How to Schedule an iMessage: A Complete iPhone Walkthrough

Want to know how to schedule an iMessage without downloading anything extra? Open Messages, tap the "+" icon, select Send Later, pick a date and time, then send. 

That's the short version. The feature only works with iMessage (not regular SMS) and requires iOS 18 or later. Here's the full walkthrough, along with a few details most guides skip.

What You Need Before You Can Schedule an iMessage

Two things have to be true before this works, and it's worth checking both before you start typing your message.

iOS Version Requirement

You'll need iOS 18 or newer. Check under Settings > General > About > Software Version. Below iOS 18, the Send Later option simply isn't built in yet that's the most common reason people can't find it. 

As reported by TechCrunch, Apple added this scheduling capability to the Messages app as part of the iOS 18 update.

iMessage vs. SMS Requirement

Scheduling only works in iMessage conversations the blue-bubble ones. Green-bubble threads (typically Android contacts) won't show the Send Later option, since it's a feature tied specifically to iMessage.

How to Schedule an iMessage (Step-by-Step)

Step 1 – Open Messages and Select a Conversation

Open the Messages app and tap into an existing thread, or start a new one with a contact you know uses iMessage.

Step 2 – Tap "+" and Select Send Later

Next to the text field, tap the "+" icon. A menu will pop up choose Send Later from the list.

Step 3 – Choose the Date and Time

Tap the time field that appears above the message box. A scheduler opens, letting you pick any date and time up to 14 days out. 

There's no way around that 14-day ceiling on the native feature if you need something further out, you'd have to use a workaround (more on that below).

Step 4 – Type and Send Your Message

Write your message as usual, then tap the send arrow. Instead of sending immediately, it queues up for the time you picked.

What a Scheduled Message Looks Like

Once scheduled, the message bubble shows a dashed border instead of a solid one, and the scheduled time appears above it in the conversation. 

That dashed outline is your visual confirmation it hasn't sent yet. When it finally goes out, the border turns solid and the dashes disappear.

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How Scheduled iMessages Work Behind the Scenes

There's some confusion online about the mechanics of this feature, so here's what's actually confirmed.

How to Schedule an iMessage: Does the Recipient Know It Was Scheduled? 

No. The message arrives looking like any other iMessage. There's no label, timestamp note, or indicator on their end suggesting it was set up in advance.

Do You Need to Be Online to Send a Scheduled Message?

This trips people up. The message still delivers at the scheduled time even if your iPhone is offline or powered off Apple's servers hold it and push it out. 

What does require a connection is rescheduling, editing, or canceling it beforehand.

Where Scheduled Messages Are Stored

While waiting to send, the message is encrypted and stored temporarily on Apple's servers. Once it's delivered, it's removed from those servers it isn't kept there indefinitely. 

End-to-end encryption is a core feature of iMessage generally, according to Wikipedia, which is why only the sender and recipient can read the content of a message at any point.

Maximum Scheduling Window

Fourteen days is the hard limit through the native Messages app. There's no setting to extend it.

How to Reschedule, Edit, or Delete a Scheduled iMessage

Plans change, and Apple built in a few ways to adjust a message before it goes out.

Reschedule a Scheduled Message

Open the conversation, tap Edit next to the scheduled date, then tap Edit Time and choose a new one.

Edit a Scheduled Message

Touch and hold the message bubble itself, tap Edit, make your changes, then confirm.

Send a Scheduled Message Immediately

From that same Edit menu next to the date, tap Send Message to push it out right away instead of waiting.

Delete or Cancel a Scheduled Message

Touch and hold the message, then tap Delete. This cancels it entirely it won't send at all.

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Scheduling iMessages With Group Chats or Attachments

Can You Schedule a Group Message?

Yes. Send Later works the same way in group iMessage threads. Every participant receives it at the scheduled time, with no indication it was set up in advance.

Can You Schedule a Message With Photos or Attachments?

Yes, attachments can be added the same way as in a regular message. Teams that use this for coordinated reminders commonly report it working identically to text-only messages, with no extra steps.

If You Don't Have iOS 18: Scheduling Messages With Shortcuts

If your iPhone can't run iOS 18, there's a workaround using the built-in Shortcuts app, though it's more involved.

Setting Up a Shortcuts Automation

Open Shortcuts, go to the Automation tab, and create a new personal automation using "Time of Day" as the trigger. Set your desired date and time, then add a "Send Message" action, enter your text and recipient, and save it.

Limitations of the Shortcuts Method vs. Native Send Later

This method is built for recurring automations, not one-off texts. For a single message, you'll need to manually delete the automation afterward or it triggers again. 

There's also no dashed-border confirmation, and editing means editing the automation itself, not the message.

Troubleshooting: Send Later Option Missing or Not Working

Checking Your iOS Version

The most common cause is an outdated iOS version. Confirm you're on iOS 18 or later under Settings > General > About.

Confirming the Recipient Is on iMessage

Check that the conversation is blue, not green. Send Later doesn't appear for SMS or RCS threads.

Scheduled Message Not Sending at the Correct Time

This is usually a clock or time zone issue, not a feature problem. Confirm your iPhone's date and time are set to update automatically.

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Native Scheduling vs. Shortcuts Workaround: Quick Comparison

Feature	Native Send Later (iOS 18+)	Shortcuts Automation
iOS version required	iOS 18 or later	iOS 13 or later
Scheduling window	Up to 14 days	No fixed limit
Built for one-time messages	Yes	No (built for recurring; needs manual cleanup)
Visual confirmation in Messages	Dashed border	None
Editing after scheduling	Simple in-app edit	Requires editing the automation
Works offline at send time	Yes	Depends on device being on and automation active

Conclusion

Scheduling an iMessage is straightforward on iOS 18 and later: tap "+", choose Send Later, and pick a time. 

Older devices can use Shortcuts as a workaround, though it's less reliable and better suited to recurring messages than one-off scheduling.

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FAQs

How to Schedule an iMessage on an iPad or Mac

The Send Later feature is currently documented for iPhone. Availability on iPad or Mac isn't clearly confirmed in Apple's own documentation, so treat this as unverified until Apple states otherwise.

Will the recipient know my message was scheduled?

No. The message appears the same as any other iMessage, with no label or indicator showing it was scheduled in advance.

What happens if I turn off my iPhone after scheduling a message?

It still sends at the scheduled time. Apple's servers hold the message and deliver it even if your device is off or offline.

Can I schedule more than one message at a time?

Yes, you can schedule multiple messages across different conversations, or several messages within the same thread, as long as each stays within the 14-day window.

Does scheduling work for messages sent to Android users?

No. Send Later only works for iMessage (blue bubble) conversations. Messages to Android users go through SMS or RCS, which this feature doesn't support.