Overview
- This week WhatsApp began a staged beta rollout on selected Android accounts (build 2.26.40.7) that lets testers compose messages and choose a future send time from the chat interface.
- Users schedule a message by typing it and holding the send button, and scheduled items appear in a dedicated area where they can be viewed, managed, or deleted.
- Scheduled items support text, links and one photo or one video per message, and must be set at least ten minutes in the future and no more than two weeks ahead.
- Messages remain end-to-end encrypted and are designed to deliver even if the sender’s app is closed or the device is offline; group messages go only to members who were in the group when the message was scheduled.
- WhatsApp has not announced a general release date or iOS availability and is expanding the beta gradually, a move that could change how people plan messages but may frustrate users who need multi-photo scheduling or full group coverage.