How to schedule WhatsApp messages

  • Messages can be scheduled both on Android, Apple phones

By: HT CORRESPONDENT
| Updated on: May 14 2020, 18:49 IST
For Android devices you need a third-party app, for Apple you can use the Shortcuts app
For Android devices you need a third-party app, for Apple you can use the Shortcuts app (Pixabay)

WhatsApp is one of the most frequently used messaging apps in the world and while it comes with a host of really good features, there's one that is missing. WhatsApp does not let you schedule a message yet.

Imagine it is someone's birthday and you have the date in mind for now, but there are chances that you might forget about it closer to the day, or at 12 midnight when you intend to wish the person. Or if you need to send someone a message during work hours and not at some random hour at night. The ability to schedule a message in scenarios like these can help immensely.

Now, the app itself does not have message scheduling as a feature yet so the only way to make it work is to use a third-party app. A workaround is good for both Android and Apple devices, however, the same workaround does not work on both platforms. However, as is the case with all workarounds, there are limitations, we'll get to that soon.

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For Android phones

There are a bunch of third-party apps that can schedule a message for you - like SKEDit. To use this, follow these steps:

- Go to the Google Play Store, download and install SKEDit

- Open the app and sign up.

- Once you've signed in, tap on WhatsApp on the main menu.

- On the next screen, you will need to grant SKEDit some permissions.

- Tap Enable Accessibility, go to SKEDit, toggle on Use service, click on Allow. You can now return to the app.

- Next you will need to fill in details of the recipient, enter your message text, set the schedule date and time. You can select if you want to repeat the scheduled message or not.

- The app will give you one more option - Ask me before sending. Turn this on, tap on the tick and your message is scheduled.

- Now, when the scheduled date and time arrives, you will get a notification prompting you to complete the action.

- Tap on send and you are done.

If the ‘Ask me before sending' option is toggled off, when you tap the tick icon, you'll be asked to disable your phone's screen lock and you will be asked to disable your phone's battery optimisation as well.

This will send your message at the scheduled date and time without asking you for permission. While this is convenient in certain cases, remember that your phone screen is unlocked - this is a security risk.

For Apple phones

Unlike Android phones, there is no app for Apple devices to schedule messages on WhatsApp. The only way you can schedule a message on your iPhone is through Siri and use the Shortcuts app.

Here's how you do it:

- Go to the App Store and download the Shortcuts app, if you don't have it already.

- Click on the Automation tab at the bottom.

- Tap on the + icon on the top-right corner and tap on ‘Create Personal Automation'.

- On the next screen, tap on ‘Time of Day' to schedule when to run this automation. Select the date and time when you want to schedule your WhatsApp message. Then click on ‘Next'.

- Tap ‘Add Action' and then in the search bar type ‘Text' and from the list of actions that appear, select ‘Text'.

- Enter your message in the text field.

- After you're done with your message, tap on the + icon below the text field and in the search bar look for WhatsApp.

- From the list of actions that appear, select ‘Send Message via WhatsApp'. Choose the recipient after that and hit Next. Finally, on the next screen, tap Done.

- At the scheduled time, you'll get a notification from the Shortcuts app. Tap the notification and it will open WhatsApp. All you have to do is hit ‘Send'.

Messages can be scheduled here for only a week. Not longer than that. 

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First Published Date: 14 May, 17:54 IST
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