How to Schedule a Message in iMessage on iOS 18

With the release of iOS 18, Apple has introduced a highly convenient feature in the Messages app that allows users to schedule messages to be sent at a later time. This feature, known as "Send Later," is particularly useful for managing communications across different time zones or remembering important messages to send at specific times.

System Requirements

To use the "Send Later" feature, you must be running iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS 15 Sequoia on your devices. Additionally, this feature only works with iMessage conversations, so it is not available for SMS, MMS, or RCS texts. Ensure that iMessage is enabled on all your devices, and if you want scheduled messages to sync across your devices, you need to have Messages in iCloud enabled.

Scheduling a Message

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to schedule a message in iMessage on iOS 18:

1. Open the Messages App: Start by opening the Messages app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Select a Conversation: Choose the conversation where you want to schedule the message. You can either open an existing conversation or start a new one.
3. Compose Your Message: Type the message you want to send, but do not hit the send button yet.
4. Access the Send Later Feature:
   • Tap the "+" button on the left side of the text field.
   • Select "More" from the menu that appears.
   • Choose "Send Later" from the list of options.
5. Set the Send Time:
   • The Send Later tool will default to a suggested time, usually the next day at 9:00 AM. Tap on this time to change it.
   • Use the date and time picker to select the desired send time. You can schedule messages up to 14 days in advance.
6. Confirm and Schedule:
   • Once you have set the desired time, tap the send button (the blue arrow) to schedule the message.

Managing Scheduled Messages

Scheduled messages will appear at the bottom of the conversation with a dashed blue iMessage bubble around them. Here’s how you can manage these scheduled messages:

• Edit Scheduled Message:
  • Tap and hold or long-press the scheduled message.
  • Choose "Edit" from the action menu.
  • You can edit the text of the message, change the send time, send the message immediately, or delete it entirely.
• Quick Actions:
  • Above the scheduled message, you will see an "Edit" button. Tapping this button gives you options to send the message now, edit the time, or delete the message.

Finding Scheduled Messages

To identify conversations with scheduled messages, look for a clock icon next to the conversation in the Messages list. However, this icon will not appear for pinned conversations, so you will need to open those conversations individually to check for scheduled messages. On macOS, you can minimize the sidebar list to show only profile pictures, which can help in quickly identifying conversations with scheduled messages.

Faster Access to Send Later

If you plan to use the Send Later feature frequently, you can add it to your frequently used apps for quicker access:

• Tap the "+" button next to the text field.
• Find "Send Later" in the list.
• Drag and drop it above the "More" section to add it to your quick-access menu.

Using Send Later on macOS

The process of scheduling messages on macOS is similar to that on iOS and iPadOS. Open the Messages app, select a conversation, compose your message, tap the "+" button, select "More," and then choose "Send Later." Set the desired time and confirm. Managing scheduled messages on macOS follows the same steps as on iOS devices.

By following these steps, you can effectively use the "Send Later" feature in iMessage on iOS 18 to better manage your communications and ensure that your messages are sent at the right time.