WhatsApp is finally adding scheduled messages

Lead

Meta is developing a scheduled-messages feature for WhatsApp, a functionality long requested by users and now spotted in a TestFlight beta on 23 February 2026. References and a screenshot of the Group Info screen indicate a new “Scheduled Messages” menu item, though the feature is still listed as in development and not available to beta testers. The discovery was reported by WABetaInfo and covered by 9to5Mac; Meta has not issued an official release date. If released, the tool would join similar scheduling options already available in other messaging platforms.

Key Takeaways

• Evidence of scheduled messages appeared in a WhatsApp TestFlight beta discovered on 23 February 2026, per WABetaInfo and 9to5Mac.
• The interface screenshot shows a “Scheduled Messages” entry inside Group Info, positioned below “Media, links and docs” and “Starred.”
• WhatsApp’s implementation is currently “in development” and not yet open to beta testers for hands-on trials.
• Competitors such as Telegram and iMessage already offer scheduling; Telegram additionally supports a recurring “Repeat” option.
• Users have relied on workarounds like Apple’s Shortcuts to mimic scheduling on WhatsApp until native support arrives.
• WABetaInfo says Meta will roll the feature out to selected beta users for feedback before a broader release.

Background

Scheduled messaging has become a standard convenience feature in modern chat apps. Telegram introduced granular schedule and recurring options years ago, and other platforms including iMessage have added comparable tools, raising user expectations for first-party scheduling. WhatsApp has historically prioritized end-to-end encryption and cross-platform parity, but the app lagged behind peers on native scheduling, prompting third-party workarounds and user scripts.

Meta’s product cadence typically moves from internal development to limited beta releases and then to a staged public rollout; the TestFlight references fit that pattern. Important stakeholders include Meta/WhatsApp product teams, privacy and security auditors who monitor any changes to encrypted flows, and enterprise users who often request scheduling for reminders and broadcast planning. The gap in WhatsApp scheduling has been notable for users who rely on the app for both personal and small-business communications.

Main Event

WABetaInfo detected new build strings and a screenshot in a recent TestFlight package, indicating WhatsApp developers have added a “Scheduled Messages” option to the Group Info interface. The visual shows the new item listed under familiar group controls such as “Media, links and docs” and “Starred,” suggesting placement within group management rather than a chat-level quick action. The discovery was shared publicly on 23 February 2026 and subsequently reported by 9to5Mac.

The beta notes and screenshot label the feature as “in development,” and WABetaInfo says it is not yet available even to TestFlight beta participants. That implies Meta is still building backend logic, interface flows, or compatibility layers that preserve WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption while queuing messages for future delivery. Historically, WhatsApp has used staged testing with limited tester cohorts to validate features before a wide release; the same approach appears likely here.

There is no official timeline from Meta and no confirmation of advanced functions such as recurring sends or cross-device scheduling. The community discussion has focused on whether scheduled messages will be device-local (queued on the sender’s unlocked device) or managed in a way that allows delivery even when the sender’s phone is offline—an important design choice affecting reliability and privacy. For now, the available artifacts are signals of intent rather than a finished product.

Analysis & Implications

Native scheduling would improve WhatsApp’s parity with competitors and reduce reliance on workarounds, particularly for users who use the app for time-sensitive reminders or business communications. For enterprises and SMBs, the feature could streamline appointment reminders and campaign timing without third-party tools. However, adding scheduling to an end-to-end encrypted system raises technical questions about where messages are stored and how delivery is guaranteed without weakening privacy guarantees.

If scheduled messages are implemented as a local queue on the sender’s device, delivery may fail if the phone is offline at the scheduled time; alternatively, server-mediated scheduling would require careful design to preserve encryption keys and message confidentiality. Meta’s engineering choices will influence both the feature’s reliability and its compliance posture in regulated markets. Security reviewers will likely examine any server-side queuing or key escrow-like mechanisms closely.

Feature parity matters for user retention: bringing scheduling to WhatsApp reduces a pain point that encouraged some users to adopt Telegram or other apps. It also fits Meta’s broader strategy of incremental feature additions to keep WhatsApp competitive across personal, small-business, and emerging-market use cases. Still, the lack of a public timeline means the competitive gap will persist in the near term.

Comparison & Data

The table shows Telegram and iMessage with existing scheduling tools, while WhatsApp is marked as planned based on the TestFlight discovery. The key unknown remains whether WhatsApp will include a recurring send option like Telegram’s, and whether scheduling will be device-local or supported across linked devices.

Reactions & Quotes

“Once development is complete, the feature will be rolled out to select beta testers for early feedback,”

WABetaInfo (leak tracker)

WABetaInfo framed the finding as an in-progress development step and signaled a conventional beta rollout to gather initial tester feedback. The phrasing indicates Meta intends to test the feature with a subset of users before wider distribution.

“Users have long requested native scheduling; this will reduce reliance on OS-level shortcuts and third-party tools,”

9to5Mac (technology newsroom)

9to5Mac’s coverage emphasized user demand and the practical benefit of an integrated scheduler. Neither WABetaInfo nor 9to5Mac quoted Meta directly; no official WhatsApp statement has been posted as of the discovery date.

Unconfirmed

• Whether WhatsApp’s scheduled messages will support recurring or “Repeat” sends similar to Telegram is not confirmed.
• It is unknown if scheduled messages will be queued locally on a sender’s device or managed in a manner that delivers while the sender is offline.
• No public timeline from Meta exists for when selected beta testers will gain access or when a general release might occur.

Bottom Line

The TestFlight discovery on 23 February 2026 signals that Meta is actively building scheduled messages for WhatsApp, closing a long-standing feature gap with rivals. While the interface hint is concrete, critical technical and product details—recurrence, cross-device behavior, and rollout timing—remain unspecified.

Users should expect a staged release: internal development, limited beta testing for feedback, then a gradual public rollout if tests go well. Observers and privacy experts will watch closely for how Meta balances scheduling convenience with WhatsApp’s encryption model.

Sources

• 9to5Mac — news site report summarizing the TestFlight discovery and context.
• WABetaInfo — leak tracker and analysis site that reported the TestFlight references (analysis/leak).