Sending a birthday wish at midnight or managing a quick reply on WhatsApp after hours might soon get much easier. WhatsApp is testing a brand new feature that lets people schedule their texts, photos, and videos in advance. While other messaging platforms have offered this tool for years, the popular chat app is finally bringing the highly requested option to its beta users.
Holding the send button reveals options to choose delivery times
The new tool works right inside your usual chat window. After typing your text or picking a media file, you just tap and hold the send button. This action pops open a menu where you can pick a future date and time for delivery. You can set up a message to go out as early as ten minutes from now or as far out as two weeks.
Once you pick a time, WhatsApp will automatically deliver the message. Your phone does not even need to be connected to the internet or have the app open when the scheduled time arrives. If you change your mind before the text goes out, there is a dedicated section to view, edit, or delete any pending deliveries. The recipient will not get an alert if you decide to cancel a planned chat.
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This scheduling tool is showing up in the Android beta version of the app. It supports individual chats as well as group conversations. The developers are testing it with a small group of users before a wider release. There is no official word on when it will arrive on the iPhone, but features like this usually roll out to all devices shortly after testing wraps up. Users who rely on the app for daily communication will likely welcome the added flexibility once it becomes widely available.
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