How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages

Too Long? Didn't Read? ● WhatsApp doesn't have a built-in message scheduler on either the regular WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app. ● Android users can schedule messages using apps like SKEDit, while iPhone users can use the Apple Shortcuts app. ● WhatsApp Web users can schedule messages with browser extensions like BlueTicks. ● WhatsApp Business app only supports Greeting Messages, Away Messages, and Quick Replies. It cannot schedule messages for a future date and time. ● For businesses, the WhatsApp Business API is the most reliable way to schedule broadcasts, reminders, and campaigns. ● With AiSensy, you can schedule WhatsApp campaigns in advance, automate messaging, and track campaign performance from a single dashboard.

A WhatsApp scheduled message is a message that's created now but sent automatically at a later date and time.

So, can you schedule whatsApp messages?

As of the latest WhatsApp updates, neither WhatsApp nor the WhatsApp Business app can directly schedule WhatsApp messages yet. There is still no built-in Send Later feature.

But don't worry. 

WhatsApp messages have an impressive 45% to 60% click-through rate (CTR), so sending the right message at the right time can make all the difference. 

Whether you want to schedule WhatsApp messages using WhatsApp, the WhatsApp Business app, or the WhatsApp Business API, there are ways to do it.

The official and best way to schedule WhatsApp messages is through the WhatsApp Business API. Whether you want to schedule 10, 100, or 10,000 bulk WhatsApp messages, it lets you do it at scale while staying compliant with WhatsApp's policies and without banning your account.

This blog guide covers everything you need to know about scheduling WhatsApp messages using WhatsApp, the WhatsApp Business app, and the WhatsApp Business API.

Can You Schedule WhatsApp Messages?

Yes, but not directly through WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Business app. As of the latest updates, there is no built-in feature to schedule WhatsApp messages or a Send Later option.

So, if you're searching for how to schedule WhatsApp messages, you'll need to use a workaround.

Below, we'll show you how to schedule WhatsApp messages using the WhatsApp app, the WhatsApp Business app, and the WhatsApp Business API, along with the pros and limitations of each method.

How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages on Android

Android gives you the most flexibility here. The operating system lets one app control another app through a setting called accessibility permission. Scheduler apps such as SKEDit (a third party tool) use this permission to press the send button on your behalf at the time you choose.

What is SKEDit?

SKEDit is a third-party Android app that lets you schedule WhatsApp messages to be sent at a specific time. It works by using Android's Accessibility permissions since WhatsApp doesn't support message scheduling natively.

Steps to schedule WhatsApp messages on Android

1. Install the app. Download SKEDit from the Google Play Store and create an account.

2. Open the app and tap WhatsApp on the home screen. The app will ask for accessibility permission. Grant it. This permission is what allows the app to send the message for you.

3. Create a new schedule. Tap the plus button.

4.  Choose your recipient. Pick a saved contact or a group from the file folder or pick contact from the CSV file.

5. Write your message. Type the text you want to send.

6. Set the date and time. Choose exactly when you want WhatsApp to deliver it. You can also set it to repeat if you send the same message every week.

Is It Safe to Use SKEDit for Scheduling WhatsApp Messages?

You can use third-party apps like SKEDit to schedule WhatsApp messages, but they do not guarantee your data privacy, so we don't recommend using them, especially for business communication.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Your phone must stay switched on and connected to the internet at the scheduled time.
• SKEDit requires Accessibility permissions, which give it deep access to your device.
• Since it automates screen taps instead of using WhatsApp's official API, it may stop working after WhatsApp updates.
• It's fine for occasional personal messages, but not recommended for business or sensitive conversations.

How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages on Web

If you use WhatsApp Web, you can schedule messages with browser extensions like BlueTicks. Unlike Android apps, BlueTicks works directly with WhatsApp Web, making it easy to schedule messages from your computer.

What is BlueTicks?

BlueTicks is a Chrome extension that lets you schedule WhatsApp messages on WhatsApp Web. According to BlueTicks, it does not store your messages or personal data, making it a safer option than many third-party scheduling tools.

Steps to Schedule WhatsApp Messages on Web

• Install the BlueTicks extension from the Chrome Web Store.
• Open WhatsApp Web and log in by scanning the QR code with your phone.
• Open the chat where you want to schedule a message.
• Click the BlueTicks (clock) icon next to the message box.
• Type your message.
• Select the date and time you want the message to be sent.
• Click Schedule to save it. BlueTicks will automatically send the message at the scheduled time.

Is It Safe to Use BlueTicks for Scheduling WhatsApp Messages?

BlueTicks is generally considered safe for personal and small business use because it doesn't store your messages or contacts on its servers.

