How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages (iPhone, Android, Web and Automation)

You can schedule WhatsApp messages in five ways: WhatsApp's new built-in scheduler (in beta), iPhone Shortcuts, an Android scheduling app, a Chrome extension for WhatsApp Web, or an automation that sends messages from your calendar or CRM. Which one is right depends on your phone, and on whether you're sending one birthday wish or reminders to 200 customers.

This guide covers each method step by step, with the limits of each, so you can pick the right one in a minute.

Can you schedule a message on WhatsApp?

For most people, not yet inside the app itself. WhatsApp has been testing a built-in scheduler since early 2026, and in October 2026 it started reaching some beta testers on Android and iPhone. If you don't see it, you can still schedule messages today with the other four methods below. They work with your current WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business account.

Which method should you use?

*See the iPhone section for details.

A quick rule: personal message, one-off, and you have the beta? Use the built-in scheduler. Recurring personal message? Use Shortcuts or an Android app. Messages to customers? Use WhatsApp Web with SyncMate, or an automation if the message should go out by itself whenever something happens.

Method 1: WhatsApp's built-in scheduler (beta)

WhatsApp's own scheduler was first spotted in development in February 2026. In October 2026 it began reaching a limited group of beta testers: on Android in beta version 2.26.40.7, and on iPhone through TestFlight shortly after. There's no confirmed date for the stable app yet.

How to schedule a message with the built-in scheduler

1. Open the chat or group and type your message. You can attach one photo or video.
2. Press and hold the Send button.
3. Choose Schedule message, then pick the date and time.
4. Confirm. The message waits in the chat until it's sent.

To see or cancel pending messages, open the chat info screen. Scheduled messages are listed there, and you can delete any of them before they go out.

Limits of the built-in scheduler

• Time range: at least 10 minutes and at most 2 weeks ahead.
• Content: text, links and one photo or video per message. No documents or voice notes in the current beta.
• No repeats: each message is sent once.
• Groups: you can schedule in a group, but only people who are members at the time you schedule will receive it.
• Offline delivery: the message is sent even if your phone is off or offline at that time.

Because it's still in beta, these limits may change before release. If you don't have it yet, keep reading.

Method 2: How to schedule a WhatsApp message on iPhone (Shortcuts)

The iPhone has no scheduler app for WhatsApp, but the free Shortcuts app (built into iOS) can send a WhatsApp message at a set time, once or on repeat.

1. Open Shortcuts and tap the Automation tab.
2. Tap + (or New Automation), then choose Time of Day.
3. Set the time and choose how often: Daily, Weekly or Monthly. For a one-off message, pick the day and delete the automation after it runs.
4. Choose Run Immediately (older iOS versions: turn off Ask Before Running). This is what lets it send without you tapping anything.
5. Tap New Blank Automation, search for WhatsApp, and add the Send Message action.
6. Type your message and choose the recipient, then tap Done.

Good to know:

• Your iPhone needs to be on and connected at the scheduled time.
• On some iOS versions, the automation opens WhatsApp with the message ready and waits for you to tap Send. Test it once with a time 2 minutes away before relying on it.
• Each automation sends to one chat. For several people, create several automations, or use one of the methods below.

Method 3: How to schedule a WhatsApp message on Android

Android doesn't include a WhatsApp scheduler, so you need a third-party scheduling app from Google Play (search for "WhatsApp scheduler"). Popular options include SKEDit and Auto Text. They work in a similar way:

1. Install the app and allow the permissions it asks for, usually Accessibility and Notifications. The app uses these to open WhatsApp and press Send for you.
2. Create a new message, choose WhatsApp, and pick the contact or group.
3. Write the message and set the date, time and repeat option (once, daily, weekly, monthly or yearly).
4. Turn off Ask before sending if you want it to send without a confirmation tap.

Good to know:

• Because the app taps Send on your behalf, it usually can't work while your phone is locked with a PIN, pattern or fingerprint. Some apps suggest removing the screen lock, which we don't recommend. A safer workaround is Android's Smart Lock ("Trusted places"), which keeps the phone unlocked only at home or at work.
• Your screen turns on briefly when the message sends.
• Accessibility permission gives an app broad control of your phone. Only install scheduling apps with a strong track record and recent updates.

