TL;DR
Send messages at exactly the right moment – automatically, without having to remember. Perfect for birthdays, time zones, or late-night quiet.
How to do it
- Open an iMessage chat (only works with blue bubbles, not SMS)
- Tap the plus button (+) → select "Send Later"
- Choose date and time (up to 2 weeks in advance)
- Write your message (text, photos, or videos work too)
- Tap Send → message appears with a dotted border at the bottom of the chat
Edit or delete a scheduled message
- Scheduled message sits at the very bottom of the chat (dotted border)
- Tap "Edit"
- Choose: Send now, Change time, or Delete
Tip: Long-press the message → "Edit" → adjust the text (possible up to 15 min after sending)
Why this helps
- 🎂 Birthdays: Think of it now, congratulate automatically tomorrow
- 🌍 Time zones: Time messages perfectly for friends abroad
- 😴 Night quiet: Prepare a message but send it in the morning
- 🍀 Good luck: Automatically encourage someone before an important event
Good to know
- ⚠️ iMessage only (blue bubbles) – not SMS or WhatsApp
- ⚠️ iPhone must be online when the message is scheduled to send
- ✅ Also works on iPad (iPadOS 18+) and Mac (macOS Sequoia+)
- ✅ Recipient won't see that the message was scheduled