HIGHLIGHTS
WhatsApp is testing a feature that lets users schedule texts, photos, videos and documents up to two weeks in advance.
Scheduled messages will be sent automatically at the chosen time, even if the phone is offline or the app is closed.
The feature may include a dedicated section to manage or delete scheduled messages and is currently rolling out to select Android beta testers.
Meta’s instant messaging platform WhatsApp tests new features and enhancements across platforms regularly in its attempt to improve the user experience. In a recent move, the texting app is now testing a feature that may soon let users schedule messages in chats. Apart from texts, these could include links, photos, videos, documents and other media. According to WABetaInfo, once a chat is scheduled, the message will be sent even if the phone is not connected to the internet at the scheduled time. Plus, the feature might support group conversations. It is rolling out to select Android beta testers running version 2.26.40.7, currently live on the Google Play Store and is expected to reach more users in the coming weeks.
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Even if a user does not have the option to send a scheduled message, they can still receive a scheduled message from those using the feature. This functionality will enable users to set the date and time of a specific message based on their convenience and can help in events, meetings and sending greetings at the right time. To schedule a message, users may have to tap and hold the send button and select the desired time from the bottom sheet.
WhatsApp is rolling out scheduled messages on Android beta! WhatsApp is finally introducing a feature that lets users schedule their text messages, photos, and videos. https://t.co/GrxUWwCqbJ https://t.co/gG1fXHaCRG
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) October 11, 2026
WhatsApp may also add a dedicated “Scheduled messages” tab within the chat info screen to manage or delete these messages. Further, the WhatsApp tracker noted that a scheduled message will be sent automatically at the said time, “even if the app is closed”. For videos and photos, the feature will be available in the gallery picker via the tap-and-hold behaviour on the send button.
Based on the screenshot in the report, only one item can be scheduled (and not multiple videos and photos) at a time in case of media chats from the media picker or gallery editor (in case they wish to edit or add elements such as captions). The time range for a scheduled message can range from 10 minutes to two weeks in advance.
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If a sender decides to delete a scheduled message before it is sent from the “Scheduled messages” section, the recipient will not be notified of any activity. For group chats, scheduled messages can only be viewed by members who were part of the group when the message was being scheduled by the recipient. Members who joined after the sender was scheduling the message won’t be able to view it.
Vikas, a Copy Editor at Digit, writes to express his interest in technology. He covers consumer-centric tech news while hunting the day's most "VFM" smartphone deal. Plus, this curious geek enjoys digging into the last-mile intricacies of latest gadgets. Before Digit, he reported for Jagran English. Off work, you'll find him emotionally attached to historical sites or lost in tales of India's past. Simply put, tech is his 9-to-5, the rest is history. View Full Profile