You’re composing a text message but don’t want to send it just yet. Maybe it’s late at night or you’re writing a birthday text a few days early. On the iPhone, you can schedule a text through Apple’s Shortcuts app, but that’s a complicated process. With iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, the feature is built right into the Apple Messages app. Both OSes launch in the fall, though you can check out early versions via the public beta. Though you need iOS 18 to schedule a text, the recipient can be running an older version of iOS to receive your message. Here’s how to pull it off.How to Schedule a TextTo schedule a text, open a conversation in the Apple Messages app. Write your text, but don’t tap the blue arrow just yet. Instead, tap the plus (+) icon and select Send Later.
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The familiar iOS date picker pops up. Swipe through the different fields to choose the date, hour, seconds, and AM/PM. With the current beta, you can schedule a text up to two weeks in advance. If you attempt to go beyond that point, the date picker automatically moves to the last possible date and time.When done, tap the blue arrow. Your screen displays the label Send Later and shows you the date and time that your text will be sent. Your recipient will then receive your message at the chosen day and time.
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(Credit: PCMag / Apple)
How to Edit a Scheduled TextYou can perform a few actions on the message before it’s sent. Tap the Edit link next to the scheduled date and time to display a menu. Select Send Message to send the text immediately. Select Edit Time to change the scheduled day and time. Tap Delete Message to delete the text.
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You can also revise the text before it’s sent. Press down on it and select Edit from the menu. Revise it and then tap the checkmark to submit the changes. From the menu, you can also delete or copy your text.
(Credit: PCMag / Apple)
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About Lance Whitney
Contributor
I’ve been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I’ve written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I’ve also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.
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