WhatsApp is testing a Scheduled Messages feature for select Android beta users in October 2026, according to a report by WABetaInfo. The feature will allow users to schedule text messages, links, photos and videos for delivery at a specified date and time, even when the sender’s phone is offline.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature is being rolled out to select users running WhatsApp Android beta version 2.26.40.7. It will allow users to set a delivery date and time in advance for messages in individual and group chats. The feature is currently unavailable to all users and is being tested to evaluate its functionality and other aspects of its operation. Its availability could expand to more beta users in the coming weeks.
To schedule a message, users will need to open the relevant individual or group chat, type the message and press and hold the send button. If the feature is available on their account, an option to select the message’s delivery date and time may appear.
According to the report, messages can be scheduled for delivery at least 10 minutes after the current time and up to two weeks in advance. Once the scheduled time arrives, the message will be sent automatically.
The feature is expected to support links, photos and videos in addition to text messages. Users will be able to schedule only one photo or video at a time. Photos can be edited before scheduling, and users will have the option to add captions.
According to the report, the sender’s phone will not need to be online, and the WhatsApp application will not need to remain open, for a scheduled message to be sent at the designated time. The feature is expected to deliver messages automatically even when the sender is offline. However, its functionality and availability in the final version have yet to be officially confirmed.
The feature is also expected to work in group chats. Members who are part of a group when a message is scheduled are expected to receive it. Members who join the group later may not receive messages that were scheduled before they joined.
WhatsApp may introduce a separate section to manage scheduled messages. According to the report, users will be able to view scheduled messages on the chat information screen and delete them before delivery if required. Deleting a scheduled message is not expected to trigger a separate notification to the recipient.
The Scheduled Messages feature is also expected to support end-to-end encryption. It is currently being tested among a limited number of Android beta users, and WhatsApp has not announced an official launch date for wider availability.
