WhatsApp is moving closer to making message scheduling a built-in feature for more users. After initially testing the capability on Android earlier this month, the company has now begun rolling it out to selected iOS beta testers. The update suggests that WhatsApp is preparing the tool for a wider release, although a public launch date has not yet been confirmed.
The scheduled messages feature is being offered to some users running WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.42.10.19 through TestFlight. According to the report, access is expected to expand gradually over the coming weeks as WhatsApp continues to test and refine the function.
Using the feature is straightforward. After composing a message, users can press and hold the send button to open a scheduling menu. From there, they can choose a specific date and time for delivery and confirm the selection using the green button, which displays the exact scheduled send time. WhatsApp allows messages to be scheduled from as soon as 10 minutes ahead to as far as two weeks in advance.
One notable detail is that scheduled messages will still be sent at the chosen time even if the user’s device is offline when the message is due for delivery. In addition, the scheduling confirmation shown inside the chat is visible only to the sender, keeping the process private until the message is actually sent.
The feature supports several types of content, including text, links, photos, and videos. However, there are some limitations: only one photo or video can be scheduled per message, and media scheduling is accessed by pressing and holding the send button within the drawing editor. WhatsApp also confirms that scheduled messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption.
Users can manage their scheduled messages through a dedicated section on the chat info screen. From there, pending messages can be deleted before they are sent, and the recipient will not receive any notification if a scheduled message is canceled.
For group chats, the message will only be delivered to members who were already part of the group at the time the message was scheduled. Anyone added to the group afterward will not receive it. WhatsApp has not yet announced when scheduled messages will become available to all users on iOS or Android, but broader availability could follow after additional testing and bug fixes.
