Schedule a Text Message on an iPhone can be done directly from the iPhone using the relevant app or Settings control. The steps below show the main procedure and explain the important options that can affect the result.
Quick steps
- Open Messages and choose the conversation.
- Tap the plus button beside the message field.
- Choose Send Later; tap More first if it is not visible.
- Set the date and time.
- Type the message and tap Send to place it in the schedule.
Current versions of Messages include Send Later for iMessage, so you no longer need a Shortcuts automation just to schedule a normal iMessage. Apple allows a message to be scheduled up to 14 days in advance.
Quick steps
- Open Messages and open or start an iMessage conversation.
- Tap the plus button beside the text field.
- Tap Send Later.
- Choose the date and time.
- Type the message and tap Send.
Send Later requires iMessage
The scheduling feature is an iMessage feature. The recipient can use any device, but the conversation must be using iMessage when you schedule it. The scheduled message is displayed differently in the conversation until it is sent.
Change or cancel a scheduled message
Before delivery, you can edit the scheduled time, send the message immediately, edit the message text, or delete it. Deleting the scheduled message before its delivery time cancels it.
Why older guides use Shortcuts
Before Apple added Send Later to Messages, scheduling often required a personal automation in Shortcuts or a third-party service. Those workarounds are no longer the simplest answer for an ordinary iMessage on an updated iPhone.
Before you finish
Send Later is useful for reminders, birthday messages, and messages you compose outside normal hours, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed emergency-notification system. Review the scheduled conversation after creating an important message and confirm the displayed date and time. If you change your mind, edit or delete it before the scheduled delivery time.
After scheduling a message, leave it visible in the conversation long enough to verify the intended date, time, recipient, and wording. This is particularly important for birthdays, appointments, or work messages where sending at the wrong time matters. If circumstances change, edit or cancel the scheduled message rather than sending a second message that may create confusion.
Use Send Later in Messages when available
In a supported iMessage conversation, open the message-app controls, choose Send Later, select the date and time, then write and schedule the message. The scheduled message remains visible in the conversation so you can review or change it before it is sent.
Know the scheduling limits
Send Later availability depends on current iOS features and the type of conversation. If the option is missing, verify that the iPhone is updated and that you are using a supported messaging context. Avoid third-party automation workarounds that require unsafe access to your messages or account.
Matthew Roberts created this site to help his friends and family with questions that they might have about how to change the settings on their iPhones. It now serves as an archive of iPhone how-to guides to help anyone that stumbles upon this website.