2 Easy Ways to Schedule Texts on Your iPhone

Last Updated: May 22, 2022 Tested

Don't you wish you could delay sending a text message from your iPhone until a certain time or date? Now you can! While there isn't a scheduling option in the iPhone Messages app, you can use the Shortcuts app to schedule recurring texts, or try a third-party app for sending a one-time text later. This wikiHow article will teach you two easy ways to schedule text messages on your iPhone.

Section 1 of 3:

Can you schedule a text message on an iPhone?

Scheduling texts to send later is easy. You can use your iPhone's Shortcuts app to schedule recurring texts (and much more!), or try a third-party app called Scheduled App to delay a one-time text message.

Section 2 of 3:

Schedule Recurring Texts with Shortcuts

1
Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. It's the blue icon with overlapping pink and green squares. You'll find it in the "Productivity" folder of the App Library and/or on your Home screen.
- While Shortcuts is best for recurring scheduled texts, you can always delete the shortcut you create after the text is sent if you only want to send the text one time.
2
Tap the Automation tab. It's the clock icon at the bottom of the screen.
3
Tap the blue Create Personal Automation button. If you don't see the button, tap + at the top-right corner first.^{[1]
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4
Select Time of Day. You'll see this option at the top of the list.
- This is the option you'll want to use to schedule a text message to be sent at a particular date and time.
- The other options allow you to schedule text messages (and other tasks) based on different triggers, such as when you arrive to a particular location or when you stop your alarm.
5
Choose when you want to send your text. Tap the default time, then choose the actual time you want your text to send. You'll also need to choose how often to send the text: Daily, Weekly or Monthly.
6
Tap Next. It's at the top-right corner.
7
Select the Send Message action. You should see it under "Next Action Suggestions."
- If you don't see this option, type send message into the "Search for apps and actions" bar at the bottom, then tap Send Message in the search results.
8
Tap Message and type the message you want to send. As you type, the word "Message" will be replaced with your text.
9
Tap Recipients select a recipient. Start typing a contact's name or phone number, then tap the person you want to receive the text in the search results.
- If you want to send the text to more than one recipient, tap + to add another.
- When you're finished adding recipients, tap Done at the top-right.
10
Tap Next at the top-right. This displays a summary of the shortcut.
- The "Ask Before Running" option at the bottom is selected by default. This prompts you to confirm that you want to send the text at the scheduled time before the text will actually be sent. If you'd rather the text send automatically without having to approve it, tap the switch to disable this feature.
11
Tap Done to save your automation. Your text message will now be sent at the scheduled time and date.
- You edit the text's content and schedule at any time by tapping Automation at the bottom of the Shortcuts app and tapping the name of the shortcut.
- If you want to stop sending the texts, return to Automation, swipe left on the shortcut, and then tap Delete.

Section 3 of 3:

Delaying a Text with Scheduled App

1
Download Scheduled App from the App Store. This is a free app (with premium features) that makes it easy to schedule a one-time text from your iPhone. You can download it from the App Store by searching for scheduled app. It's the app that has a pink icon with a clock inside.^{[2]
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- The free version of Scheduled App works by displaying a notification at the selected time, which you can then tap to send the text you've already crafted in the app.
- If you need the text to send automatically (without you having to tap a notification), you can pay for a subscription, or just use the Shortcuts app.
2
Open Scheduled App and move through the welcome screens.
- For Scheduled App to work, you'll need to enable notifications when prompted.
- The first time you launch Scheduled App, you'll also be asked if you want to check out the plans (just tap Not Now to use the app for free).
- You'll also need to confirm your phone number by validating a SMS code.
3
Tap + Add New. You'll see this at the bottom of the app.
4
Tap Reminder with a Chat Message. It's the second option.
- The Automated SMS or Email option is for paid subscribers only.
5
Select iMessage as the chat service. You'll see the chat service options at the top of the screen.
6
Create your text.
- Tap + in the "To" field to select a recipient.
- Tap Your message to type the message you want to send. You can also attach a photo if you'd like.
- Tap Notification date to choose when you'd like to send the text.
- If you want to send the text more than once, tap Repeat and choose a schedule.
7
Tap Schedule. It's at the top-right corner. Now that you've scheduled a text, you'll see a notification when the text is ready to send.
8
Send the scheduled text. The rest of the process is simple:
- Tap the notification at the scheduled time. This displays the contents of your text, already addressed to the recipient you entered, ready to send.
- Tap Send to open the text in the Messages app.
- Tap the blue-and-white arrow to send the text.