You can schedule a text in iMessage using the built-in Send Later feature, available on iOS 18 and later. Open Messages, tap the + icon, select Send Later, pick a date and time up to 14 days out, type your message, and tap send. No third-party app required. The message delivers at the set time even if your device is offline.
What You Need to iMessage Schedule Text
iOS 18 or Later Is Required
Send Later is not available on iOS 17 or below. To check your version, go to Settings > General > About and look at the iOS Version field. If you're running an older version, skip to the Shortcuts section further down — there's a workaround, though it's more involved.
iMessage Must Be Turned On
This is the part most people miss. Send Later only works in iMessage conversations — the ones with blue bubbles. It does not work in SMS threads (green bubbles).
iMessage, according to Wikipedia, is an Apple-exclusive messaging service that functions only between Apple devices — which is exactly why Send Later won't appear when you're texting someone on Android.
If you're messaging an Android user, your thread automatically switches to SMS and the option disappears entirely. To confirm iMessage is active on your device, go to Settings > Messages and check that the iMessage toggle is on.
How to Schedule a Text in iMessage — Step by Step (iOS 18+)
These steps work on any iPhone running iOS 18 or later.
Step 1 – Open Messages and Go to a Conversation
Open the Messages app. Tap an existing conversation or start a new one by tapping the compose icon in the top right corner.
Step 2 – Tap the + Icon and Select Send Later
Tap the + icon to the left of the text field. A menu appears — select Send Later. If you don't see it immediately, scroll down in the menu.
Step 3 – Set Your Date and Time
Tap the time field to open the scheduler. Choose the date and time you want the message to send. The scheduling window goes up to 14 days from the current date — not a day more. Once selected, the text field border changes to a dashed line, which is how you know the message is in scheduled mode.
Step 4 – Type Your Message and Tap Send
Type your message in the text field, then tap the send arrow. The message will appear in the conversation with a dashed border, sitting below your sent messages at the bottom of the thread. That's where scheduled messages live — scroll down if you don't see it.
It delivers at the scheduled time. If your phone is off or you're out of signal, Apple's servers handle delivery regardless.
In practice, most iPhone users are surprised to find the scheduled message sitting quietly at the bottom of the thread rather than at the top. Scrolling past sent messages to find it is a common source of confusion the first time around.
What Send Later Can and Cannot Do
Before you rely on this feature, it helps to know its actual limits. The 14-day window and single-recipient restriction catch a lot of people off guard.
As reported by TechCrunch, consumer demand for scheduling had previously driven developers to create complicated workarounds — Send Later finally replaces all of that with native functionality built directly into the Messages app.
|
Feature |
Supported |
Notes |
|
Schedule up to 14 days ahead |
Yes |
Hard limit set by Apple |
|
Deliver while device is offline |
Yes |
Apple servers hold and send the message |
|
Edit message before send time |
Yes |
Touch and hold the message bubble |
|
Change the scheduled send time |
Yes |
Tap Edit beside the date above the message |
|
Send the message immediately |
Yes |
Tap Edit > Send Message |
|
Cancel before send time |
Yes |
Touch and hold > Delete |
|
Recipient sees scheduling indicator |
No |
Delivers as a normal iMessage |
|
Sender notified on delivery |
No |
No separate confirmation sent to you |
|
Send to multiple recipients at once |
No |
One recipient per scheduled message only |
|
Schedule more than 14 days ahead |
No |
No workaround within iMessage |
|
Works in SMS threads (Android users) |
No |
iMessage threads only |
|
Recurring scheduled sends |
No |
Requires Shortcuts workaround |
|
Schedule from Mac via iMessage |
Yes |
Both devices must share the same Apple ID |
What's often overlooked is the single-recipient limit. If you want to send the same message to three people at a set time, you're scheduling three separate messages. There's no batch option inside iMessage.
How to Edit, Reschedule, or Cancel a Scheduled iMessage
Changing your mind is easy — as long as you do it before the message sends.
Edit the Message Content
Touch and hold the scheduled message bubble, then tap Edit. Make your changes and tap the send arrow to confirm. You can also tap the revert icon to undo edits.
Change the Scheduled Send Time
Tap Edit beside the date shown above the scheduled message. Select Edit Time, choose a new date and time, then tap away to confirm.
Send It Right Now Instead
Tap Edit beside the date, then tap Send Message. This delivers it immediately and removes the scheduled status.
Cancel and Delete the Message
Touch and hold the message bubble, then tap Delete. Deleting it before the send time cancels delivery entirely — the recipient gets nothing.
One thing to keep in mind: you need to be online to edit, reschedule, or delete. The offline delivery applies to the scheduled send itself, not to managing it.
How to Schedule iMessages on Older iOS (iOS 17 and Below)
If you're not on iOS 18 yet, the Shortcuts app is your best native option. It's not as clean as Send Later, but it works.
The main thing to understand upfront: Shortcuts doesn't schedule a true one-time message the same way Send Later does. It sets up an automation — which means it will repeat unless you manually delete it afterward.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up a Scheduled Message with Shortcuts
- Open the Shortcuts app and tap the Automation tab at the bottom.
- Tap + then Create Personal Automation.
- Select Time of Day, set your desired time, and choose a frequency (Daily, Weekly, or Monthly).
- Tap Add Action, then search for and select Send Message.
- Type your message in the Message field and select your recipient.
- Toggle off Ask Before Running if you want it to send automatically without prompting you.
- Tap Done.
After the message sends, go back to Shortcuts > Automations, swipe left on the automation, and tap Delete to stop it from repeating.
Send Later vs. Shortcuts — Side by Side
|
Factor |
Send Later (iOS 18+) |
Shortcuts (iOS 13–17) |
|
One-time send |
Yes |
Manual deletion needed after |
|
Recurring send |
No |
Yes |
|
Sends while phone is off |
Yes |
No — phone must be active |
|
Confirmation prompt before sending |
No |
Optional toggle |
|
Ease of setup |
Simple, 4 steps |
Multi-step automation |
|
14-day limit |
Yes |
No fixed limit |
At first glance, Shortcuts seems more flexible because there's no 14-day ceiling. But in practice, the need to delete the automation manually makes it genuinely inconvenient for one-off messages. Teams that use it regularly usually build a habit of setting a calendar reminder to clean up old automations.
Conclusion
Send Later on iOS 18 is the most straightforward way to iMessage schedule text — built in, no downloads, four steps. The core limits to know: one recipient, 14-day window, iMessage threads only. On iOS 17 or earlier, Shortcuts handles it but needs manual cleanup after.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a scheduled iMessage send if my iPhone is switched off?
Yes. Once scheduled, Apple stores the message on its servers and delivers it at the set time even if your device is offline or powered off. You don't need to be connected at the moment of delivery.
Can I schedule an iMessage to someone on Android?
No. Send Later only works in iMessage threads (blue bubble conversations). Texting an Android user switches the thread to SMS, and the Send Later option won't appear in that conversation.
What happens if iMessage is unavailable when the message is due to send?
If your Apple ID has been signed out or iMessage is disabled at delivery time, the message may fail. Apple does not automatically retry it via SMS in this case.
Can I schedule the same iMessage to multiple people at once?
No. Send Later supports one recipient per scheduled message. To send the same message to multiple contacts, you would need to schedule each one individually.
Can I schedule iMessages from a Mac?
Yes, provided your Mac and iPhone share the same Apple ID and iMessage is active on both. Open the Messages app on your Mac and use Send Later the same way you would on iPhone.
