If you’ve landed here, you probably wonder, “Can you schedule a text on iPhone?” The short answer is yes!
You can schedule a text message on an iPhone by creating an automation in your iPhone “Shortcuts” app, which comes preloaded on most new Apple devices. If you have an older iPhone, you can download it from the App Store.
Keep reading my step-by-step on how to schedule a text on iPhone to learn more.
Can You Schedule iMessage?
As of iOS 16, you can not schedule text messages using the built-in messaging app on iPhones, even though you can mark a text as unread. IPhones do not include a feature that lets you schedule an iMessage for a future date and time.
However, there are some other options for scheduling an iMessage. For an iPhone schedule text functionality, you can download the “Shortcuts” app on your iPhone from the Apple Store, which is free.
You can also schedule an iMessage using a third-party app designed for scheduling an iMessage that lets you send a message to anyone you want on a specific time and date.
You can even put iMessage on your Windows device to help with scheduling. But that’s a little harder.
Let’s look at how to send automatic texts on iPhone in the two most straightforward ways.
How To Schedule a Text Message on iPhone
You can install a free app on your iPhone called “Shortcuts.” This app automatically lets you send scheduled text messages from an iPhone to anyone you want.
iPhones running iOS 13 or above come preinstalled with the app. However, if your iPhone runs an older version of iOS, you can download the Shortcuts app from the Apple App Store manually.
Here is how to schedule texts on iPhone:
- On your iPhone, open the “Shortcuts” app.
- Select the “Automation” option at the bottom of the screen.
- To create automation, click on the “New Automation” option.
- Choose the “Time of Day.”
- Select the time and date you want to send the delayed text from an iPhone and click “Next.”
- On the next page, choose the “Send message” option.
- Check the contact on the “Send Message” option and click on the “Next” option.
- In the “Message” field, type whatever message you want to send and click “Next.”
- Check the message, date, and time again to ensure the details of your message are correct.
- You can enable and disable the “Ask Before Running” option.
- Click on “Done” to confirm.
This method creates an automation that will schedule a message on an iPhone to the same recipient every month at the same time and date. Slide your finger from the right to left on the automation and click the “Delete” option to remove it.
Note: You can delete the automation after it has been completed if this is not what you intended.
Related: iMessage Sent As Text Message: Explained (Guide)
Can You Schedule a Text on iPhone With a Scheduling Application?
Many third-party applications allow you to schedule text messages. One of these apps is called “Scheduled.” This app enables you to schedule text messages from an iPhone to be sent whenever you want in the future. This app includes iMessage, Messenger, Slack, Telegram, WhatsApp, and other online platforms.
This app offers free and paid subscription options that allow you to send a delayed iPhone text. In addition to selecting the date and time you wish to send the text, you must allow the app to access your contact list.
Users of the free plan must manually tap the send button to send a scheduled text to contacts after receiving a reminder from the app. The Premium plan, which costs $4.99 monthly, automatically sends texts on the selected date and time.
In addition to Scheduled, the App Store has several other text-scheduling applications, including:
All of these applications allow users to schedule texts on iPhones. The major disadvantage of these apps is that they charge to send texts automatically, even though they all provide similar scheduling choices.
Additionally, these apps use anonymous cloud phone numbers rather than the user’s, so recipients won’t have that number in their contacts. Although these apps’ user interfaces may make it easier to schedule texts on an iPhone, they have several apparent disadvantages compared to the Shortcuts app.
Related Reading: How To Recall an Email in Gmail
Can You Schedule a Text on iPhone By Setting a Reminder?
If you don’t want to complicate things, the most straightforward workaround to sending “scheduled” text messages on an iPhone is to set a reminder for yourself. You can easily do this via the “Reminders” app:
- On your iPhone, launch Reminders.
- Tap “New Reminder” and title it, such as “Send this message at 10.”
- Tap the “Notes” field and compose your message.
- Tap the calendar icon to set a date and time for your message schedule.
When you get the reminder notification on your supposed schedule, copy your message from the “Notes” field, paste it into your message draft, and hit the “Send” button to your recipient.
How To Delete or Disable Delayed Text Messages on iPhone
The delayed text messages set up on the Shortcuts iOS app repeat nonstop — until you delete or disable them. Here’s how to do it:
- Launch the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and find your scheduled text message from your personal automation.
- Swipe it to the left and tap “Delete.”
Note: You cannot cancel a scheduled text if it’s already sent. However, you may be able to recall the message if it was sent as an iMessage. To do so,
- Launch the “Messages” app on your iPhone.
- Long-press the message that you want to delete.
- Tap “Undo Send.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Schedule a Text on iPhone?
Yes. You can create an iPhone scheduled text using the “Shortcuts” app. It is one of the simplest ways of scheduling a text on your iPhone that will be sent on the date and time of your choice.
Another app you can use is the “Scheduled” application. This app is free but has a premium plan that you can purchase at $4.99 monthly. In the free plan, you must select the “Send” option when the scheduled text is about to be sent. However, the Premium plan will send the text automatically without prior approval.
How Do You Send a Delayed Text on iPhone?
To send a delayed text on an iPhone using the Shortcuts app, follow these steps:
- Open “Shortcuts” and select the “Automation” option.
- Click the “Create Personal Automation” option.
- Select the “Time of Day” and the “Month.”
- Click on the “Next” option.
- Choose the “Add Action” option, and check the contact on the “Send Message” option.
- Type the message you want to send and click “Next.”
- Finally, click “Done.”
- You can also enable and disable the “Ask Before Running” option.
Will the Recipient Know That the Text was Scheduled?
No. The recipient will receive the message without any indications that it was scheduled.
What If My iPhone Is Turned Off at the Scheduled Time?
Your messages won’t push through if your iPhone is turned off at the scheduled time. When your iPhone is off, it cannot process requests or carry out tasks, including sending scheduled messages.
Can I Schedule Texts on Older iPhone Models?
Yes. The “Shortcuts” app requires iOS 12 or later. Hence, you can still use it to schedule texts on models as old as iPhone 5s.
Can You Schedule a Text Message on Android?
On mobile devices running Android 7 or later, you can schedule texts to send later. To schedule a text message on an Android phone:
- Select the contact to whom you wish to send a text message and hold down the “Send” button on the right until the option to “Schedule the text” appears.
- Choose the time and date for when you want your message to be sent, and then click “OK.”
- Your message will be sent when your device reconnects to WiFi or data if not connected at the scheduled date and time.
Wrapping Up How to Send Scheduled Texts
By now, you know the answer to the question, “Can you schedule a text on iPhone?” The best and cheapest way to do this is to use the “Shortcut” app. While you can also use a scheduler, those apps are often only useful as a month-to-month paid service. The shortcut app also has plenty of other powerful uses on your iPhone, so make sure you use them, too.
Alternatively, if you want to master your iPhone to learn all the latest tips and tricks, including navigating your iPhone menu, customizing your iPhone settings, and managing your data, check out this online Master your iPhone course! By the end, you’ll be able to use your phone smartly and get the most out of your mobile device.
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