WhatsApp starts testing scheduled messages on iPhone

WhatsApp has begun testing scheduled messages on iPhone. A small group of beta testers, people who try early versions of an app, can now write a message and set it to send later. Android beta testers got the same feature just over a week ago. Everyone else still has to wait.

How it works

After you write a message, press and hold the send button. A date and time picker appears. You can schedule delivery anywhere from 10 minutes to two weeks ahead. It works in one-on-one chats and in group chats.

• You can schedule text, links, photos and videos.
• Only one photo or video can be scheduled at a time for now.
• WhatsApp sends the message even if your phone is offline or the app is closed.
• Scheduled messages keep WhatsApp's usual end-to-end encryption.

Control and privacy

Scheduled messages sit in a dedicated section on the chat or group info screen. There you can review them and delete them before they go out. The recipient does not know you scheduled a message. Deleting one before delivery does not send any notification either.

Groups have one catch. A scheduled message only goes to people who were members when you created it. Someone who joins the group later will not get a message written before they arrived.

Who has it now

The iPhone test is running in version 26.42.10.19, delivered through TestFlight, Apple's tool for handing out early app versions. WABetaInfo, a site that tracks WhatsApp changes, reported that access will widen to more testers over the coming weeks. The feature first showed up in February 2026, and iPhone was where the first signs appeared.

What is not known yet

WhatsApp has not said when regular users will get scheduled messages. The material also does not mention any price. For now, there is no need to change plans. If you want to send a midnight birthday wish or a customer reminder, you will still need to do it by hand until the feature reaches the standard app.