WhatsApp, the world’s largest messaging platform, is working on a new message scheduling feature. This feature will let users write messages and set a specific date and time for them to be sent automatically. This means no more use of third-party apps to schedule messages. Early beta versions of this feature are showing up on WhatsApp for iOS, and there’s a good chance it will be available to all users in a future update.
The upcoming “Scheduled Messages” option will let users:
- Type a message and choose when to send it. This will work for both one-on-one chats and group chats, useful for reminders, birthday wishes, and announcements.
- Keep scheduled messages in a special section in the chat info screen. Users will be able to see, manage, edit, or delete these messages before they are sent.
- Access a clear interface to select the date and time when confirming the message.
Currently, this feature is in internal beta builds and is actively being tested.
Why Users Have Wanted Scheduling for Years
WhatsApp users have asked for message scheduling for years. Many people use third-party apps or automation tools to schedule texts to be sent at an appointed time. These methods can be complicated, requiring extra actions or permissions that might affect privacy and reliability.
Although some third-party solutions exist, they could violate WhatsApp’s terms of service or risk user privacy. Users frequently mention the problem of remembering to manually send messages for birthdays, work reminders, or other time-sensitive matters. Many have pointed out WhatsApp’s lack of a scheduling feature, especially compared to apps like Telegram, which introduced it in 2019.
Early previews show that using the feature will be straightforward:
- Users will compose a message in a chat.
- They will select a send date and time using a calendar or time picker.
- The app will hold the message in a “scheduled” state until it is time to send it.
- Users can edit or delete these scheduled messages before they go out, without notifying anyone.
Over the past few years, WhatsApp has been adding more features to improve user experience, such as disappearing messages, enhanced group tools, and AI writing help. The writing help feature uses AI to suggest how to phrase messages better.
Past updates included scheduling tools for group calls and other useful functions. New formatting options for messages, including potential spoiler text, are also being developed. Adding message scheduling is part of WhatsApp’s goal of giving users more control over their communication.
What Comes Next
WhatsApp has not yet announced an official release date, so we are unsure when it will be available. However, seeing the feature in beta builds on iOS is a strong hint that it will be released to the public soon. If widely introduced, the scheduling feature could be one of the most appreciated updates in years, making daily communication easier for billions of personal, social, and professional users.
