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

I followed instruction but when tapping plus sign and then more, send later does not appear.



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 23, 2024 1:01 AM

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Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 2, 2024 8:02 AM

This feature worked after I upgraded to iOS 18...today (2 days later), it's gone. I've tried testing it on multiple recipients (iPhone and Android users) and myself. Additionally, I've restarted the phone to no success. The ability to schedule texts was one of the key features that kept me on Android for years...please fix this ASAP

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Oct 31, 2024 7:55 AM in response to Lloeb

I just hung up from speaking with Apple support, and the person I spoke with confirmed that the documentation is misleading an should use language that excludes Android devices (maybe non iOS 18 devices).


Very disappointing, and difficult to understand.


Hopefully there will be sufficient outrage among iPhone users to motivate Apple to address this issue.

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Nov 9, 2024 3:20 PM in response to Lloeb

I upgraded to iOS 18 for this "send later" feature that Apple advertised as working for any recipient with "any device." After I "upgraded," I found that I lost lots of photos. And now I can't use "send later" to android users.


[Edited by Moderator]



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Mar 21, 2025 8:54 AM in response to Samson_1

Samson_1 wrote:

Based on what everyone is saying Apple Support is in denial when it comes to customer feedback with the Send Later function. Apple Support, the issue is real and has not been fixed. Find a fix!

Denial? No, they are not in denial at all and clearly state it for users with iMessage. They have never said you have to option to Send Later to Android and not sure where you had read that. You may have been misinformed that it is not working correctly and a fix is needed, but that is not the case. It was a feature added last September for iPhone users.


There is a distinct difference in the Send Later function on both platforms that you may not be aware of and may help explain why Apple's approach is different and more reliable. On Android, Send Later will only work when the device is on and has a cell connection when the message is scheduled to be sent, because the device has to send the message. On the iPhone, Send Later will work whether the device has a connection or not, because it is not sent from your device and Apple has the message on their servers, so it can send it out at that time to other iMessage users.

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Nov 12, 2024 3:28 AM in response to MickeyDAZ

That's what I'm finding as well and it's a bummer. I send myself messages and leave them unread as a lazy reminder to do something -- often, I find it's more efficient for me than setting up a reminder because I check messages at discrete points in the day when I have the time to attend to whatever task I text myself, or at least formalize it as a reminder.

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Oct 17, 2024 10:45 AM in response to tanushi6565

you are a truly awesome person hadn't thought to contact support directly. and you are 100% that we are comprehending that "Any Device" means just that any device that has cell or texting services is what is supposed to be supported just like it is on android. on android you can schedule messages no issues doesn't matter if they're on a nokia phone from the early 2000s or if they're on a iphone just works. after this ordeal because i only have one or two friends with iphone i am switching back to androids.

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Jan 2, 2025 1:27 PM in response to Lloeb

I have an iPhone 16 Pro with IOS 18.2. I’ve just tried using the Send Later option but it only worked when sending to another iPhone but not to a Samsung which is very disappointing as it would be a really useful feature for me.

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

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