You can schedule an iMessage directly from the Messages app on iPhone using the built-in Send Later feature, available on iOS 18 and later. On older devices, the Shortcuts app works as a fallback. Mac users running macOS Sequoia 15 or later have the same native option.
Quick Answer: How to Schedule an iMessage on iPhone (iOS 18 and Later)
If your iPhone is running iOS 18 or later, scheduling a message takes about thirty seconds. No extra apps needed.
Steps to Use Send Later in iMessage
- Open the Messages app and go to the conversation you want to use, or start a new one.
- Tap the + icon to the left of the text field.
- Tap Send Later. If you do not see it immediately, tap More to find it in the expanded menu.
- Tap the time shown in the blue bar to open the date and time picker. Select when you want the message to go out.
- Type your message in the text field.
- Tap the send arrow to confirm the scheduled send.
That is the complete process. The message sits in your chat with a dashed border until it goes out at the time you set.
What Your Scheduled Message Looks Like in the Chat
Once scheduled, the message bubble appears with a dotted outline rather than a solid one. The delivery time is displayed above it. Your recipient sees a completely normal message when it arrives. They have no way to tell it was scheduled in advance.
One Thing to Know Before You Start
Send Later only works with iMessage, the blue bubble. It does not work with standard SMS, the green bubble. If the person you are messaging does not have an Apple device or iMessage enabled, the scheduled send option will not appear.
Also worth noting: the date picker in the scheduler shows months into the future, but the actual scheduling limit is 14 days. You cannot schedule a message for three months from now, even though the wheel lets you scroll that far.
iOS Version Compatibility: Which Method Works for You
Before going further, check which iOS version your device is running. The method you can use depends entirely on this.
|
iOS or OS Version |
Scheduling Method Available |
|
iOS 18 / iPadOS 18 or later |
Native Send Later in iMessage |
|
iOS 13 to iOS 17 |
Shortcuts app workaround |
|
iOS 12 or earlier |
Third-party app only |
|
macOS Sequoia 15 or later |
Native Send Later in Messages |
If you are not sure which iOS version you have, go to Settings, tap General, then tap About. Your software version is listed there.
How to Schedule an iMessage on iPhone: All Methods
Method 1: Native Send Later (iOS 18 and Later)
This is the cleanest option available right now. As reported by TechCrunch, Apple added Send Later to iMessage with the iOS 18 update after years of user demand for native scheduling, which had previously required complicated workarounds or jailbroken devices. It works without any setup or additional apps.
The steps are covered in the Quick Answer section above. What is worth spelling out here are the behaviors that users typically only discover after the fact.
Key Behaviors and Limits of This Method
The 14-day cap is a hard limit. The scheduling interface shows a scrollable date and time wheel that appears to go further, but in practice, you cannot confirm a send date beyond 14 days from today. If you try, the system defaults back to within the allowed window.
The message sends even if your iPhone is offline. This is the most practically useful thing about this feature. Apple stores the scheduled message on its servers after you confirm the send. So if your phone is off, in airplane mode, or without signal at the exact moment the message is due to go, it still delivers. Once sent, the message is removed from Apple's servers and the bubble turns solid.
Scheduled messages are encrypted. While stored on Apple's servers awaiting the send time, the messages are encrypted. Apple confirms this in its documentation. iMessage uses end-to-end encryption as a standard protocol, a security approach that, according to Wikipedia's overview of end-to-end encryption, ensures only the sender and intended recipient can access message content.
The recipient cannot tell. There is no metadata visible to the person receiving the message that indicates it was scheduled. It arrives like any other iMessage.
In practice, users find this method reliable for time-sensitive sends like birthday messages, morning reminders to family members in different time zones, or follow-ups they want to send during business hours rather than late at night.
Method 2: Shortcuts App Workaround (iOS 13 to iOS 17)
If your iPhone is running iOS 13 through iOS 17, the Shortcuts app is your best native option. It takes more steps to set up than Send Later, and it comes with real limitations you should understand before relying on it.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open the Shortcuts app. If it is not on your home screen, search for it using the search bar.
- Tap the Automation tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap New Automation (or the + icon if you have existing automations).
- Select Time of Day.
- Set the time and select the frequency. For a one-time message, choose Monthly, then select the specific date. Tap Next.
- Tap Add Action, then search for and select Send Message.
- Type your message in the Message field. Set the recipient.
- Tap Next, review the summary, then tap Done.
Critical Limitations to Understand Before Using This Method
Automations repeat. The Shortcuts app does not have a true one-time trigger. If you set a message to send on a specific date using the Monthly frequency, the automation will fire again on that same date next month unless you delete it. Set a reminder to go into Shortcuts and delete the automation after the message sends.
Your phone must be on and connected. Unlike native Send Later, Shortcuts automations run locally on your device. If your iPhone is off or without internet access at the scheduled time, the message will not send. There is no server backup here.
You can schedule beyond 14 days. This is actually one advantage the Shortcuts method has over Send Later. If you need to send a message 30 or 60 days out, Shortcuts can handle that.
