How to schedule a text message on most devices

You can schedule text messages from an iPhone, Android, computer, and many tablet devices. Still, the built-in apps on an iPhone or Android device are extremely limited.

In this guide, I’ll break down how to schedule texts, including the most effective methods. Plus, you’ll find out the best times of day to schedule text messages and common scenarios where you’ll need to use more advanced scheduling features.

How to schedule a text from your iPhone 

Let’s take a look at a few different ways you can schedule a text from your iPhone:

1. Use the Messages app

Since Apple released the newest update to its operating system for the iPhone, iOS 18, you can schedule messages with the Messages app. Here’s how:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Select your contact.
3. Write your message in the text bar.

4. Tap the + button to the right of the text bar. 

5. Tap the time and date you want to send the text.

6. Tap the Send button.

2. Use the Shortcuts app 

iPhone users looking to schedule texts can also use the Shortcuts app. However, you’re unable to schedule texts as a one-off message via Shortcuts. Here’s a slight workaround to that problem:

1. Open the Shortcuts app if you have an iPhone with iOS 13 or later. If you’re running on an older iOS, you can download a newer version of the app from the App Store.
2. Select Automation at the bottom of the screen.
3. Click + on the top right corner of the screen.

4. Tap Time of Day.
5. Set the time you want to schedule the text and tap Next.
6. Click Send Message.

7. Type your message in the Message box, add your recipients to the Recipient box, then click Done.
8. Make sure the Run After Confirmation setting is checked if you want to double-check the message before sending it. Then click Done.
9. After the message has been sent, Delete the automation so it doesn’t repeat the next day unless you want it to.

This scheduled text tool allows you to add multiple automations, but the downside is you can only add recurring automations rather than a one-off, making it less convenient than a VoIP app like OpenPhone.

The Shortcuts app also doesn’t store the entire conversation history with a contact (calls, texts, and voice messages) in one place, like OpenPhone does. If following up with your contacts professionally and without them having to repeat themselves is important, that can be a dealbreaker. 

3. Use the Reminders app 

While you can’t actually send a text with the Reminders app on your iPhone, you can remind yourself to send one later. This doesn’t give you the ability to schedule an SMS message like you could with a business phone system like OpenPhone, but it can be helpful if you want a reminder to send a text.

1. Open the Reminders app and click New Reminder at the bottom of the screen.

2. For your title, write “Send a text to [name of recipient].” Click Details.

3. Set up the date and time, then tap Add. You could also add When Messaging and include a contact name.

How to schedule a text message on an Android

With an Android 7 or later, you can queue up a message to send at a specific time. Some features are limited, so third-party text message scheduling apps might be a better alternative. Text message scheduling is also available on the OpenPhone Android app, along with dozens of other ways to save time texting, including snippets, auto-replies, and the OpenPhone Zapier integration. 

1. Use the Google Messages app 

To schedule texts through Google Messages:

1. Open your Messages app and write a text in the message section without sending it.
2. Press the Send button by holding it down.
3. Choose the date and time you’d like to schedule the text message, then tap Next and Send.

2. Use the Samsung Messages app

Let’s take a look at how you can schedule a message on a Samsung phone using the Samsung Messages app:

1. Select your contact.
2. Write the message.
3. Tap the + button to the left of the text bar.
4. Tap Schedule message in the dropdown menu.
5. Choose the date and time you want to send your message.
6. Tap Done.

A better alternative: How to schedule a text message using OpenPhone

All you need is an OpenPhone account to get started scheduling and sending text messages from your computer or mobile device. With OpenPhone, you can get a new US, Canadian, or toll-free business number (or port over your existing number) so you can easily automate specific touchpoints with your customers, all while saving time texting.

You can try out OpenPhone free by signing up for a free seven-day trial. At sign-up, you’ll need to provide a credit card (to keep bad actors off our platform), and you can test scheduling texts from your computer or the mobile app for free to make sure OpenPhone is the right fit for you. 