For anything beyond a few personal messages, an app on your phone gets fragile. That's where a desktop tool or an automation is a better fit.

Method 4: How to schedule WhatsApp messages on WhatsApp Web (SyncMate)

If you handle customer chats on a computer, you can schedule messages right inside WhatsApp Web with the SyncMate Chrome extension. It works with your existing WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business number, without the WhatsApp Business API or Meta approval.

Schedule one message

1. Install the SyncMate extension from the Chrome Web Store and open web.whatsapp.com.
2. Open the chat you want to message.
3. Write your message and use SyncMate's schedule option instead of Send.
4. Pick the date and time, and save.

See how to send a message at a scheduled time with SyncMate for screenshots of each step.

Schedule a bulk message to a list

This is useful for event reminders, payment due dates, or a weekly offer to opted-in customers.

1. Upload your contact list, or pick a WhatsApp label or group.
2. Write the message. Add personal details such as {name} so each customer gets their own version. You can save it as a reusable template.
3. Set the send time and the gap between messages.
4. Schedule the campaign.

The scheduled bulk messaging guide walks through it in detail. Before sending to a large list, read how to send bulk WhatsApp messages safely; it explains when the official API is the safer route.

Good to know: keep your computer on and WhatsApp Web open in Chrome at the scheduled time.

Method 5: Automate recurring and event-based WhatsApp messages

The first four methods need you to set up each message. For businesses, the bigger win is messages that schedule themselves: a reminder the day before every booking, a payment nudge 3 days after an invoice, a thank-you an hour after delivery. SyncMate connects your WhatsApp number to the apps where those dates already live.

Reminders from Google Calendar

Connect Google Calendar to SyncMate, and each event can send a WhatsApp reminder to the attendee at a set time before it starts. It suits clinics, salons, coaches and anyone who takes bookings. Follow how to send automated WhatsApp messages from Google Calendar events to set it up.

Messages from your CRM or store (Zapier, Make, n8n)

Use an automation tool to wait, then send:

• Zapier: add a Schedule by Zapier trigger for recurring messages (every Monday at 9 am), or a Delay by Zapier step to wait after a trigger (2 days after a new HubSpot deal). Then add the SyncMate send-message action.
• Make: schedule the scenario to run on an interval, or add a Sleep module, then use SyncMate's Send a message to a number module.
• n8n: start with a Schedule Trigger node, or add a Wait node, then the WhatsApp Notifications by SyncMate node. See how to send WhatsApp messages from n8n workflows.

The same pattern works with Shopify and HubSpot: the event happens, the automation waits for the right moment, and WhatsApp sends the message.

Scheduled sends from your own code (API)

If you'd rather run it yourself, put a SyncMate API call on a schedule. For example, a cron job that sends a daily summary at 6 pm:

# crontab: every day at 18:00
0 18 * * * /usr/bin/python3 /opt/scripts/daily_whatsapp.py

The script sends POST https://app.assistro.co/api/v1/whatsapp/messages/text with your API token in the Authorization: Bearer header and a JSON body such as {"to": "919876543210", "text": "Today's summary..."}. The WhatsApp API for developers page has copy-paste cURL, Node.js, Python and PHP examples, and the group endpoints for sending to a WhatsApp group.

Tips for scheduled WhatsApp messages that don't get you blocked

• Only message people who expect it. Scheduled messages to customers who opted in get read; cold blasts get reported, and reports are what get numbers banned.
• Personalise. Use the person's name and a detail like their booking time. Identical messages to hundreds of people look like spam.
• Space out bulk sends. Leave a gap between messages instead of sending to everyone at once.
• Check time zones. Schedule in the recipient's local time, not yours.
• Test first. Send the scheduled message to yourself before you send it to customers.
• Give a way out. Add a line like "Reply STOP to opt out" to recurring messages, and honour it.

For more, read tips to avoid getting banned on WhatsApp.

Next step

Scheduling one message is easy. Scheduling every reminder, follow-up and offer is where you save hours each week. Install SyncMate for free and schedule your first WhatsApp message in under 5 minutes, or see pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions