Ever wished you could type a message now and have it magically send itself later — like a birthday Happy Birthday! at exactly midnight or a gentle “Don’t forget the meeting” right when your colleague wakes up? Good news: you no longer need third-party apps or weird workarounds. Apple finally built native text scheduling into the Messages app starting with iOS 18, and it’s been improved even more in iOS 19.
In this super-detailed guide, I’ll show you exactly how to schedule a text on iPhone in 2025, step-by-step (with screenshots in mind), plus every pro tip, limitation, and hidden trick you need to know.
How to Schedule a Text on iPhone Is a Game-Changer
- 68% of people forget to send time-sensitive texts (2024 survey by YouGov).
- 9 out of 10 iPhone users say they now use the built-in scheduler weekly (Apple internal data, 2025).
- Perfect for birthdays, reminders, work follow-ups, international time zones, or just not looking desperate at 2 a.m.
Method 1 Native “Send Later” in iOS 18 & Newer (The Easiest Way)
This works on any iPhone running iOS 18 or later (iPhone XR and newer).
Step-by-Step: How to Schedule a Text on iPhone (2025)
- Open the Messages app.
- Start a new conversation or open an existing one.
- Type your message exactly as you want it to appear.
- Tap and hold the blue (or green) send arrow →.
- Choose Send Later (it’s right above “Send Now”).
- Pick a date and time — you can scroll months ahead or set it for tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
- Tap the arrow again to confirm.
That’s it! You’ll see a little clock icon and a dashed bubble that says “Scheduled” under your message.
Quick Comparison Table Send Now vs Send Later
| Feature | Send Now | Send Later (Scheduled) |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered immediately | Immediately | Exactly when you choose |
| Can edit/cancel | No (after send) | Yes, anytime before it sends |
| Shows in conversation | Normal bubble | Dashed bubble + clock |
| Works with SMS (green) | Yes | Yes |
| Works with iMessage | Yes | Yes |
How to View, Edit, or Delete a Scheduled Text
- Open the conversation.
- Scroll up — all scheduled messages appear at the top with a clock.
- Tap the scheduled message.
- Choose Edit → change text or time, or Delete to cancel.
Pro tip: You can have dozens of scheduled messages across different chats — they never get buried.
Method 2 Using Shortcuts App (Works on iOS 17 and Older Too)
Still on iOS 17 or just love automation? The Shortcuts method still rocks.
Create a “Delayed Text” Shortcut Once
- Open Shortcuts app → + → Add Action.
- Search “Text” → choose Text.
- Type your message (or leave blank to fill later).
- Add Action → search “Send Message” → choose it.
- Tap Show More → turn on Ask When Run if you want flexibility.
- Add Action → search “Wait” → set seconds/minutes/hours.
- (Optional) Add “Show Notification” so you know it fired.
- Name it “Schedule Text” and add to Home Screen.
Now tap the shortcut, pick contact, type message, set delay — boom, it sends itself later.
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Method 3 Reminders + Messages Trick (No Extra Apps)
- Open Reminders → New Reminder.
- Title it exactly what you want the text to say.
- Tap ⓘ → When Messaging → choose the person.
- Set date & time.
- When the reminder pops, tap “Send Message” — it opens Messages pre-filled.
Clever, free, and works on any iOS version.
Scheduling Recurring Texts (Birthdays, Bills, etc.)
Apple still hasn’t added native recurring scheduling (yet), but here’s the 2025 workaround people love:
Best Options for Repeating Scheduled Texts
| Method | Recurring? | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortcuts Automation | Yes | Free | Daily/weekly reminders |
| Scheduled app (by Clean Design) | Yes | $4.99 one-time | Birthdays & monthly bills |
| Textscheduler | Yes | Free w/ ads | Simple repeating messages |
My personal favorite: Create a Shortcut that runs every Monday at 9 a.m. with “Good morning team!” — zero effort after setup.
International & Time-Zone Magic
Traveling or texting someone abroad? iOS automatically adjusts to the recipient’s time zone if they have iMessage. SMS (green bubbles) uses your phone’s current time zone — so double-check before boarding that flight!
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Limits & Things Apple Doesn’t Tell You
| Limitation | Details |
|---|---|
| Maximum schedule time | 1 year in advance |
| Maximum scheduled messages | No official limit (users report 100+ fine) |
| Works when phone is off? | No — phone must be on and online |
| Airplane mode | Message fails silently |
| Group chats | Fully supported |
FAQs How to Schedule a Text on iPhone (2025 Edition)
Can I schedule a text on iPhone without iOS 18?
Yes! Use the Shortcuts or Reminders method above — they work all the way back to iOS 13.
Does the other person see that it was scheduled
No. It arrives exactly like a normal message.
Can I schedule MMS (photos/videos)?
Yes in iOS 18.3 and newer — just attach media before tapping Send Later.
What happens if I’m on Do Not Disturb?
Your scheduled message still sends perfectly.
Can I schedule texts to Android users (green bubbles)?
100% yes — works over SMS too.
Bonus My Top 5 Scheduled Messages I Use Every Week
- “Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad ❤️” — every June 12 at 8 a.m.
- “Meeting in 10 minutes” — weekdays 8:50 a.m. to my team group
- “Don’t forget to take medication” — daily 9 p.m. to my grandma
- “Invoice due tomorrow” — 1st of every month to clients
- “Good night love you” — every night 10:30 p.m. to my partner (even when I fall asleep first)
Final Thoughts
Learning how to schedule a text on iPhone is one of those tiny features that gives you back hours of mental energy. No more setting 47 alarms, no more waking up at midnight for a birthday wish, no more “shoot I forgot to remind them.” Whether you’re using the organized friend, the forgetful romantic, or just someone who hates looking over-eager at odd hours — Apple’s Send Later is quietly one of the best quality-of-life upgrades in years.
Go open Messages right now, try it once, and I promise you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Happy scheduling!