Mobile applications are subject to a constant pressure to launch new features that adapt to what their users ask for. Some come as ideas from the companies themselves, and others are born simply from requests repeated for years by those who use the service daily and miss a specific tool.
In that scenario, the most popular messaging service on the planet, WhatsApp, has decided to make a move with one of the most requested options: the possibility of scheduling messagesThe feature has already been seen in test versions and is expected to become one of the major new features in the coming months.
The platform, owned by Meta, has become an essential tool for both personal and professional use. Even so, It's very common to forget to send a key messageWishing someone a happy birthday, reminding them of a doctor's appointment, notifying them of a meeting, or sending a message first thing in the morning. Until now, the only alternatives were alarms, reminders, or, directly, third-party solutions.
Telegram, for example, or the Messages app in iOS 18 already offered this option, which left WhatsApp in an awkward position: It led in users, but lagged behind in featuresWith the arrival of scheduled messages, the Meta app corrects a long-standing deficiency and aligns itself with what many assumed it should include.
Scheduled messages on WhatsApp: this is how the new feature was discovered
The most solid clue about this new tool comes from BetaInfo, the specialized portal that usually previews features under development within the Meta ecosystem. In the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS (version 26.7.10.72)In the TestFlight database, a specific section related to the delayed sending of messages has been found.
This compilation includes a new menu called Scheduled Messages Located within the chat settings, in both individual and group conversations, this feature, while not yet fully usable, is indicated by its presence in the interface and code. It's a native feature in a fairly advanced stage of development.
According to the leaked screenshots, The scheduled messages option is displayed on the chat information screen.This is located just below sections such as "Multimedia, Links and Documents" or "Starred Messages." From there, the user can see which texts they have pending to send and manage each one of them.
Beyond the menu label, internal references have been detected that point to a system only accessible from within the app itself. without relying on shortcuts, external automations, or third-party applicationsIn other words, WhatsApp would finally integrate this feature into its own design, as part of the normal workflow.
How message scheduling will work step by step
While the final version has yet to reach the general public, what has been seen so far allows for a fairly good outline. the intended operation for scheduled messages in WhatsAppThe mechanics are very similar to what other messaging applications already offer.
The idea is that the user writes a message in a chat, whether individual, group, or even a chat with themselves, and Before pressing the send button, you can choose the exact date and time. to whom you want it delivered. That text would be marked as pending and would be sent automatically at the configured time, provided there is an internet connection on the device.
This automation opens the door to very everyday uses: wishing someone a happy birthday at midnight without having to stay up all night, send work reminders to colleagues who work in another time zone, schedule notifications for meetings or events the next day, or use your personal chat as if it were a digital calendar that sends notifications to itself.
One of the interesting points is that WhatsApp isn't limited to a simple hidden timer. Leaks suggest that a panel within the chat information where you can view all queued messagesFrom that list, the user could review what they have prepared, change the text, modify the time, or delete it if it no longer makes sense to send it.
This approach turns programming into a manageable tool, not a hidden trick. No additional installation is required. Nor will it be necessary to configure complex automations: simply access the new delayed sending option, probably by pressing and holding the send button or via a specific icon near the text field.
Benefits for personal and professional organization
The arrival of scheduled messages promises direct repercussions on how we use WhatsApp on a daily basis. First, it will represent a clear improvement in planning personal and professional communicationBeing able to write down several reminders and forget about them reduces errors and oversights, which is especially useful in work contexts.
For those who coordinate teams, manage projects, or interact with clients through this channel, schedule reminders, follow-ups, or alerts for specific times It can greatly simplify organization. You gain precision in the "when" without sacrificing the immediacy and simplicity of writing a normal message.
In more everyday terms, this function also helps to reduce tension: many people prefer not to disturb anyone at busy times, but at the same time They need to have the message ready the moment they remember.Scheduling the delivery for later allows you to coordinate both things: writing when the idea comes to mind and delivering the text when it is most appropriate for the other person.
Furthermore, the feature wouldn't be limited to private chats. Everything suggests that It will also be possible to schedule messages in groups.This multiplies its possibilities: announcements in communities, reminders of exams or activities in study groups, calls in associations or internal communications in work teams that use WhatsApp as the main channel.
Taken together, we're talking about a small change that can have quite an impact: Until now, we relied on memory or counterintuitive solutions.With integrated programming, the app moves closer to organized and professional use, while still remaining a simple tool.
What differentiates this feature from the tricks that are used now?
Until now, those who wanted to schedule messages on WhatsApp had to resort to indirect methods. On iPhone, for example, many users have used the app. iOS Shortcuts to create automations that simulate a shipment at a specific time. The system, however, is not particularly user-friendly and can fail if certain conditions change.
They have also proliferated third-party applications that promise to schedule messagesHowever, these apps often require very intrusive permissions, aren't fully integrated with WhatsApp, or rely on workarounds like displaying notifications that the user must confirm. In practice, the result falls far short of the seamless experience expected from an official feature.
Based on what has been discovered in the beta version, WhatsApp seems determined to close this gap with its own solution: a shipping schedule integrated directly into the application interfacethat works in both individual and group chats and is managed from the chat information without any strange intermediate steps.
This move also has a strategic interpretation: for years, Telegram has boasted of having advanced options that WhatsApp did not offer. Scheduled messages are one of those classic examples.along with features such as channels or certain group capabilities. Meta's finally accepting this request indicates that it wants to reduce the functional gap with its competitors.
For the average user in Spain or Europe, the main advantage will be simplicity: Everything will be done from the same place where you already write and send messages dailywithout needing to learn complex workflows or install anything extra. It's a seemingly small update, but one that can significantly change how communication is organized.
Privacy, encryption, and technical questions about delayed delivery
With message programming on the table, a technical issue inevitably arises: How does this feature fit with end-to-end encryption? which WhatsApp boasts. The app's promise is clear: only the sender and recipient can read the content of the messages.
When introducing deferred shipping, the question arises of where the scheduled message is stored until the time of sendingIf that text were stored on Meta's servers before being sent, it would be necessary to ensure that it remains encrypted so that the company cannot access its content, which complicates key management and security architecture.
A reasonable technical option would be for the message to remain stored locally on the device until the agreed-upon time, so that the phone itself triggers the transmission when it's time, provided it has a connection. This approach would reduce the risk of exposure, but it also introduces other challenges, such as what happens if the device is turned off or offline at the scheduled time.
Questions also remain about the Editing and canceling messages that have not yet been sentEverything indicates that the user will be able to modify or delete a pending message from the chat information screen, but it remains to be seen how this information will be synchronized between different devices if WhatsApp is used on more than one at the same time.
For now, The company has not made any technical details public. On this point, all that is known, based on what has been seen in the beta, is that the feature is being worked on and is still in a development phase that could undergo changes before reaching the stable version.
Current state of development and possible deployment by platform
The most specific information about scheduled messages currently focuses on the iOS version of WhatsAppThe feature has been detected in beta version 26.7.10.72, distributed via TestFlight. This build already includes the internal references and basic interface elements associated with the feature.
That doesn't mean it will be exclusive to iPhones. WhatsApp's typical development pattern It usually involves first activating the new features on one of the platforms (Android or iOS) and, once the behavior has been polished and the most obvious errors have been corrected, extending it to the other.
In the case of scheduled messages, some sources mention a internal development still underwaySome features are not yet activated, even for all beta program users. These types of features typically require several rounds of testing before they are considered ready for inclusion in the stable version.
There is no official release date as of today. WhatsApp's timeline for these types of new features has proven to be lengthy. from when a feature appears in beta until it is generalized It can take weeks or even months, depending on the technical complexity and the feedback received.
What does seem clear is that the company has moved beyond the point of mere exploration. The presence of visible menus and leaked screenshots It suggests that development is relatively advanced and geared towards a real reach for the public, not just a simple laboratory experiment.
With everything that has come to light, the idea of ​​being able Schedule messages directly from WhatsApp It's moving beyond a recurring wish and becoming a concrete feature that's already being tested. It remains to be seen when it will be activated for most users in Spain and the rest of Europe, but everything suggests that, sooner or later, the app will incorporate this system so that organizing reminders, alerts, or greetings no longer depends on memory or convoluted solutions.