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

iLmd_2009 wrote:

I’ve successfully delay-texted to the same person (iPhone user) several times! Loved that feature. But now for some unknown reason the option no longer appears when trying to text to that same user. 🤷‍♂️ Definate bug that needs to be fixed.

Are other messages sent to that user blue? What matters isn't the recipient, it's whether or not you and the recipient are using iMessage. And that can change.

DrBobbles wrote:

Same here. I updated to iOS 18 and “send later” is no longer an option in the list that pops up when I press and hold “+” in messages.

Please help!

• What do you mean by "no longer an option"?
• No need to press and hold the "+" button, it should be listed with all the other options with a tap.
• Does the person you are trying to Send Later to using iMessage, which means they must be using an iPhone with iMessage turned on?

It’s worked for me when texting non-iOS devices until today. I have no idea why it’s no longer on the iMessage + list. Apple Support pages still provides instructions for its use iOS 18+. So, it seems bizarre that it would suddenly quit working. Maybe it’s true that previous messages where it worked were all going to Apple devices. But, I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. Plus, the Apple Support pages still say all devices should get it since it’s stored on Apple servers until delivery time.

Bikergofast wrote:

No need to be curt, Apple clearly hasn't updated their FAQ:

Schedule a text message on iPhone to send later - Apple Support (CA)

"Your recipient can use any device"

Any device means iPad, Mac or iPhone, Watch or Apple Visionl

If you think that Apple needs to change the wording, you should let them know:

Product Feedback - Apple

As a matter of fact, there used to be all sorts of choices when you pressed the plus sign to the left. Now when I press it, I only get pictures to select immediately. This is definitely a glitch. I’ve been using the send later function quite often, so I really miss it. Please somebody fix this glitch. Yes I have the latest update. That’s when the issue started. Anyone found what to do?

skersey wrote:

Dear Apple, are there plans in the near future to make the “Send Later” option available always, to anyone with any kind of phone, etc.?

Sorry, you are not speaking to Apple here and they are not going to see your post. If you want to send Feedback to Apple, that can be done here:

Feedback - Messages for iOS and iPadOS - Apple

This “only available to other iPhone users” is really pushing me towards android. My husband is an android user and uses the feature regularly to help me remember things. I can’t do the same. Shame.

WhitenerR wrote:

I agree. It’s a hard pill to swallow. Why take the feature away? It feels like we’re constantly punished for getting an apple product.

No feature was taken away, it was a new feature that was added last September to Send Later to Apple devices. You are simply looking for an expansion of that feature to include Android devices. On Android the feature requires the phone to be on with an internet connection before it will send any message later, and on the iPhone it does not require the device to even be on or any internet connection and the recipient using an Apple device will receive the message. You have 2 implementations of the same feature each with their own limitation.

The same expansion for Android devices has been requested for the Send Later feature to work after the phone has been turned off, or even when Airplane mode is on, and that has not been made available to them either.

I have a workaround that I just discovered. Yesterday I was trying to send a photo from the photo app by iMessage to an individual. When the messages app opened it did not give me the + so that you could select from the menu. I tried it on two devices and had the same issue. I just found that if I launch the messages app, the plus icon is available and allows me to then attach the photo that I wanted to send later. So it seems that when iMessage is launched from within another app the problem is occurring.

I am experiencing the same thing! Is there a setting or some other step I need to take to allow the "send later" in iMessages app functionality?

This absolutely worked 👏🏽 Thank you so much!!!!!!

This absolutely worked. I thought ov everything else. Checked keyboards. Tried to send to other iPhone users. It’s the “focus” setting👏🏽 Thank you!!!

iMessage send later not an option on my iPhone ?

me too. Apple please fix.