You will be able to send WhatsApp messages without even holding your phone; a solution for users—what is the new feature?

A new feature may soon arrive for WhatsApp users, allowing them to draft messages and schedule them to be sent at a specific time. According to reports, the company is currently testing the "Scheduled Messages" feature with select Android beta users. This feature will enable users to schedule not just text messages, but also links, photos, and videos for later delivery.

This feature could prove useful for sending birthday wishes, sharing important information, or posting messages to a group at a specific time. Users won't need to have their phones in hand at the actual time of sending.

How will the Scheduled Messages feature work on WhatsApp?

According to reports, to schedule a message, a user will need to open a chat and type the message. Long-pressing the "Send" button may then reveal options to select a date and time. However, this option will only be available to users whose accounts have access to the feature.

It is reported that users will be able to schedule messages for any time ranging from 10 minutes to two weeks in advance. This functionality is expected to support text messages, links, photos, and videos. However, reports suggest that the option may be limited to scheduling only one photo or video at a time. Users might also be able to edit photos or add captions before scheduling them.

Messages can be sent even when the phone is offline
A key highlight of this feature is that the message will be sent automatically when the scheduled time arrives; it will not require WhatsApp to be open or the sender's phone to be online.

The Scheduled Messages feature is also expected to work in group chats. However, reports indicate that scheduled messages will only be received by members who were present in the group at the time the message was scheduled; members who join the group later are unlikely to receive the message.

Option to delete the message before it is sent
Users may also get a dedicated option to view scheduled messages within the chat information section. From here, users will be able to view scheduled messages and delete them if necessary. According to reports, the recipient will not be notified if a scheduled message is deleted.

When will the new feature be available?
Reports suggest that the scheduled messaging feature may support end-to-end encryption. It is currently being tested with select Android beta users and is expected to be rolled out to a wider user base in the coming weeks. However, WhatsApp has not yet announced an official date for the global rollout of this feature.

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