How to Schedule a Text on iPhone

If you’re having a late night and are afraid of forgetting to send a text message in the morning, then you should consider scheduling your text message on your iPhone device. We’ve had the ability to schedule emails for years, and you may be missing out on using this feature on your iPhone for texts, too.

Depending on the iOS version you have (we’re currently on iOS 26 as of March 2026), there are both native and workarounds for scheduling a text, as well as third-party apps to manage this process. Ghostek will help you break down how to quickly and easily schedule a text on iPhone, so you can send a work text during business hours or remember to send that happy birthday message on time! 

Quick Summary: Schedule Text Messages on iPhone

• Since iOS 18, there has been a native Send Later feature that has simplified the entire scheduling text process. 

• In earlier versions of iOS, this can be achieved using the ‘Shortcuts’ app, although this is not quite so intuitive.

• There are also third-party apps that can assist in this area, should you wish, and the ‘Reminders’ app can be used as a workaround in this case also.

Using the Messages App Send Later Feature (Schedule Send, iOS 18+)

So, for those of you with more up-to-date iPhones, from 2020 or later, that support iOS 18 onwards, here’s the simplest way to schedule a text:

1. Go to the Messages app on your iPhone

2. Tap the compose button in the top right or open an existing conversation

3. Type your message as normal

4. When you go to hit send, press and hold the icon instead of tapping it

5. From there, you’ll see a menu with options including Send Later

6. Then you can choose the date and time you want to send your message

7. Finally, tap Send to schedule the message.

You’ll be able to tell that the message is scheduled thanks to the dashed lines that remain until it’s been sent. In general, you can only schedule a message for up to 14 days in the future with this method.

There are a few differences if you’re scheduling an SMS or an iMessage. With SMS messages, your scheduled message will be sent as long as you have a cellular signal at the scheduled time. For iMessage, your iPhone must be connected to the internet at the scheduled time for the message to be sent. 

iPhone users know that usually, your phone will automatically default to sending as an SMS if it’s unable to send an iMessage (provided you have the feature selected in your settings). But if your scheduled text didn’t send as expected, you can tap Try Again or Send as Text Message to help resolve the issue. 

Editing Your Schedule Message

If you’re not satisfied with your message, then edit your message by pressing and holding it and then tapping the ‘Edit’ option. After editing your message, press the ‘tick’ icon to update your message.

If you want to reschedule your message, then use the ‘Edit’ option to ‘Edit Time’ and choose your desired time and date. And to delete your scheduled message, then simply touch and hold your message and tap ‘Delete’. 

Benefits of Native Scheduling

Using native scheduling with the Send Later feature has a couple of handy features, including:

• Offline functionality to send even if your phone is turned off

• Edit/reschedule to modify or cancel sending

• Encrypted messages are stored securely on Apple servers

• The recipient won’t know that the message has been scheduled.

• Schedule texts in group chats

Scheduling Texts with the Shortcuts App (For Older iOS Versions)

If you are using an older version of iOS, you can still make use of a trick to send scheduled text messages with the help of the Shortcut App. 

It is normally included in iOS 13 and later versions of the operating systems used by iPhones; however, if you have an earlier version, you can still download the free ‘Shortcuts App’ from the App Store.

Here’s how you can schedule your text messages using the ‘Shortcuts App’:

1. Open Shortcuts and navigate to Automation

2. Tap Create Personal Automation if this is the first time you’re making an automation. Otherwise, tap the + icon can then select Create Personal Automation.

3. Tap on Time of Day

4. Then choose the date, time, and frequency (Daily, Weekly, or Monthly), and tap Next

5. Tap the Message field and begin crafting your text

6. Choose the Recipients whom you want to receive this text

7. Tap Next

8. Now you’ll have the option to Ask Before Running, either fully automating the process or prompting for permission each time before the message is sent.

9. Select Done

This method is still easy, even if you have a newer iPhone model. This is because this method can be set to repeat messages at a frequency that you want, so you won’t forget messages like birthdays or anniversaries. 

As with the case of the "Send Later" feature, this feature may also be modified before sending the message, be it time, date, or message itself, by using the "Shortcuts" app. 

Third-Party Apps

If you’re finding that Shortcuts require too much manual intervention, there are lots of applications to help schedule a text message. 

These include Scheduled or Text Delay, and while some are free, like Google Calendar, others require a fee to access advanced features via in-app purchases or subscription models. 

This paywall means that some apps will only send you a reminder to send the text at a certain time, rather than actually sending the text. 

Using the iPhone Reminders App

If you want to avoid downloading anything new, you can also use the Reminders app, which comes preinstalled, as another workaround. 

While you won’t be able to set up the automatic sending of a text, you can compose your message in advance and then set a reminder to prompt you to manually send the message when needed. 

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Reminders app

2. Add a list by tapping on Add List in the lower-right corner (you can also add the reminder to an existing list by tapping on + New Reminder

3. Enter your details

4. Add a reminder with a specific time and date to send, and write your message in the text field to send in the Notes section.

5. Copy and paste the text when you get your reminder, then click the send button

Using the Schedule Send Messages Feature and Ghostek Updates

One of the great ways to be on top of a busy schedule or to ensure that your message is sent at the opportune moment is by scheduling your text. To do this, the most intuitive way is by using the Send Later option on iPhones running iOS 18 or later, but be aware that there is a limit to how far in advance you can schedule your text.

For more frequent texts, the Shortcuts app is great, and you can set up an automation for events like birthdays or anniversaries, which have recurring events.

For more iPhone tech tips, like deleting stickers or the latest accessories, follow Ghostek. We specialize in giving your device the top-quality protection it deserves, without compromising style or functionality.