install it from the App Store.

Steps to Schedule a Text on iPhone Using the Shortcuts App

The steps may vary slightly with different iPhone models.

Follow these steps:

1. Open the Shortcuts app.

2. Tap on Automation.

3. Now, select New Automation.

4. Click on Time of Day and then set the date and time for your automated message.

5. Select the Run Immediately option so that the message gets sent automatically, without you having to give your consent every time. Alternatively, you can choose Run After Confirmation, and you will send the message only after your confirmation.

6. Once you have set the date and time of your automations, tap on Next as in the image below.

7. Tap on Send Message as shown below.

8. Next, select Recipients as depicted below.

9. Then tap on the + icon to choose the contacts to which you want to send the message. You can add multiple contacts here.

10. Tap on Done

11. Now tap on Message as in the image below.

12. Then type in your message.

13. Tap on Done.

14. The automated recurring message is now scheduled.

15. You can stop the recurring message at any time by following the steps:

Open the Shortcuts app
Tap on Automation
Swipe left on the automation you want to stop recurring

16. Tap on Delete.

If you don’t want to schedule a recurring message, you can use a third-party application to schedule a text message. Watch this short reel illustrating the benefits of the Shortcuts app.

Ways to Schedule Send a Text on iPhone Using iPhone Text Scheduler

Some of the best apps for scheduling a text message on an iPhone are:

Kyew: It allows users to,
- Schedule text messages to send later
- Mass text bulk SMS
- Send recurring messages
- Add photos, videos, and files to the message

SMS Scheduler: This app offers the following features,
- Reminds users to send a message with the chosen frequency
- Send a scheduled message

Moxy Messenger: With this app, you can
- Schedule texts and emails
- Set reminders
- Let’s you schedule unlimited messages
- Supports SMS, iMessage, Apple Mail, Google Mail, WhatsApp, and group messages.

Reminderbase: This app allows users to
- Schedule text messages and emails
- Add images to the text
- Import appointments to set reminders
- Send text messages in bulk.

How to Schedule a Text on iPhone to Android

You can schedule a text from an iPhone to an Android using third-party apps. Several third-party apps are straightforward to use and allow users to send scheduled messages for free.

Note: The iMessages app does not allow you to schedule a text to Android phones.

Comparing Methods for Scheduling Texts on iPhones

	Send Later through iMessages	Shortcuts	Third-party apps
Features	Lets you insert images, audio to the message; You can schedule a message up to 14 days prior to sending; You can edit the text or the date and time of the scheduled message before it gets sent to the receiver.	Lets you automate recurring messages; Lets you schedule unlimited messages.	Offer advanced features for bulk scheduling of texts; Allow you to insert images, audios and videos in the messages.
Pros	No need to download another app.	Comes in-built in most of the iPhone models	Unlimited scheduling.
Compatibility	Not compatible with all iPhone models	Works on all iPhones	You can easily find an app compatible for your device, from the App Store.
Price	Free	Free	Scheduling a text message is usually free with most of the third party apps. But they contain in-app purchases for premium features.
Ease of use
Reliability	Reliable	Reliable app	Reliable if downloaded from the App Store
Suitable for	Personal use	Personal and professional use	They can be quite useful for personal as well as professional use.
Advice	This feature is the best for scheduling a text quickly. But if you want more advanced features (like bulk sending at once), try third-party apps from the App Store.	If you don’t want to download a new application in your phone, you can use Shortcuts.	Many third-party apps offer advanced features like bulk scheduling of texts, inserting photos, videos and files to the message, and much more.

Troubleshooting Issues Faced By Users

1. “Send Later” isn’t Functioning:

Your phone might have these problems if Send Later isn’t working:

Your phone may need an update. Check for updates in your phone’s settings.
iMessage works with a Wi-Fi network or mobile data. Make sure one of them is on.
With iMessage Send Later, you can send messages to iOS users only. If you are trying to send it to an Android phone, it won’t work. You’ll have to use a third-party application for that purpose.
Check whether or not iMessage is enabled on your iPhone. Go to Settings, then select Messages, and then turn iMessage ON if it was off.

2. “Send Later” is not Visible:

Here’s why the Send Later option might be missing from your phone:

Your phone may not be compatible with it. Make sure you are using iOS 18 or later versions if you want to use the Send Later feature.
There can be a bug. Try restarting the phone.
Check for system updates.

