How to Use Send Later to Schedule iPhone Messages in iOS 18

With the release of iOS 18 sometime after fall, Apple is finally removing the need for workarounds and bringing scheduled texts directly into its Messages app. In the past, you could use shortcuts to schedule iOS messages, but the new “Send Later” process is much simpler. You can test it now by installing the iOS 18 Developer Beta and following the steps below.

How to schedule messages in advance in iOS 18

Credit: Joshua Hawkins

Once you have iOS 18 installed on your iPhone, open the Messages app and navigate to the conversation you want to schedule a message for. You can also use Send Later with a new message, which you can open by tapping the new message icon in the upper right corner of the app.

• In your conversation, enter the message you want to schedule, but don’t press send just now.

• Instead, tap the + icon to the left of the text box.

• Faucet Morethen select Send later.

• You will see a clock icon and the time your message will arrive is displayed above your text box.

• To modify the programmed time, simply click on the new box and adjust if necessary.

Since I’m using the current iOS 18 beta, I’ve only been able to schedule messages up to two weeks from the current date. It’s unclear if this limitation will still be in place when the final version arrives later this year, but for now you’ll have to wait to pre-write the entire year’s birthday notes in advance.

And that’s all! Unlike Apple Intelligence, all iPhones that can currently run iOS 17 will have access to Send Later when iOS 18 officially launches. They include models as old as the iPhone X line, as well as the 2nd generation iPhone SE.