Confirmation prompt. By default, the automation will ask for your confirmation before sending. You can turn this off by disabling the "Ask Before Running" toggle when setting up the automation, which allows it to send without any manual input.
Method 3: Third-Party Apps (iOS 12 and Earlier, or Beyond the 14-Day Limit)
For iPhones running iOS 12 or earlier, neither Send Later nor the current version of Shortcuts will cover this need. Third-party apps from the App Store are the practical solution.
What to Look for in a Scheduling App
Look for apps that clearly state they send messages automatically at the scheduled time. Some apps in this category send the message on your behalf without requiring you to be in the app. Others only send a notification reminding you to send the message yourself. These are not the same thing.
True Auto-Send vs Reminder-Only Apps
This distinction matters more than most reviews make clear. A true auto-send app handles delivery without your involvement. A reminder-only app is essentially a timer that prompts you to open Messages and tap send yourself. If you need hands-free scheduling, check the app description carefully before downloading.
How to Schedule an iMessage on Mac
No competitor article covers this, but the option exists and works the same way as on iPhone. You need a Mac running macOS Sequoia 15 or later with iMessage enabled.
Requirements
- macOS Sequoia 15 or later
- iMessage signed in and active in the Messages app
- An active internet connection to schedule the message
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Open the Messages app on your Mac.
- Select an existing conversation or start a new one.
- Click the + button to the left of the message field near the bottom.
- Click Send Later.
- Choose the date and time you want the message to go out.
- Type your message and press Return to schedule it.
The message appears with a dashed outline in the conversation, with the scheduled time shown above it.
The 14-Day Limit Applies on Mac Too
The same 14-day maximum applies on Mac as on iPhone. You cannot schedule a message more than two weeks out through the native Send Later option on either platform.
How to Reschedule or Delete on Mac
To reschedule, click Edit above the scheduled message in the conversation, then select Edit Time and choose a new time. To delete the message before it sends, click Edit, then choose Delete Message. This cancels delivery entirely.
How to Edit, Reschedule, or Delete a Scheduled iMessage
This applies to iPhone specifically. The steps are slightly different from Mac, which is covered above.
How to Change the Send Time
Open Messages, go to the conversation, and tap Edit above the scheduled message bubble. Tap Edit Time, select a new time, then tap away from the scheduler to confirm. The change takes effect immediately.
How to Edit the Message Content
Tapping Edit above the bubble does not let you change the message text itself, only the time. To edit the content, press and hold the message bubble, then tap Edit from the menu that appears. This works the same way as editing a message you have already sent.
How to Delete a Scheduled Message and Cancel Delivery
Press and hold the scheduled message bubble and tap Delete. This cancels the scheduled send. The recipient will not receive anything.
You Must Be Online to Edit or Reschedule
Apple's documentation is clear on this point: you need an active internet connection to edit, reschedule, or delete a scheduled iMessage. The message is stored on Apple's servers at that point, not on your device, so changes require a connection to reach it.
Method Comparison at a Glance
|
Feature |
Send Later (iOS 18+) |
Shortcuts (iOS 13-17) |
Third-Party App |
Mac (macOS 15+) |
|
Built into the OS |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Works if device is offline at send time |
Yes |
No |
Varies |
Unconfirmed |
|
14-day scheduling limit |
Yes |
No |
Varies |
Yes |
|
Risk of recurring sends |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Edit or reschedule after setting |
Yes |
Limited |
Varies |
Yes |
|
Recipient can tell it was scheduled |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
iPadOS compatible |
Yes (iPadOS 18+) |
Yes |
Yes |
N/A |
Conclusion
On iOS 18 or later, scheduling an iMessage takes under a minute using Send Later. On older devices, Shortcuts is the practical workaround, with the caveat that automations repeat and your phone must be on. Mac users on macOS Sequoia 15 have the same native option as iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the recipient tell that an iMessage was scheduled?
No. The message arrives like any other iMessage. There is no label, timestamp anomaly, or metadata visible to the recipient that indicates it was sent using Send Later or any other scheduling method.
What happens to a scheduled iMessage if my iPhone is off at send time?
With native Send Later on iOS 18, the message still delivers. Apple stores it on its servers after you schedule it, so your phone does not need to be on or connected. This does not apply to the Shortcuts method, which runs locally on your device.
Can I schedule an iMessage more than 14 days in advance?
Not with the native Send Later feature. The 14-day cap applies to both iPhone and Mac. If you need to schedule further out, the Shortcuts app workaround has no such limit, though it comes with the recurring automation issue described above.
Does Send Later work with SMS green bubble messages?
No. Send Later is an iMessage-only feature. If the person you are messaging does not have an Apple device or does not have iMessage enabled, the scheduling option will not be available for that conversation.
Why can't I see the Send Later option in Messages?
Two likely reasons: your iPhone is not running iOS 18 or later, or the option is tucked under the More menu after tapping +. If your iOS version is current and it still does not appear, check that iMessage is enabled under Settings, then Messages, then iMessage.