3. The Send Later feature Vanishes when Messaging Android users:

Yes, the Send Later option will disappear if you try to send a message to an Android user. The message will automatically convert into a standard SMS or MMS message. This is because the Send Later feature is available in iMessages, and through iMessages, you can send messages to iOS users only.

4. Send Later Feature Compatibility Issues:

To use the Send Later feature, you must have one of the following devices:

iOS 18
iPadOS 18
MacOS Sequoia
WatchOS 11
VisionOS 2, or later.

The Send Later feature works only on these devices or their later versions.

5. What happens when your iPhone is Offline at the scheduled send time:

You don’t need to worry about connecting your device to the internet at the scheduled time, because the message will get sent at its time, even if your device is off. This is because the Apple servers encrypt and store the Send Later messages until they are sent.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I send a delayed SMS on my iPhone?

iOS 18 users can send delayed SMS to their contacts using iMessages by following these simple steps:
• Go to iMessages app
• Open a chat
• Tap on the + icon
• Select the option – Send Later
• Now select Date and Time for the message to be sent on
• Type the Message in the text field
• Tap on the Send icon.

If you don’t have this feature on your iPhone, you can use the Shortcuts app, which lets users automate recurring messages to be sent at a specific time each day, or specific days of each week, or dates of every month. Or else you can download a third-party app for this purpose.

2. How to schedule a message on iMessage?

If your iPhone supports this feature, you can schedule a message by doing as stated under:
• Go to the iMessages app
• Open a Chat
• Tap on the + icon
• Select the option- Send Later
• Now select the Date and Time to schedule the message
• Now enter the text inside the text field.
• If you want to insert photos, audio, etc. then tap on the + icon again, then tap on the desired option (for adding an image/audio etc.)
• Now tap on the Send option. The message will be sent at the scheduled time.

3. Where is send later option on the iPhone?

Send Later option is available in iMessages. Open iMessages, then tap on a conversation. You will see a ‘+’ icon beside the text input field. Tap on it.

Then you will see a list of options, including Send Later. Select it, and then set the Date and Time for scheduling your message to be sent at a specific time later.

4. Can you schedule a text message on Android?

This depends on the features offered by your Android model. Most of the new models offer this feature. You can schedule a text message on an Android by following these steps (the steps would vary with different Android models):
• Go to Messages
• Tap on the Search icon
• Enter the name of the contact to whom you want to send a scheduled message
• Tap on the contact result you get
• Now click the ‘+’ icon located beside the text input field
• Select Schedule Send
• Select Date and Time and then tap on Set.
• Now, input your message
• Tap the send icon.

5. Why can’t I receive Messages on iMessage?

There can be several reasons why you cannot receive messages on iMessage, for example:
• You must have an internet connection to send or receive messages through iMessages. So, check your internet connection if you are facing issues.
• Check whether iMessage is turned on or not in your iPhone’s settings, by following these steps:
a. Go to Settings
b. Now select Messages
c. Make sure iMessage is Turned ON.
d. If it was already turned on, then turn it off and then immediately turn it back on. This can fix glitches (if there are any).
• Check for system updates. Sometimes the functions of a smartphone behave abruptly when there is a pending software update.

Conclusion

The conclusion will offer you an understanding of how to schedule messages to your contacts in the best way.

If you want to schedule texts for personal use:

The Send Later option available on the iMessages app is the best. It is easy to use, reliable, free, and does not require you to download an additional app for this purpose.
For automating daily, weekly, or monthly recurring messages, the Shortcuts app is the best option.
Third-party apps are easier to use than the Shortcuts app. Plus, they can provide a wider set of features for texting and scheduling at a centralised place.

If you want a scheduler for professional use:

The Send Later option in the iMessage app may fall short of features that you would like to have. It allows you to schedule one message at a time.
The Shortcuts app can schedule many messages at a time (by adding multiple contacts to the recipients list). It is used to schedule recurring messages. If you want the recurring message to stop, just delete the scheduled message at any time.
You can look for a third-party app for professional use, based on your unique requirements. They offer advanced scheduling features like scheduling texts and emails, bulk scheduling, and more.

For more iPhone-related guides, you can explore our range of tutorials below:

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