WhatsApp has started rolling out its scheduled messages feature to selected iPhone beta testers. The feature will allow users to write a message in advance and choose when it should be sent automatically, making it easier to plan birthday wishes, reminders and other messages without sending them manually. The feature is available to some users of WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.42.10.19 through Apple’s TestFlight testing platform. Access is being expanded gradually, so not every beta tester will see the option yet. WhatsApp has not announced when the feature will become available to everyone.
How WhatsApp Scheduled Messages Work
The process is simple. Users can type a message as usual and then press and hold the send button to open a date and time selector. After choosing the desired time, they can confirm the schedule, and WhatsApp will send the message automatically. Users can schedule messages from 10 minutes to two weeks in advance. The feature supports individual and group chats, allowing people to plan personal messages, event invitations and group announcements ahead of time.
Support for Photos, Videos and Links
Scheduled messaging will support text, links, photos and videos. However, users cannot schedule multiple photos or videos in a single message at this stage. Each media item must be scheduled separately. The feature is also designed to work when the sender’s phone is offline at the scheduled time. Once a message is scheduled, delivery is handled by WhatsApp rather than depending on the user opening the app at that moment.
Control and Privacy
Users will be able to manage their scheduled messages through a dedicated section in the chat information screen. For group conversations, the option will be available in the group information screen. This section allows users to review or delete a scheduled message before it is sent. Recipients will not receive a notification if the sender deletes a message before delivery, and scheduled messages retain WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption protection. Group chats have one important limitation. A scheduled message will be delivered only to members who were already in the group when the message was scheduled. Anyone who joins the group later will not receive that message.
Why It Matters
Scheduled messaging is a useful addition for people who want to send messages at a particular time without having to remember to do it themselves. For example, users could schedule a birthday greeting in advance, send a reminder during working hours or prepare an event announcement ahead of time. Until now, many WhatsApp users have relied on reminders, Apple’s Shortcuts app or other workarounds to plan messages. A built-in scheduling option could make the process more convenient and reduce the need for these alternatives.
What Happens Next
WhatsApp is also testing scheduled messages with selected Android beta users, but the feature is not yet widely available on either platform. The current iPhone rollout remains limited to selected testers, and the company has not confirmed a public release date. As testing continues, the feature’s availability and functionality may change before its wider release. iPhone users who do not see the scheduling option will need to wait for WhatsApp to expand access or release it in a future update.
