"Send Later" option not appearing in Message app iOS 18

I powered my phone off and it came back. What I just now realized I believe you can only schedule the messages for iPhone users and not droid users, which is not great or cool

I verified my phone has the most up to date software and still cannot schedule a text. This is VERY FRUSTRATING. How can this be fixed?

send later only appears if you are sending a message to an iphone. If recipient is using an android phone it wont appear.

Steve from Oz

The update stipulates that the “Send Later” function is only for IOS users via messenger. Does not work for SMS.

Really a bummer because Apple is the only one what doesn’t have this text function. It’s disappointing. Hopefully, this will be resolved.

Upon upgrading the iOS operating system, the artificial intelligence feature was present. However, upon joining the waitlist and receiving the feature, it disappeared. I am curious to know if Apple needs to release a new update to address this issue or if it is a separate problem.

This is disappointing. I literally spent way too much time attempting something that was promised in a keynote, so I “knew it had to be true”. I am hoping this is fixed because it would have been a convenient feature tonight.

Use the Shortcuts App. This will allow you to write and send your text message to anyone, anyphone, anytime. Shortcuts>new shortcut > send message.

It’s a workaround and inherently clunky compared to the ‘Send Later’ function, but it works.

I have an iPhone 16 Pro And I’m still having the problem even after turning off and on the focus button. Are they ever going to fix that or what. It was one of the features that I wanted. Now I feel like I got screwed.

Hey Lloeb, thanks for asking.

It can also be noted that you can only send later onto Apple Devices with iOS/iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 or visionOS 2. The option may also be hidden, try swiping up on the menu or tapping “More”.

Hope this helps.

To be honest I don't think Apple care at all!

If you complain they remove your comment!

They have done NOTHING to resolve this.

But they do brag that the feature is available, so at least it looks good!!!!

agreed, I don’t understand the point of trying to catch up with features offered at the most basic level of Android - But then make the feature completely divisive....does not make the feature worth it at all. Half *** attempt with an very loud and obvious angle

I think I’ve solved this for me anyway.

and forgive me I don’t know all the proper terminology….but what happened was so was testing the feature and trying to send a text and an email to myself from iMessage. In either of those instances the send later button didn’t show up. So I selected another text chain with someone I know is on the iPhone, and it worked fine. I have not tested this with sending to non-Apple devices but will report back if I get any good info….actually just did a little testing and it does not work for me with Android devices. It seems only to work btwn Apple devices.

but in any case I was finally able to use that feature and it is very handy!

good luck!

I heard that it was included yesterday, so I was going to try it. I looked around ⊕, I saw nothing. I finished up a message to a friend at 2am, and took another shot looking. It was there, out of nowhere. I say that because I only have maybe 12 things to choose from. I used it. Went to send another delayed message, and again, it was not there.

I just typed into search about this, and came here.

[Edited by Moderator]

Yes it is just with other IOS users. I tried to send messages to Android user and it doesn’t show.

I am OS 18, although my sister who I sent scheduled messenger text to doesn’t. I think it’s probably still buggy & working for some & not others.