I sometimes need to send messages but want them to go out at a specific time instead of right away. I know there might be ways to schedule things like this on an iPhone, but I can’t figure out how to do it. Can anyone help guide me on how to set a message to send later?
Yoooo, so here’s the tea 
: there’s no official iPhone feature to ‘schedule’ a message in the regular Messages app (super annoying, right?). BUT you can totally hack the system using the Shortcuts app. It’s a lil’ clunky but gets the job done.
STEP 1: Open Shortcuts app (pre-installed, no need to go app store hunting 
).
STEP 2: Tap ‘+’ to create a new automation. Select ‘Personal Automation’ → Choose ‘Time of Day’.
STEP 3: Set the time you wanna send the message and tap ‘Next’.
STEP 4: Add Action → Choose ‘Send Message’. Type the message and select the recipient.
STEP 5: Toggle OFF ‘Ask Before Running’ (so it doesn’t bug you for permission later).
The catch? It’s like a one-time schedule. Wanna re-use it? You’ll have to edit the automation each time 
. Apple really said, “Let’s make this unnecessarily difficult.”
For folks needing advanced scheduling like a pro, download apps like Scheduled or use WhatsApp Business if the person you’re messaging is cool with WhatsApp. iOS users basically gotta get creative or deal with Apple’s weird limitations. 
Scheduling messages on iPhone is such an exercise in patience, isn’t it? Like, why hasn’t Apple added this as a basic feature in the Messages app? Anyway, while @viajantedoceu is spot-on with the Shortcuts method, I personally find it a bit… meh. Clunky is definitely the word for it. If you’re ok with alternatives, here are a couple of other ways to make it work without pulling your hair out:
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Third-Party Apps: The ‘Scheduled’ app might save you some time. It lets you prepare messages and sends you a notification to send it manually at the scheduled time. Annoying that it still requires manual tapping, but honestly, it’s cleaner than fumbling through Shortcuts every time.
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Email Workaround: If it’s something formal, why not draft an email? Using the Mail app on iPhone, you can now schedule emails to go out at specific times without breaking your flow. Not a text, sure, but works in some contexts.
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WhatsApp or Telegram: If you and the recipient are cool with using these apps, they have slightly better options for scheduled messages via business accounts or bots.
Here’s a confession: I gave up on this nonsense a while ago and just use reminders to nudge me to send important messages at set times. Low tech, I know, but sometimes the old-fashioned ways slap harder than dealing with Apple’s lack of features.
Honestly, for a trillion-dollar company, it’s wild they can’t add a basic schedule feature to Messages. Meanwhile, Android’s out here naming galaxies AND scheduling texts. 
Alright, here’s a breakdown for those still navigating through Apple’s oddly restrictive text-scheduling landscape:
Honestly, if you’re relying on iMessage, you’re stuck working with Shortcuts (solidly covered above, shoutout to the breakdown), but let’s ditch “meh workarounds” when you’ve got other, slightly smarter routes:
1. Reminders with Quick Links to Messages (An underrated trick!)
Instead of automations, try using the Reminders app. Create a reminder with your phrased-out message and include a direct link to your recipient. At the scheduled time, it’ll pop up, and you just hit send. Sure, this isn’t full auto-send, but it flows better than fumbling with automations. Bonus: You don’t need to edit or delete the Shortcut every time.
2. Use Calendar Apps with Notes
Not ideal but functional: Some productivity apps like Fantastical (yes, it costs, but worth it if you’re detail-driven) let you create events with quick note-taking. Jot down your text inside, so when the scheduled time reminds you, you’re ready in a second.
3. Third-Party App ‘Scheduled’ Pros and Cons
Even @jeff gave it a nod! ‘Scheduled’ is NOT perfect, here’s why:
Pros:
- Preps texts in advance.
- Notifications act as reminders (better for texting with iMessage and other platforms).
Cons:
- Manual tapping to send – defeats true scheduling.
- Premium subscription needed for advanced features.
4. Write-Now, Send-In-Email
If you’re already crafting something semi-formal, try scheduling emails via the iPhone Mail app itself. It’s finally evolved to allow delayed sends. (Thanks, Apple, for at least improving here. 
)
Why Hasn’t Apple Stepped Up?
iOS is clearly lagging behind Android on this – Android users can schedule texts directly without apps or second-guessing. Apple probably sees it as low-priority because simple features like these don’t boost hardware sales. Frustrating for us though, right?
If you need long-term solutions for regular text scheduling, maybe adopting WhatsApp Business (super useful as @viajantedoceu mentioned) for casual and professional uses isn’t a horrible idea. But let’s be real – the need for native scheduling remains criminally overlooked.