WhatsApp Message Scheduling Is Rolling Out: Long-Press Send, Pick a Time, and It Sends Even Offline
Islamabad, Oct 12, 2026 — WhatsApp is finally getting the one feature users have asked about for years: you can now write a message, pick a future time, and have it send itself automatically — even if your phone is offline when the clock hits. The feature, called scheduled messages, has started rolling out to…
Islamabad, Oct 12, 2026 — WhatsApp is finally getting the one feature users have asked about for years: you can now write a message, pick a future time, and have it send itself automatically — even if your phone is offline when the clock hits. The feature, called scheduled messages, has started rolling out to select Android beta testers, and the way it works is simpler than most people expected: you just hold the send button a little longer.
The rollout was first spotted by WABetaInfo, the tracker that has called nearly every major WhatsApp change correctly for a decade. It appeared in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.40.7, which is available through the Google Play Store. Right now it is limited to a small group of testers — most of us will have to wait a few weeks — but the fact that it is in a public beta build means a wider release is close.
How message scheduling works on WhatsApp
The gesture is the clever part. There is no new menu buried three taps deep. You open any chat, type your message as normal, and instead of tapping the green send arrow, you long-press it. A bottom sheet slides up with a date and time picker. Choose when the message should go out, tap Schedule Send, and you are done.
For photos and videos the process is the same, with one catch: you schedule through the gallery picker by long-pressing send on a single item, and you can only schedule one photo or video per message — no bulk queues from the media editor. You can still add a caption or edits before locking the time in.
- Open the chat (individual or group) and type your message.
- Press and hold the send button instead of tapping it.
- Pick a date and time from the sheet that appears.
- Tap Schedule Send — the message shows a small clock icon in the chat.
- Change your mind? Open the chat info screen, find the scheduled message, and edit or delete it before it goes out.
The rules: 10 minutes to two weeks, and it works offline
Scheduling has guardrails. The earliest you can set a message is 10 minutes from now, and the furthest is two weeks ahead. That covers birthdays, meeting reminders, and morning group updates, though anyone hoping to plan months ahead will hit the ceiling quickly.
The most interesting detail is that scheduled messages reportedly send even when your phone is offline or the app is closed. That strongly suggests WhatsApp queues the message on its own servers rather than relying on your device to wake up at the right moment — a meaningful engineering change for an app built around end-to-end encryption, and one privacy-minded users will want explained in detail when the feature launches officially. WhatsApp says scheduled messages remain end-to-end encrypted.
Group chats come with one rule worth knowing: a scheduled message is delivered only to people who were in the group when you scheduled it. Anyone who joins the group afterwards will not receive it — a sensible way to keep old, possibly irrelevant information away from new members.
Why this matters in Pakistan
Few countries run on WhatsApp the way Pakistan does. Family groups coordinate everything from wedding plans to hospital visits on it, small businesses take orders through it, and students share past papers in it. Scheduled messages fit naturally into that life: a shopkeeper can queue tomorrow morning’s price update tonight, a teacher can schedule a class reminder for 7 AM without waking up to send it, and nobody has to stay up till midnight to send a birthday wish.
The feature also closes a gap with Telegram, which has offered message scheduling since 2019 — one of the few areas where WhatsApp has genuinely lagged its rival. For the millions in Pakistan who never left WhatsApp, the wait is finally ending.
When will everyone get it?
WhatsApp has not announced a date. The pattern with recent rollouts is consistent: a small beta group first, then a gradual expansion over several weeks once the rough edges are ironed out. If you are not on the beta and do not see the long-press option, there is nothing to fix on your end — the feature simply has not reached your account yet.
People receiving scheduled messages do not need the feature themselves. Your midnight birthday wish will land on their phone exactly as if you had stayed awake to send it — which is rather the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule a message on WhatsApp?
Type your message, then long-press (press and hold) the send button instead of tapping it. A date and time picker appears — choose when to send and tap Schedule Send. The feature is currently rolling out to Android beta testers.
Will my scheduled WhatsApp message send if my phone is off?
Yes. Reports indicate scheduled messages send automatically at the chosen time even if the app is closed or your phone is offline, because the message is queued on WhatsApp’s servers rather than your device.
How far in advance can I schedule a WhatsApp message?
Between 10 minutes and two weeks from the current time. Anything sooner or later than that window is not allowed.
Can I schedule photos and videos on WhatsApp?
Yes — text, links, photos and videos are all supported. From the gallery picker, long-press the send button on a single media item. You can only schedule one photo or video per message, and you can add a caption before confirming.
How do I cancel a scheduled WhatsApp message?
Open the chat info screen, where scheduled messages sit in a dedicated section. You can review, edit or delete them there. If you delete one before it sends, the recipient is never notified and sees no trace of it.
Do scheduled messages work in WhatsApp groups?
Yes, but with one rule: the message is delivered only to members who were in the group when you scheduled it. People who join the group afterwards will not receive it.
TimelyUps will update this article when WhatsApp rolls out scheduled messages to all users in Pakistan.
Also read: OnePlus 16 launched: 9,000mAh battery, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, expected price in Pakistan
