How to Schedule a Text Message on Android

Type a message now and deliver it later

By
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Molly McLaughlin
Senior Editor & Content Strategist
Molly K. McLaughlin has been a technology editor and writer for over a dozen years. She runs product reviews for Lifewire, overseeing the process from hands-on testing to publishing.
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Updated on May 10, 2021
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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What to Know

  • Stock Android: Type message, long-press the Send icon, select a time or Pick date and time > select date > Next > select time > Next > Save.
  • Tap the small x next to the timestamp to unscheduled the text. Tap and hold the timestamp to edit it.
  • Samsung: Draft a message > tap the plus symbol next to the text field > Scheduled Message > Select a date and a time > Done > Send.

This article explains how to schedule a text on stock Android smartphones and Samsung models running Android 9.0 and up.

Can I Schedule a Text in Google Messages?

Scheduling a text in Google Message is straightforward, and you can edit and cancel the delivery any time before it’s delivered. If your smartphone is offline at the scheduled time, then the text will send when you're back online.

  1. Type a message.

  2. Press and hold the Send icon to schedule it.

  3. The menu lists three delivery times based on when you’re drafting the text. Options might include Later today, 4:00 PM, or Tomorrow, 1:00 PM.

  4. Scheduling a text in Google Messages.

    Select one of the listed times. Tap the Send icon. The text will appear with a clock next to it.

  5. Move on to the next step if you don’t like any of the options.

  6. Tap Pick date and time.

  7. Select a date and tap Next.

    Scheduling a text in Google Messages.

    Select a time and tap Next.

  8. Confirm the details and tap Save.

    Scheduling a text in Google Messages.

    Tap the Send icon (it has a clock on it now). You'll see the text has a clock icon next to it.

  9. Google Messages will automatically send the text at that time as long as you’ve connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi.

    It will use the time in your time zone, not the recipient.

  10. To cancel the text, tap the clock icon.

    Scheduling a text in Google Messages.

    Tap Delete message > Continue. You can also edit the message by tapping Update message or deliver it right away by tapping Send now.

Adding a Subject Field to an Android Text

Before Android introduced the text scheduling feature, long-pressing the send button let you add a subject.

Adding a subject field to an Android text.

To add a subject, tap the three-dot menu on the top right and select Show subject field. Here's you can also optionally mark it as urgent.

How Do You Schedule a Text on Samsung?

Samsung also offers a text scheduling feature in its Messages app.

  1. Draft a message.

  2. Tap the plus symbol to the left of the text field.

  3. Select Scheduled Message.

  4. Select a date and a time.

  5. Tap Done.

  6. Tap Send to schedule.

  7. Select Set schedule later to save it as a draft without scheduling it.

  8. To cancel, tap on the message, then tap Delete. Tap Delete again to confirm.

  9. To edit the message, tap on it and tap Edit. If you want to send it right away, tap Send now.

  10. If you want to reschedule it, you’ll have to delete it and start over.

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