How to schedule a text message on iPhone

If you have a post-2019 model, you can schedule a text on iPhone. Some methods are tricky, but you can still do it. For more details, scroll down.

I want to…	Steps
Schedule a text message on a pre-iOS 18 iPhone	Open Shortcuts > Automation > New Automation > Time of Day > Send Message > Set content and recipient > Done
Schedule a message on a newer iPhone	Open Messages > Choose contact > Tap "+" > Select “Send Later” > Set time > Write and send message
Delete a scheduled message before it sends	iOS 18: Long-press the message > Tap Delete Shortcuts: Open Shortcuts > Automation > Swipe left > Delete
Know if the scheduled message will be sent if my iPhone is off or has no internet at the scheduled time	Message won’t be sent and won’t automatically send when reconnected
Manage and back up messages	Use AnyTrans for iOS

How to schedule a text on iPhone

Now, I’ll be showing you how to set a text to send at a certain time on your iPhone in detail. There are two ways to get iOS to schedule a text. 

Schedule with the Shortcuts app

Shortcuts rolled out as a default app on the iPhone in 2019. It’s meant to help you set up macros — basically, little automation rules that let you do one thing automatically when something else happens. For example, you could use it to create a daily morning routine that kicks off at 7 am that will turn off Do Not Disturb, open the weather app, start playing a morning playlist, or instantly send your location to someone in your contacts with a single click. 

Here’s how to create personal automation to send a message at a certain time on iPhone:

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Tap the Automation tab > New Automation.

3. Choose an occurrence, such as Time of Day or Arrive, for when you want the text to be sent.
4. Edit the scheduling settings, including when you want the text sent and if you wish to repeat it. Also, check when to run the shortcut: immediately or run after a confirmation.

5. Tap Next > Send Message.
6. Fill in the message you want to send.
7. Choose your recipient.

8. Tap Done.

Need an easier workaround? All over the internet, you can find ready-made shortcuts — you just need to click the link and confirm adding them to your app. I don’t think it would be ethical to link directly to the shortcuts themselves, so instead, I’ll share the blog posts where I found them. 

Here, the guy shares three shortcuts for auto-messages that can send texts to Android users, and another one created a “Smart Send” shortcut that you can confirm through Apple Watch.

I know that at first glance, Shortcuts can seem complicated — but believe me, they can be incredibly useful. If you don’t want to build them yourself, I recommend checking out the Reddit page, where users share their ready-made shortcuts. While scheduling messages (at least for iMessages) is already built into newer versions of iOS and iPadOS (you’ll see in the next paragraph), there are still plenty of other features you can automate — and you’ll definitely love them.

Schedule with the latest iOS 18

This isn’t necessarily the most straightforward way to send scheduled messages on iPhone, so Apple introduced the second method with the new iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. This method is built into the Messages app and doesn’t require you to delete an automation later. To use this method:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Click on a recipient.
3. Click the plus button in the bottom left-hand corner.
4. Click Send Later.
5. Open the scheduler and choose when you want your message to be sent.
6. Enter your message as usual and tap the send button.

source: https://support.apple.com/en-g...

Once you send, your message will appear in your chat interface with that specific recipient as a hollow dashed line bubble. Your scheduled message will not be sent until the scheduled time, and once it does, it will appear as a regular blue iMessage bubble.

AnyTrans for iOS is like the superior version of the Finder app you never knew you needed. It comes with a super user-friendly interface, where you can manage the main apps on your iPhone and your iCloud, manage your social messages on apps like WhatsApp, and seamlessly back up your entire phone in one click without overwriting other backups.

How to delete a scheduled text message on iPhone

Changed your mind about a message? It happens to me. That’s why Apple introduced the message edit and removal features, which have certainly saved me from potentially awkward moments. If you’ve got a scheduled message ready to go and need to delete it before it gets sent out, I’ll show quick solutions. 

For messages scheduled using the iOS 18 feature:

1. Go to the Messages app.
2. Go to the conversation with the scheduled message.
3. Tap and hold the message > Delete.

For messages scheduled using the Shortcuts app:

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Tap the Automation tab.

3. Swipe left on the automation you want to delete > Tap Delete.

Personal experience: The other day, I noticed my phone was getting pretty slow, especially when I tried to use the Automation feature for my morning routine. After poking around a bit, I found out that my storage was all cluttered with duplicate files, old downloads, and a ton of random photos. It was taking up space and making everything lag. I didn’t want to deal with sorting through all that junk one by one, so I decided to give CleanMy®Phone a shot. Its Declutter feature scanned my stuff and helped me clear out over 1 GB of unnecessary files in just seconds.

Schedule a non-recurring text message using third-party apps

If you’re searching for other solutions to delay a text message on an iPhone, you’ll be happy to know that third-party scheduling apps have this capability.

Each app will have a different specific layout, but the step-by-step remains quite similar most of the time. These apps typically only work with non-recurring text messages because of their technical limitations and the fact they aren’t directly integrated with iMessage or other messaging apps.

In the app, you can use the tabs to view the status of your accounts, check out how your budgets and goals are doing, and see what expenses you’ve got scheduled for the month. It’ll keep you much more informed and accountable than having a vague spreadsheet you never update or a half-abandoned note.

Limits of scheduling texts on your iPhone

Thanks to the new iOS 18 scheduling feature, a lot of previous limitations related to text scheduling have been removed. However, they still exist. These include:

• You can only schedule messages up to 14 days in advance.
• The scheduling option is limited to iMessage, not SMS
• There are no notification alerts in the Messages app to confirm when a scheduled message has been sent.

How I use delayed texts on my iPhone: 5 ideas you'll want to steal

I know some people tend to ignore reminders or calendar notifications — honestly, I do that too sometimes. That’s why I use delayed messages to remind myself (or someone else) about things that really matter. Here are a few of my favorite use cases:

#1. A reminder to cancel a free trial

I usually schedule two messages: one the day before the trial ends, like “Hey, don’t forget to cancel the XYZ trial!” and another on the final day: “Check in — did you cancel XYZ trial?”

#2. Birthday congratulations timed to the exact minute

This one is for my closest people only. For example, my sister gets a message every year at 10:37 a.m. on her birthday saying “Welcome to Earth!” Maybe it's silly for someone in their mid-30s, but we both love this little tradition.

#3. Sweet messages for friends or dates

If I’ve got a date or meetup planned, I like to schedule a message like “Can’t wait for tonight!” or “Miss you already.” It adds a little spark.

#4. Self-support during tough times

Don't judge me, but when I know a hard day is coming up, I send future-me a message like “You handled today like a champ — be proud of yourself.” Or at the end of a rough week: “This week was something. But you nailed it. Have a great night with a movie, book, or anything else you want right now. You've earned it".

#5. Good night via text (parent hack)

Here’s a great little hack for anyone traveling — especially across time zones. Sometimes I schedule a good night text for my husband or parents (and I will do the same for my future kids) when I know I won’t be able to message them in real time. It’s a small gesture, but it keeps us connected.

Solved: Can you schedule a text on iPhone?

Scheduling a text has never been easier with the new Messages iOS 18 feature, nor has it ever been as detailed as it is with Shortcuts. With these two native methods of scheduling text messages, you’ll never forget an important message or a birthday text again. Apps like CleanMy®Phone, AnyTrans for iOS, and MoneyWiz 2024 also help manage other aspects of your daily life, whether it’s money, piled-up storage, or backing up your phone. 

These apps and 250+ more can be found on Setapp, a subscription platform that gives you access to useful iOS apps & tools that change the way you manage your life. Start your 7-day free trial today!

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