1. Use the OpenPhone desktop or web app

Here’s how to set up and send scheduled texts on OpenPhone’s browser or desktop app.

1. Navigate to the existing conversation you want to schedule a text for and draft your message.

2. Click the Clock icon to schedule it.
3. Set specific conditions on whether you want to send a scheduled message even if the recipient contacts you first. You also have the option to tell OpenPhone to automatically unschedule your message if they text you first to avoid awkward exchanges. That message saves as a draft in your conversation thread if you want to use it later. When you draft up a text message this option is selected by default.

4. Below the suggested scheduled times, you can click in and choose a specific time zone. The time zone chosen will be based on your contact’s area code by default.
5. Choose one of the suggested scheduled times or above those options you can enter in a specific day and time you wish to send the message.

2. Use the OpenPhone iOS or Android app

With the OpenPhone mobile app, you can schedule text messages from your iPhone or iPad. If you’re an Android user, you can follow the steps below to schedule a text from an Android device.

Here’s how to schedule any text message:

1. Select the contact.
2. Type your text message.
3. Click on the clock icon beside the send button.
4. Under Condition, specify whether you want the message to go out if your recipient texts you first. (By default, this setting automatically cancels a scheduled text if the recipient messages you first.)
5. Set a specific time for your message to send based on any time zone by clicking into the Time zone option.

4 reasons OpenPhone is a better option for sending scheduled texts

Let’s take a look at four reasons why using OpenPhone makes it easy for you to deliver a better customer experience when scheduling texts:

1. You want to automatically unschedule messages if customers contact you first. OpenPhone lets you set conditions for your scheduled text messages. For example, if you hear back from someone earlier than expected, you can automatically unschedule your message, skipping any confusion on your contact’s end.
2. You need to cancel scheduled messages. In case you change your mind about a queued-up message before it goes out, OpenPhone lets you cancel the message any time before it’s sent. This means you can avoid creating uncomfortable situations, like sending a scheduled payment reminder text when the payment has already been made.
3. You need to schedule texts around your customers’ time zones (without finger-counting). Trying to calculate the right time to send a message based on a different time zone gets complicated fast. OpenPhone lets you schedule a message around the recipient’s time zone, which is based on their phone number’s area code.  You can also update that to another time zone if they live elsewhere.
4. You want to save time by sending snippets. OpenPhone provides snippets, or go-to template message templates you can send to multiple people. That way, you don’t have to rewrite the entire message multiple times or hit copy and paste. Once you’ve written a handy dandy snippet, you can share it with specific teammates or shared inboxes your team uses. 

3 situations you should schedule texts to customers

Besides marketing campaigns, below are common situations for when businesses should send scheduled texts to customers.

1. Confirm or remind your contacts of an appointment. Consider scheduling automatic touchpoints with your contacts if they request an appointment with your business. For example, appointment confirmation texts can go out after they book time with you. Appointment reminder texts help reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations.
2. Send texts to community members. For example, a property manager might send a message to all community members when there’s an elevator down, water shut off, or other relevant issue that needs to be addressed. In this case, people who live in the building will appreciate knowing this information, as it directly affects them — and they may not have checked their email.
3. You’re gathering feedback: If you’re collecting customer feedback for your team or conducting a research study, you can break outside people’s unread emails by sending a text message instead.

Stay responsive and set clear expectations with OpenPhone

As long as you’ve got WiFi, you can use OpenPhone to schedule 1:1 text messages from your business phone number or automatically queue messages using Zaps. Then a recipient receives that message in their time zone — or a more convenient time for both of you.

If your team is quickly growing, you don’t have to go it alone. OpenPhone lets you stay responsive by working with teammates from a shared number.

You may also feel the pressure to be on call for your customers and want to ensure your team relaxes outside of business hours. You can solve this problem by using OpenPhone’s auto-replies and let your customers know when they can expect to hear back from your team.

Want to test out scheduling texts and auto-replies in OpenPhone? Sign up for a free seven-day trial.  

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