what to know
- You can use the Shortcut action to schedule recurring text messages for later.
- Select the Automation tab > Create a personal automation , then follow the prompts to compose and schedule your message.
- There are also third-party apps that allow you to schedule text messages in advance.
This article explains how to schedule text messages to be sent on iPhone later. Instructions are for devices running iOS 12 and later.
Since iMessage doesn't let you schedule text messages to be sent later, you'll need to use a solution.
One way is to use the Shortcuts app, which comes preinstalled on iPhones running iOS 13 or later. If your phone is running an earlier version of iOS, you'll need to download the Shortcuts app from the Apple App Store.
It's free and already available on iPhone, but it's a bit complicated and might not be exactly what you're looking for, but here's how to do it just in case you decide this is the best option for you.
Prefer to download and use third-party apps instead of shortcuts? Skip to the delayed text section of this article.
Open the Shortcuts app on your phone.
Select the Automation tab at the bottom of the page.
If you've never created an automation before, click Create a personal automation .
If you have created automations before, you won't see this option. Instead, click the + in the upper right corner, then click Create Personal Automation .
In newer versions of iOS, tapping the + will take you directly to your personal automation options.
Select a time of day option.
Adjust the time you want to send the message.
Select "Monthly" in the "Recurring" section and scroll down to adjust the date you want the message to be sent. Once completed, click Next .
Scheduling messages in iMessage this way will set up an automatically repeating message to go out on the same day and time every month. If you plan this as a one-time event, you'll need to go in and delete the automation (or turn it off) after sending the scheduled message.
On the next screen, click Add action .
In newer versions of iOS, you can search directly for the Send Message action.
On the Actions menu, check the contact from the Send Message section and click Next .
You can also just click on the recipient in the preview window at the top of the screen.
In the Message field, enter the message you want to send and click Next .
Review the new automation to make sure it contains the correct details. One thing to pay special attention to here is the "Ask before running" option, which is enabled by default.
Click the switch next to "Ask before running" to turn off the option and let the automation run automatically without any input from you.
If you're satisfied, click "Done" and the automation will be set up to run based on the settings you selected when completing the steps above.
Remember, this method sets up an automation that will send the same text message to the same person on the same day and time every month . If this is not what you want, you should remember to go back and delete it after the automation has run. To delete it, slide your finger from right to left on the automation and tap Delete .
If you're trying to send delayed but non-repeating text messages, then downloading a third-party app may be your best option. These apps allow you to create and schedule text messages that are sent once or on a recurring basis. Some of the top-rated apps in the App Store include:
- moxie messenger
- Reminder Library - SMS Scheduler
- Carrier messaging
Each of these apps will work in a different way, and while all of them are free to download, they all contain in-app purchases, so they may not be completely free.
However, they should work similarly, giving you the option to create a message and schedule it to be sent to anyone in your contact list or who you have a phone number for.
The simplest answer is no. You can't use iMessage to schedule a text message to be sent later. However, there are workarounds that will allow you to send messages later. These require the use of Shortcuts apps or third-party apps designed specifically for scheduling text messages.
FAQWhen you see a moon icon next to a contact's name in the Messages app, it means you have Do Not Disturb turned on for that conversation. When this setting is enabled, you won't receive new notifications about that person's messages. You can dismiss a message by swiping it to the left and tapping the bell icon.
Tap and hold on the message you want to forward, then open the More menu and select Share . Select the recipient in the "To:" field and click Send . Check out Lifewire's complete guide to forwarding text messages on iPhone.
To block text messages from a specific contact or phone number, click the name or number and then click the "More Info" button. Click Messages , then scroll down and select Block this caller . You can also automatically block messages from unknown senders by going to Settings > Messages > Filter unknown senders and turning on that option.
Unfortunately, once a text message has been sent it cannot be undone. But if you're quick enough, you might be able to cancel before delivery. Open Control Center and turn on Airport Mode. This mode turns off all signals to and from the device, including data and Wi-Fi. You'll know if you were successful if you see a "Not Delivered" message next to the text.
