Yes, You Can Schedule a Text on an iPhone—Here's How (2023)

What to Know

  • While you cannot schedule a text message in the Messages app, you can easily do this in your Apple Shortcuts app. 
  • You can schedule a one-time message or schedule a reminder text to send at a set time each week or month.

Have you ever wanted to schedule a text message on your iPhone? Maybe you want to send weekly reminders of chores to your family or automatically let your spouse know when you're heading home. Scheduling a text message makes sure your text will get to your desired person at the desired time. Let's learn how to schedule a text on an iPhone.

Related: How to Retrieve Deleted Text Messages on iPhone

How to Schedule a Text on iPhone

Can you schedule a text on an iPhone? Yes! But you'll need to use the Shortcuts app. This can be a little intimidating, but it turns out it's pretty easy! Scheduling texts on your iPhone is super handy if you want to send reminders on specific days, or even when you're performing certain actions, like leaving the house, or going to sleep. To learn more about iPhone shortcuts, check out our Tip of the Day newsletter.

Now, here's how to schedule a text on your iPhone:

  1. To schedule a text, first you'll want to open your Shortcuts app.

    how to schedule a text message on iphone
  2. At the bottom of the screen, tap the icon that says Automation.

    schedule text message iphone
  3. Tap the Add icon. If you don't see the Add icon or have any existing automations, skip to step 4.

    Tap Add icon
  4. Tap Create Personal Automation.

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  5. In the New Automation menu, choose your text message's prompt. In this example, I will use Time of Day, but there are lots of options to choose from.

    schedule message iphone
  6. If using Time of Day, choose from Sunrise, Sunset, or Time of Day to set a specific time to send the text message.

    can you schedule a text message on iphone
  7. Under Repeat, select Daily, Weekly, or Monthly.

    how to schedule a text on iphone
  8. If Weekly or Monthly, select the day(s) of the week or month. For Weekly, all the days of the week will be automatically selected, so tap any day to deselect.

    schedule text message iphone
  9. Tap Next.

    schedule a text iphone
  10. Tap Send Message.

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  11. In the box that says Send "Message" to Recipient, tap "Message" to compose the automated text.

    can you schedule a text message on iphone
  12. Tap Recipients to choose your recipients.

    how to schedule a text on iphone
  13. Once you've chosen your recipients, tap Done.

    how to schedule a text message on iphone
  14. Tap Next.

    schedule text message iphone
  15. Review your automation and toggle Ask Before Running on or off, depending on whether you want your iPhone to ask you before running the automation.

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  16. Tap Done.

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  17. You can now find this in your Automations tab.

    can you schedule a text message on iphone
  18. To delete the automation, just swipe left and tap Delete.

    how to schedule a text on iphone

Now your text messages should send right on schedule (unless you deleted the automation)!

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Author Details

Amy Spitzfaden Both's picture

Author Details

Amy Spitzfaden Both

Amy Spitzfaden-Both is the Managing Editor for iPhone Life magazine and an award-winning novelist, with over 10 years of experience in the publishing industry. She specializes in Apple news and rumors, health and fitness tech, and parenting in the digital age. She graduated from MIU with a BA in Literature and Writing.
Amy lives in New Hampshire with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing or glued to her iPhone, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and creating her own tea blends.