WhatsApp finally working on scheduled messages, after years of user demand

WhatsApp

• WhatsApp is developing a scheduled messages feature
• The feature is not yet available to beta testers
• Scheduled messages enhance reminders and business communication

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In a move that feels less like innovation and more like catching up, Meta is reportedly developing scheduled messages for WhatsApp — one of the platform’s most requested features.

The discovery comes via WABetaInfo, which spotted new references inside a recent TestFlight beta build of WhatsApp. While the feature is not yet available to testers, internal strings and interface elements suggest it is firmly in development.

A shared screenshot shows a new “Scheduled Messages” option within the Group Info section. It appears just below familiar entries such as “Media, links and docs” and “Starred”, indicating that scheduling could become a native, built-in function rather than a hidden experimental toggle.

For context, scheduled messaging has been standard fare across rival platforms for years. Telegram allows users to pick a specific date and time, and even offers a “Repeat” function for recurring messages. iMessage has also integrated message scheduling into its ecosystem. WhatsApp, by contrast, has forced users to rely on improvised solutions, from third-party apps to Apple’s Shortcuts automation.

That gap has been increasingly difficult to justify. For a messaging platform that serves over two billion users globally, the absence of a simple scheduling tool has felt like a stubborn omission.

What remains unclear is how robust WhatsApp’s implementation will be. Will it simply allow one-time scheduled sends, or will it include advanced options such as recurring reminders, similar to Telegram’s repeat scheduling? At this stage, the details are sparse.

According to WABetaInfo, the feature is still under development and not yet accessible to beta testers. Once ready, it is expected to roll out first to a limited group of testers for feedback before expanding more widely.

If executed well, scheduled messages could meaningfully improve how users handle reminders, business communication, birthday wishes, and time-zone coordination. It may not be a flashy AI-powered upgrade, but it is a practical feature that users have wanted for years.