The ability to schedule text messages has been waiting for so long. Since iOS 14, Apple has provided a perfect solution for sending automatic text messages on iPhone, which most people do not know about.
In this article, I will show you 3 ways to schedule text messages, iMessage, messages via Whatsapp, or even email. It works perfectly on iOS 15/16, but if you are using iOS 13 or previous versions, there are a few workarounds to do so.
Scheduled Message Automation for iPhone or iPad
If you are on iOS 14 or new versions, you can open the Shortcuts app, which should be pre-installed on your iOS device. You have missed a lot if you haven’t gotten started with Siri Shortcuts. When you open the Shortcuts app, you will see the Automation tab at the bottom. You can refer to the steps below to set up a scheduled text message.
Step 1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap on Automation at the bottom.
Step 2. Select Create Personal Automation. From there, you can see a list of automation triggers available.
Step 3. Select the Time of Day as an example to send the message at a specific time. Of course, you can also trigger the message on other kinds of events.
Step 4. Once the trigger is set, add a Text action where you can type your message content.
Step 5. Add the Send Message action. If you prefer using Whatsapp, you can also select the action Send Message via Whatsapp. However, Whatsapp does not allow you to use other services to send scheduled messages, so it will only bring you to the Whatsapp app without sending the message.
Step 6. Tap on Recipients to select one or more recipients to receive the message and tap Next to save this automation task.
When a specific time or event occurs, the Shortcuts app will send the message without user intervention. This is very cool. You can even trigger the message when you arrive at a certain location, or connect to Wi-FI, or open an app, etc.
Workaround If Time Of Day Is Not Working
It is a little different in iOS 13 because the Time of Day trigger does not work as it should be. In iOS 13, it requires human intervention to actually send the message. If the Time of Day trigger does not work for you, there is a workaround to automate the process. You can refer to the video below to see how it works.
Basically, you select the “Do Not Disturb” trigger instead of “Time of Day” and then create the text message automation. After that, you go to Settings > Do Not Disturb to enable Scheduled.
That’s how you can use shortcuts to send message automatically on iPhone or iPad. If you want to learn more about the Shortcuts app, you can check my ultimate shortcuts collection.
Schedule WhatsApp messages with Siri Shortcuts
It is quite easy to schedule Whatsapp messages on iPhone with the Shortcuts app. Let me show you how step by step.
Step 1. Get the Schedule Whatsapp Message shortcut. You can also create one by yourself referring to the video guide below since it is only 3 actions.
Step 2. Open the shortcut, edit the phone number, and message text. You can run it to see if it can send the Whatsapp message successfully.
Step 3. Go to Automation and create a new Time of Day personal automation.
Step 4. After you pick the time, be sure to check Run Immediately instead of Run After Confirmation.
Step 5. Select the Whatsapp Message shortcut you just modified and save the automation.
That’s it. Your Whatsapp message schedule is set up. If you want to add more scheduled messages on iPhone, you can duplicate the shortcut and repeat the process.
Schedule Text Message with Scheduled App
There is also a third party application for sending an automatic text message on iPhone, called Scheduled, which comes with an in-app purchase. To send the message automatically, you need to upgrade to the Premium or business plan subscription.
Besides, 1 auto message will cost you 1 credit. You can buy credits from 10 Credits/$2.99 to 1000 edits/$99.99. Another thing worth mentioning is that it sends the message with a different phone number instead of yours.
The free version will only remind you to send the message at the scheduled time. If you are not willing to pay for it, you don’t have to download it because you there is also a shortcut to help you set up the reminder.
Bonus: Use Reminders to Help You Schedule Message
If you have the Shortcuts app installed, you can use this shortcut to help you choose the who, the what, and the when to send the message and then you willl get a reminder when the time comes. When you are reminded, just one tap to run this shortcut and the message will be sent.
That’s all the three methods to schedule text messages on iPhone. This first method works really great. If you are running iOS 13, I highly recommend you try it. You can schedule text message, Whatsapp message, email, and create many other automation tasks.
Idk how you can say “ Finally, iOS 13 has provided a perfect solution for sending automatic text message”
A perfect solution would be simply adding that feature into the messaging app so users don’t have to find work arounds.
I’m a new IPhone user. I got this phone for work. But I don’t like it. Android phones are way better.