The iPhone’s iMessage feature, which lets you send and receive text messages, is well-known. Even though only Apple users can use iMessage, there is still the text message option, which lets users and people who don’t use Apple send texts to each other. But these may need a fee or plan from your mobile carrier.
When you text, it’s easy to forget to send a text or send one at the wrong time. You won’t have to deal with this again if you start planning your text messages. Here’s how to send a text message on your iPhone at a certain time.
Schedule a Text Message on Your iPhone
HOW TO SCHEDULE A TEXT MESSAGE USING THE SHORTCUTS APP
The iPhone’s Messages app doesn’t have a way to schedule messages right now. But if you have the latest version of iOS on your iPhone, you can use the Shortcuts app to make this happen automatically. Here are the steps:
Step 1: On your iPhone’s home screen, tap the Shortcuts app to launch it.
Step 2: At the bottom of the Shortcuts app, tap the Automation tab.
Step 3: If you haven’t used the Automation tab before, you will see a button that says “Create Personal Automation.” But if you’ve used the Automation tab before, you’ll see a “+” sign in the top-right corner. Tap the button that says “Create Personal Automation” or the “+” sign.
Step 4: On the New Automation page, tap the ‘Time of Day’ option.
Step 5: Select your preferred Time of Day on the When page by tapping the time icon.
Step 6: If it is a recurrent message, choose among the options of Daily, Weekly, and Monthly for the frequency.
Step 7: If you select weekly or monthly as your repeat frequency, you will get additional options to choose the start date or day.
Step 8: After selecting your time and frequency, tap Next on the top right of the page.
Step 9: On the Actions page, tap Add Action to view the actions and apps available.
Step 10: Tap the search bar and search for Send Message.
Step 11: Tap Send Message from the results shown, which will take you back to the Actions page.
Step 12: On the Actions page, tap the Message text highlighted in blue and type out your text.
Step 13: After typing out your text, tap the Recipients text highlighted in blue. This will launch a pop-up.
Step 14: Within the To field of the pop-up, enter or search for your preferred message recipients.
Step 15: Tap Done after selecting the recipient to return to the Actions page.
Step 16: On the Actions page, tap Next.
Step 17: Review your time settings and actions one more time on the Edit Automation page. Make sure the “Ask Before Running” switch is on if you want the Shortcuts app to let you know when the message is sent.
Step 18: Confirm your new automation settings by tapping Done.
At the time you set, the Shortcuts app should send you a notification. This alert would let you know if you still want to send the message. To start the automation, tap Run.
HOW TO DELETE A SCHEDULED TEXT MESSAGE FROM THE SHORTCUTS APP
If you no longer have use for the scheduled text message, you can delete the automation from the Shortcuts app. Here’s how to do so:
Step 1: On your iPhone’s home screen, tap the Shortcuts app to launch it.
Step 2: At the bottom of the Shortcuts app, tap the Automation tab.
Step 3: On the Automation page, you should see a list of all your shortcuts. Swipe left on the Send Message automation.
Step 4: Tap the Delete button shown.
After tapping the delete button the automation should no longer be available.
LIMITATIONS OF USING THE SHORTCUTS APP
The Shortcuts app helps fill in some of the blanks when it comes to scheduling a text message. But the automation that can be made on the app has its limits. There is no way to send a single message through the Shortcuts app. The time intervals on the Shortcuts app are based on the idea that users want to send the same message every day, every week, or every month. If you use a third-party app to schedule your text messages, it may give you more options and freedom.