WhatsApp tests message scheduling in Android beta
A message scheduling feature has been spotted in the Android beta of Meta's messaging app WhatsApp. Rival Telegram has offered the same option since 2019.
A feature that lets users schedule messages for later delivery has appeared in the Android beta of WhatsApp, the messaging app owned by Meta. WaBetaInfo, a site that tracks WhatsApp updates, spotted it in beta version 2.26.8.11. Rival app Telegram has offered scheduling since 2019.
Users have long asked for the option so they can set recurring reminders, cope with time zone differences and send business messages outside working hours.
How it works
The feature works much like Telegram's. Users tap and hold the send button, which opens a panel at the bottom of the screen where they pick a delivery date and time. A separate section lets them manage scheduled messages before they go out.
The message is sent at the chosen time even if the sender's device is offline. Like ordinary messages, scheduled ones can include text, links, photos and videos, and they are protected by end-to-end encryption. A message can be scheduled for as little as 10 minutes ahead or up to two weeks in advance. The feature also works in group chats.
When it may arrive
For now, the feature is available to some WhatsApp testers on Android, and it should reach more accounts in the coming weeks. Since a formal beta is already out, an official release may follow in the near future.
