Want to Schedule a Text on iPhone? Here Are Your Options
- Praveen Suddala
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
We all have experienced it: you type a message just to realize that it is high time to send them later. It may be a birthday text you want to go out at midnight or remind friend to attend a meeting; it may be a work message that you do not want to send to outside of normal working hours. Although the iPhone has tons of features, what the device does not have natively in the text message application (Messages) is a method of scheduling a text message.
However, worry not because there are workarounds, native tools, and third-party applications that close the gap. In this article, we are going to see a few ways in which you can create an appointment scheduled text message on your iPhone, whether you are a personal user and want to set up a birthday text message or you are a business user and need to automate the process of reminding clients.
Why Would You Want to Schedule a Text?
Let’s be honest. Timing matters. A well-timed message can show thoughtfulness, improve response rates, and even keep you more organized.
Here are a few real-world scenarios where scheduled texts make a difference:
Personal reminders: Want to remind your partner to take their medicine every evening?
Professional communication: Need to follow up with a client on Monday morning but working late Friday night?
Special occasions: Want to send birthday or anniversary wishes right at midnight without staying up?
Avoiding odd-hour texts: You’re up at 3 AM, but the message can wait until 9.
Whether for convenience, professionalism, or organization, scheduled texts are a game-changer.
Now let’s see how to schedule a text message on iPhones.
Option 1: Use the Shortcuts App (Built-in & Free)
Apple’s Shortcuts app is a powerful automation tool, and while it doesn’t provide a direct “schedule message” button, it allows you to automate actions based on a time trigger.
How to Schedule a Text with Shortcuts:
Open the Shortcuts app (pre-installed on your iPhone).
Tap the Automation tab.
Tap Create Personal Automation.
Select Time of Day and pick when you want the message to be sent.
Choose Send Message as your action.
Type in your message and select the recipient.
Toggle off “Ask Before Running” for full automation (optional).
Tap Done.
Now, your iPhone will send the message at the scheduled time, assuming your phone is unlocked and connected to the internet at that moment.
Pros:
No extra apps needed.
Great for recurring reminders or texts.
Free and secure.
Cons:
Doesn’t work well for one-time messages.
May require phone to be active/unlocked to run correctly.
Not very intuitive for casual users.
Option 2: Use Reminders as a Manual Scheduler
This isn’t true automation, but it works well in many situations. Think of it as a “nudge” to send the message later.
Steps:
Write the text in Notes or as a draft in the Messages app.
Set a Reminder (via the Reminders app or Siri) at the time you want to send it.
When the reminder pops up, copy and paste or tap into the draft and hit send.
Pros:
Very simple.
Ideal for people who want more control.
Cons:
Manual; you still need to press “send.”
Doesn’t work if you forget to respond to the reminder.
Option 3: Use Third-Party Apps
Several apps on the App Store claim to offer scheduled messaging. While they vary in capability, most follow a similar pattern—you type the message, select the recipient and time, and receive a notification to hit “send.”
A. Scheduled App
This is one of the most popular apps for scheduling texts on iPhones.
Key Features:
Compose messages in advance.
Schedule for future dates and times.
Get a notification to send the message manually.
Integrates with iMessage, WhatsApp, and more.
Limitations:
Doesn’t send messages automatically due to Apple’s restrictions.
Requires user confirmation at the time of sending.
B. Text Timer / Auto Message Apps
Some lesser-known apps claim to send messages automatically, though often with caveats:
Many require workarounds like sending from a browser or using email-to-text gateways.
Some ask for advanced permissions.
Check privacy policies before trusting sensitive data.
Pros of Third-Party Apps:
Better UI/UX for scheduling.
Some offer templates and recurring message options.
Cons:
Most still require manual confirmation.
Subscription fees or ads may be involved.
Privacy concerns with storing contacts and messages externally.
Option 4: Business Users, Use a Professional SMS Platform
If you’re a business owner, sales rep, recruiter, or customer service manager, chances are you need more than just one scheduled text. You need campaigns, automated workflows, and bulk scheduling. That’s where business texting platforms come in.
Why Use a Platform like Falkon SMS?
Falkon SMS is built specifically for businesses that want to streamline client communication through SMS. Here's how it helps:
Schedule texts at scale: Send hundreds of messages at a pre-set time.
Automate follow-ups: Trigger texts based on actions like form submissions or missed calls.
Personalization: Merge tags like {{first_name}} into scheduled messages.
Compliance & delivery tracking: Make sure your messages are sent legally and arrive on time.
Whether you're reminding clients of appointments, running flash sales, or nurturing leads—Falkon SMS makes scheduled messaging effortless.
Pro Tip: For individuals or small teams, Falkon SMS also offers easy-to-use dashboards without the complexity of large CRM platforms.
Bonus Tip: Use Siri and Notes Together
You can also combine Siri and Notes to simplify scheduling:
Say: “Hey Siri, remind me to send a text to John at 5 PM.”
Add the message in the reminder note.
When 5 PM hits, you'll get a tap on the wrist or a notification.
It’s not flashy, but it works and you don’t even have to type.
Final Thoughts
While iPhones don’t offer a true native text scheduler, users aren’t out of luck. Between Shortcuts, Reminders, third-party apps, and business SMS platforms like Falkon SMS, you have plenty of options depending on your needs.
For casual use, Reminders or Shortcuts are more than enough.
For power users or business communication, SMS platforms offer automation, tracking, and personalization at scale.
Whatever your use case, the key is planning and now, you know exactly how.
So, if the next time you want to be someone who “never forgets to text,” just schedule it ahead of time.