However, since it isn't an official WhatsApp feature, it works through a browser extension, so use it responsibly and avoid sending spam or excessive automated messages.

How to Schedule WhatsApp Messages on iPhone (iOS)

Unlike Android, iPhones don't support third-party apps like SKEDit for scheduling WhatsApp messages. Instead, you can use the Apple Shortcuts app to automate sending messages at a specific time.

What is Apple Shortcuts?

Apple Shortcuts is a built-in iPhone app that lets you automate everyday tasks. You can use it to create an automation that sends a WhatsApp message at a scheduled time.

Steps to Schedule WhatsApp Messages on iPhone

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Automation tab and select New Automation.
3. Choose Time of Day and set the date and time.
4. Tap Add Action and search for WhatsApp.
5. Select Send Message.
6. Choose the contact and type your message.
7. Save the automation.

Is It Safe to Use Apple Shortcuts?

Yes. Apple Shortcuts is a built-in iOS app developed by Apple, so it's safe to use and doesn't require third-party access to your data.

However, there are a few limitations:

• Some automations may still require your confirmation before sending.
• It works best for personal messages, not bulk messaging.
• If you want to schedule broadcasts or marketing campaigns, you'll need the WhatsApp Business API.

Can You Schedule Messages on the WhatsApp Business App?

Many guides get this wrong, so read this section carefully.

The WhatsApp Business app does not have a message scheduler. No "Schedule" option hides under the attachment icon. No send later button sits on a broadcast. People often confuse the app's automation menu with a scheduler, but the two do completely different jobs.

How to Schedule Messages on the WhatsApp Business App

The WhatsApp Business app gives you three automation features. All three react to something a customer does. None of them send a message at a time you pick.

Here is what each automation feature actually does:

Greeting Message

This is an automatic hello that WhatsApp sends when someone messages your business for the very first time, or after they have not spoken to you in 14 days. You write the message once, save it, and WhatsApp handles the rest.

Useful? Yes. But it only fires when the customer contacts you. You cannot use it to reach out to someone proactively.

Away Message

This is the closest thing the WhatsApp Business app has to scheduling. You write a message - something like "Thanks for reaching out, we are closed right now and will get back to you by 10 AM" - and WhatsApp sends it automatically whenever a customer messages you outside your working hours.

How to set it up:

• Open the WhatsApp Business app
• Go to Settings, then Business Tools, then Away Message
• Turn on Send away message
• Type the message you want customers to receive
• Under Schedule, pick one of three options: 
• Always send - it goes out around the clock, every time someone messages you.
• Custom schedule - you set specific hours for it to activate.
• Outside of business hours - it only activates when you are closed (you need to have set your business hours first for this option to appear)
• Always send - it goes out around the clock, every time someone messages you
• Custom schedule - you set specific hours for it to activate
• Outside of business hours - it only activates when you are closed (you need to have set your business hours first for this option to appear)
• Tap Recipients to choose who gets it - everyone, only people not in your contacts, or a specific group
• Tap Save

Your phone needs to be connected to the internet for away messages to go out.

Quick Replies

These are shortcuts for messages you send often. For example, you could save your address, your return policy, or a welcome note as a quick reply and pull it up instantly while chatting.

But you still press send yourself. WhatsApp does not send quick replies on its own - they just save you from typing the same thing over and over.

From the table, it’s clear that third-party apps can work for small, personal scheduling needs.

But if you want to send WhatsApp broadcasts to a large customer list, AiSensy is the safer and more scalable choice because it runs on the official WhatsApp Business API, lets you reach unlimited opted-in contacts, and helps reduce the risk of bans through compliant messaging.

Can You Schedule Messages on WhatsApp Business App (iPhone)?

Yes, but with limitations. The WhatsApp Business app for iPhone doesn't let you compose any message and schedule it to send automatically at a future date and time like email apps do. However, you can use a few workarounds depending on what you want to achieve.

Method 1: Use the Apple Shortcuts App

If you want to send a message at a specific time, you can create an automation using Apple's built-in Shortcuts app.

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap Automation.
2. Tap the + icon and select Create Personal Automation.
3. Choose Time of Day and set the date and time you want.
4. Tap Add Action, search for WhatsApp, and choose Send Message (if available on your device).
5. Enter your message and select the recipient.
6. Tap Next, turn off Ask Before Running (if your iOS version allows), and tap Done.

Note: The available actions and the level of automation depend on your iOS version and Apple's current automation permissions. Some users may still need to confirm the action before the message is sent.

Method 2: Schedule Away Messages

If your goal is to automatically reply to customers when you're unavailable, use Away Messages in the WhatsApp Business app.

