WhatsApp May Introduce Message Scheduling on Android, Including Photos and Videos
WhatsApp is reportedly testing a message scheduling feature for Android users, which could allow people to prepare messages in advance and send them automatically at a selected time. The feature is being made available to a limited group of beta testers, according to technology reports citing WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo. It is not yet available to all users, and a wider release date has not been announced.
WhatsApp Message Scheduling Feature: What Is It?
The proposed feature is designed to let users compose a message and decide when it should be delivered. Instead of sending a message immediately, users would be able to select a future date and time. WhatsApp would then send the scheduled message automatically at the chosen time.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature is appearing in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.40.7. As with other experimental features, availability may vary between beta accounts, and the interface or functionality could change before a public release.
Text Messages, Links, Photos and Videos May Be Supported
Reports indicate that the scheduling option supports text messages and may also work with links, photos and videos. This could make the feature useful for people who regularly plan communications or need to send information at a particular time.
For example, users could prepare a birthday greeting in advance, schedule a reminder for a group conversation or organise a work-related message before a busy day. People who communicate across different time zones could also benefit from being able to prepare a message ahead of time.
For media, the reported process involves selecting a photo or video in a conversation and using the scheduling option before sending it. Current reports indicate that only one media item can be scheduled at a time through the media picker. Support for documents and other file types should be treated as unconfirmed until further details are available.
How Could the Feature Work?
The reported interface allows users to compose a message in a chat and press and hold the send button to open a scheduling menu. They can then choose when the message should be delivered instead of sending it immediately.
For photos and videos, users may be able to select the media first and then choose the scheduling option. Reports also describe a way to review scheduled messages and delete them before delivery. These details are based on beta-feature reporting and may change before the feature reaches a stable version.
The reported functionality is intended to send scheduled messages automatically, even when the app is closed or the phone is offline at the selected time. However, users should check the final instructions provided in their own version of WhatsApp once the feature becomes available to them.
When Will WhatsApp Release the Feature?
As of October 12, 2026, reports indicate that the feature is being rolled out to selected Android beta testers. Other users may not see the option even if they have installed a beta version, because experimental features are often enabled gradually.
WhatsApp has not announced an official date for a wider public release. There is also no confirmed timeline for availability on all Android devices or for users in India. Beta features may be modified, delayed or withdrawn during testing, so the current rollout should not be treated as confirmation of an immediate launch for everyone.
What It Could Mean for WhatsApp Users
If introduced widely, message scheduling could make WhatsApp more convenient for personal and professional communication. Users would be able to prepare important messages in advance instead of relying on reminders to send them manually. It could be particularly helpful for birthday greetings, event updates, meeting reminders and planned announcements.
The feature may also reduce the need to use third-party tools to automate simple messaging tasks. Users should nevertheless avoid giving account access to unofficial applications that promise scheduling features, especially when those applications request sensitive permissions or login information.
For now, the key point is that WhatsApp's message scheduling option remains in a limited beta rollout. Users should wait for an official announcement and check the features available in their own app before expecting the option to work on their devices.
Source reports: WABetaInfo and News9Live.