1. Open WhatsApp Business.
2. Go to Settings → Business Tools.
3. Tap Away Message and turn on Send Away Message.
4. Write your away message.
5. Tap Schedule and choose Custom Schedule to set the days and times.
6. Select the recipients who should receive the message.
7. Tap Save.

This feature is ideal for after-hours support, holidays, or when your business is closed.

What the WhatsApp Business app cannot do

Not one of these three features sends an outgoing message to a customer at a future time you choose.

The broadcast feature runs into the same wall. A broadcast list in the WhatsApp Business app holds a maximum of 256 contacts.

The message reaches only those people who have saved your number in their phone. And when you press send, it goes out immediately. WhatsApp gives you no option to schedule a broadcast in the Business app.

Why Use the WhatsApp Business API for scheduling messages?

The best way to schedule WhatsApp messages officially and in compliance with WhatsApp's policies is by using the WhatsApp Business API.

Whether you want to schedule 10, 100, or even 10,000 bulk WhatsApp messages to your contacts, the WhatsApp Business API is the best solution. It lets you schedule messages reliably, automate campaigns, and send them at scale, without worrying about getting your WhatsApp account banned, as long as you follow WhatsApp's messaging policies.

If you are weighing up which version of WhatsApp your business should run on, this breakdown of the WhatsApp Business App vs the WhatsApp Business API covers the full difference.

How to Schedule WhatsApp Broadcast Messages Using AiSensy

The WhatsApp Business API is the official route Meta provides for businesses that message customers at scale. You do not download it as an app. You get access through a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider.

AiSensy is one such platform. It sits on top of the official API and gives you a dashboard, so you can schedule campaigns without writing a line of code.

Here is how you schedule a WhatsApp broadcast on AiSensy.

Step 1: Create and approve a WhatsApp template message

The API sends broadcasts as pre-approved templates, so this step comes first.

Open your AiSensy dashboard, go to Manage, and click +New. Fill in the template category, the template name, the message body, any media, and your call-to-action buttons. Submit the template for approval.

Meta reviews it, usually within a few minutes to a few hours. Check the Approved section and click Sync Status to see whether it has cleared.

If you would rather not write templates from scratch, the WhatsApp Template Message Library gives you pre-written templates across eight industries.

Read full blog on: 

How to create WhatsApp Template Messages in AiSensy? Complete Guide

WhatsApp Template Approval Process

Step 2: Create the Broadcast Campaign

• Click Campaign, then +Launch

Following screen will be displayed, click Broadcast Campaign

Step 3: Set Up Campaign Details

• Enter your campaign name (e.g. "Diwali SALE is ON!")
• Click + Add filter under Select Audience to define who receives this broadcast
• Set your filters - for example, Opted In is Yes and Blocked is No
• Click Apply Filters to confirm your selection
• Check the Audience Contacts section to make sure the audience count is greater than 0
  

• Click Next to move to the Create Message step
  

Step 4: Create Message

• Search for your approved WhatsApp template by name in the Template Name field
• Select the template name - a live preview will appear on the right

• If your template has a media header, add it either by: Pasting a direct media link (URL), orUploading an image from your Media Library
• Pasting a direct media link (URL), or
• Uploading an image from your Media Library
• Review the message preview to make sure everything looks correct
  

• Click Next

Step 5: Schedule the Campaign

• Following screen will be displayed:

• Verify your Campaign Name and Audience Size at the top
• Toggle on Schedule Date and Time
• Select your Date from the date picker
• Set the Time you want the campaign to go out
• Choose the correct Timezone (e.g. Asia/Calcutta +05:30)
• Optionally enable Retry Campaign to automatically retry up to 3 times for failed deliveries
• To test before sending, enter a Username and WhatsApp Number and click Test
• Once everything looks good, click SCHEDULE CAMPAIGN
  

• You will see a confirmation - "Campaign Scheduled Successfully" with the date and time
• Click Go To Campaign to view your scheduled campaign

Step 6: Track Your Campaign

• You will land on the Campaigns dashboard
• Click  Scheduled tab to find your campaign
• Your campaign will show the following details: Campaign Name — Diwali SALE is ON!Created At — date and time it was createdScheduled At — date and time it will be sentStatus — shown as Scheduled (in yellow)Audience — total contacts it will be sent to (e.g. 278)
• Campaign Name - Diwali SALE is ON!
• Created At - date and time it was created
• Scheduled At - date and time it will be sent
• Status - shown as Scheduled (in yellow)
• Audience - total contacts it will be sent to (e.g. 278)
• Use the eye icon to preview or the delete icon to remove it
• Click Refresh to update the status
• Once the scheduled time passes, the status will automatically change from Scheduled to Sent

Step 7: You can also set up time-based auto replies

Scheduling messages is only one part of the customer experience. With AiSensy Live Chat Settings, you can also automatically reply to customers based on your business hours.

How to Set It Up

1. Go to Manage → Live Chat Settings.

2. Turn on Welcome Message and add the message customers receive during business hours.

3. Turn on Off Hours Message and add the message customers receive outside your business hours.

4. Enable Auto Resolve Chats to automatically close inactive conversations after the customer hasn't replied for more than 24 hours.

5. Set your working hours and timezone.

6. Save your settings and test the automation.

Unlike scheduled broadcasts, these replies are sent within WhatsApp's 24-hour customer service window, so they don't require Meta template approval.

With scheduled broadcasts and time-based auto replies, you can reach customers at the right time and respond instantly, even when your team is offline.

Comparison of Different Ways to Schedule WhatsApp Messages

Best Practices for Scheduling WhatsApp Messages

Follow these rules whichever method you choose:

Send at the right time
Late morning or 7 PM to 9 PM works best for most Indian businesses. Avoid Monday mornings - people are in traffic and clearing notifications without reading.

Always double-check your time zone
One wrong setting and your Diwali offer lands at 3 AM. Check before you schedule, every single time.

Space out your campaigns
Meta limits how many marketing messages one customer can receive in a set period. Too many too fast damages your WhatsApp quality rating and cuts your daily sending limit. Fewer, better-timed campaigns always win.

Only message contacts who opted in
Scheduling controls when a message arrives - not whether you had permission to send it. Check the WhatsApp broadcasting rules before you hit schedule.

Give yourself a review window
Do not schedule a campaign one hour before it goes out. Schedule it the day before, sleep on it, and read it once more with fresh eyes in the morning.

Match the message to the moment
Payment reminder - morning. Dinner offer - 6 PM. Flash sale - lunch hour. Scheduling only pays off when you actually think about the clock.

Read Now: Top 11 WhatsApp Scheduler Use Cases to Try in 2026

WhatsApp Is Testing a Schedule Feature, but It Is Not Live Yet

As per the latest buzz, Meta has been testing a scheduled messages feature inside the WhatsApp beta app since early 2026. The feature has appeared in test builds for both Android and iPhone.

Test builds suggest two limits. You will be able to schedule a message from about 10 minutes ahead up to roughly two weeks ahead. And the feature will work in group chats as well as one-to-one chats, though only members who belong to the group at the time you schedule the message will receive it.

Now the important part. Meta has not released this feature. It is not live for regular users, and it is not even live for beta testers. Meta has announced no launch date.

What this means for you: if you need to schedule a WhatsApp message today, you must use one of the workarounds below.

And if you run a business, this feature will not solve your problem even after it launches, because it schedules one message to one chat. It does not schedule a campaign to five thousand customers.

Conclusion

WhatsApp doesn't support scheduling messages natively yet, but there are reliable workarounds.

For personal use, you can use SKEDit, BlueTicks, or Apple Shortcuts. For businesses that want to schedule broadcasts and reach customers at scale, the WhatsApp Business API is the best option.

With AiSensy, you can schedule WhatsApp campaigns, automate messaging, and track results, all from one dashboard.

Ready to Schedule Your First WhatsApp Campaign?

AiSensy gives you everything you need to send, schedule, and scale WhatsApp broadcasts on the official WhatsApp Business API - no coding required.

• ✅ Schedule campaigns up to 2 months in advance
• ✅ Reach unlimited contacts with approved templates
• ✅ Set up in under 10 minutes
• ✅ Free to get started - no setup fee

Start for Free on AiSensy →

Get Started

Related Articles

• What is WhatsApp Business API: The Complete Guide — everything you need to know before you apply for the API.
• WhatsApp Broadcast: 12 Best Practices — how to write, segment and send broadcasts that actually convert.
• WhatsApp Campaign Guide: How to Send, Best Practices — build a full campaign from opt-in to conversion.
• Click to WhatsApp Ads: Creation and Setup Guide — bring new opted-in contacts onto WhatsApp so you have someone to broadcast to.
• How to Run WhatsApp Ads like a Pro — case studies and ad strategy from Indian brands.
• AI WhatsApp Template Message Generator — write Meta-approved templates in seconds.
• Looking for an AiSensy Alternative? Read This First — how to compare WhatsApp platforms properly.

FAQs

Can I schedule WhatsApp messages without downloading an app?

Does the WhatsApp Business app have a schedule message feature?

Is it safe to use third-party apps for scheduling WhatsApp messages?

How far in advance can I schedule a WhatsApp broadcast?

Can I schedule a WhatsApp message to more than 256 people?

Can I cancel a scheduled WhatsApp broadcast after creating it?

Can I schedule a WhatsApp message to a group?

Will the person know I scheduled the message?