How to schedule a message in a WhatsApp group: what the app does and how to set up recurring announcements
WhatsApp still has no schedule button. Here are the official alternatives, the workarounds that work (and the risky ones) and how to schedule daily, weekly or monthly announcements in a group.
Direct answer: As of October 2026, WhatsApp has no native feature for scheduling regular messages. WABetaInfo has reported that one is in development, but it hasn't been released. Today your options are: create an Event in the group, which notifies people who responded Going or Maybe when it starts; use WhatsApp Business away and greeting messages, which only reply to customers in private chats; or use a group bot that posts text, images, links and polls at the time you choose and repeats them daily, weekly or monthly.
Scheduling helps, but timing matters: find the best time to post in a WhatsApp group without made-up stats.
Ways to schedule a WhatsApp group message, in one table
Before the step by step, here's what each option actually does:
| Method | Posts in the group at a set time? | Repeats on its own? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular WhatsApp | No (in development) | — | There's no schedule button yet |
| WhatsApp Event | It doesn't post a free-form message, but it notifies people who responded Going or Maybe when the event starts | No | Good for meetings and gatherings |
| Away and greeting messages (WhatsApp Business) | No: they reply to customers who message you | — | Built for customer service, not groups |
| iPhone Shortcuts and third-party apps | Sometimes | It depends | Unreliable; some ask for broad phone permissions |
| Group bot (e.g. 9bot) | Yes | Yes: daily, weekly, monthly or at an interval | Doesn't depend on you having the app open |
Does WhatsApp have a schedule message feature?
Not yet. As of this article (October 9, 2026), neither WhatsApp nor WhatsApp Business offers a button to schedule a regular message in a chat or group. In June 2026, WABetaInfo found a version in development for iPhone: you press and hold the send button, pick a date and time (from 10 minutes to two weeks ahead) and the message goes into a list of scheduled messages. According to the same source, in groups it would only be delivered to people who were members when the message was scheduled.
Note: this information comes from a site that tracks beta versions, not from WhatsApp. The feature may change or never ship. Even if it launches, it looks designed for one-off messages, without automatic repetition.
The official alternative: create an Event in the group
If you want to remind people about a meeting, class or gathering, Events cover much of the need. According to the Help Center: how to create and edit events in groups:
- Open the group and tap the attach icon > Event.
- Enter the name, date and time.
- Optionally add a description (up to 2,048 characters), an end time, a location or a WhatsApp call link.
- Send it. The event appears in the group and each member can respond Going, Maybe or Not going.
People who respond Going or Maybe get a notification when the event begins. You can also pin the event to the top of the group for 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days. The limits: only the creator can edit or cancel it, and people who join later can't see older events.
Can WhatsApp Business post automatic messages in a group?
This is a common question, and the answer is no. WhatsApp Business automation tools are built for one-to-one customer service:
- Away message: sent automatically to customers who message you outside the hours you choose (Help Center).
- Greeting message: sent when a customer messages you for the first time or after 14 days of inactivity (Help Center).
Both react to an incoming message. Neither posts an announcement in a group on a set day and time.
iPhone Shortcuts and scheduling apps: do they work?
On iPhone, the Shortcuts app lets you create a personal automation that runs at a set time and uses the WhatsApp send message action. It works for simple reminders, but it depends on the phone, the iOS version and, in some cases, an on-screen confirmation. On Android, some apps promise to schedule messages by controlling WhatsApp for you.
Be careful with apps that ask for full access to your phone (such as Android's accessibility service): they can read everything on your screen. And never use modified versions of WhatsApp to get scheduling, because WhatsApp bans accounts that use unofficial apps.
For an occasional message, these workarounds can do the job. For recurring announcements in one or several groups, they are fragile: if the phone is locked, out of battery or offline, the message doesn't go out.
How to schedule recurring group messages with 9bot
A group bot does what the app can't: it posts at the right time and repeats on its own. In 9bot, scheduling works like this:
- Connect 9bot to your WhatsApp with a QR code or pairing code and choose the group.
- Create the message: text, image, link or poll.
- Set the date and time of the first send.
- Choose how it repeats: daily, weekly, monthly or at any interval you set.
- Track everything in a list or calendar view. You can pause, duplicate and export the schedule as a PDF.
Because schedules can be duplicated and templates reused in other groups, you set up the routine once and copy it. Feature details are on the WhatsApp group bot page, and the free trial starts at get started.
Ideas for recurring messages: a weekly rules reminder, the meeting agenda every Monday, daily content at 8 a.m., a deadline reminder at the end of the month and automatic birthday and special-date greetings.
Best practices for scheduled group messages
Scheduling is easy. Not wearing out the group is the hard part. A few simple rules:
- Less but better: one daily message that everyone reads beats five that nobody opens.
- Timing that fits your audience: use group reports to see when people are most active.
- Mix formats: alternate text, images and polls so the announcement doesn't fade into the background.
- Review recurring messages once a month and pause whatever no longer makes sense.
- Don't blast the same message to many groups at once: it's one of the patterns WhatsApp associates with spam. See why groups get suspended.
To write your announcements, try the group announcement generator and the message generator. And if admin work feels heavy, see the tasks every admin should delegate.
Does my phone need to stay on for the message to go out?
| Method | Phone must be... | Note |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Shortcuts | On, sometimes unlocked, and you confirm the send | Not fully automatic |
| Android scheduling apps | On, with the app running in the background and accessibility permissions | Battery saving can cancel the send |
| Group event | Not needed: WhatsApp reminds participants | A reminder, not a free-form message |
| Bot (like 9bot) | Doesn't need to be open: it sends from the server through the connected number | Keep the number connected as a linked device |
Linked devices get logged out if the main phone goes too long without opening WhatsApp, so open the app on the bot's phone now and then.
5 recurring message templates to copy
- Monday, 8am: "Good morning! Rules reminder: no links to other groups, no chain messages. Questions? Talk to an admin."
- Every Friday, 5pm: "This week's recap: [highlights]. Have a great weekend!"
- 1st of each month: "Membership/sign-up open until the 5th: [link]."
- Day before the event, 7pm: "Tomorrow at [time]: [event]. RSVP in the group event."
- Daily, at peak time: "Deal of the day: [product] for [price] – [link]."
Find the right time for each in best time to post in a WhatsApp group.
Read also
FAQ
Can I schedule a WhatsApp message without an app?
Can WhatsApp Business send automatic messages to a group?
Can a WhatsApp Event work as a reminder?
Can I schedule a message that repeats every week?
Are Android scheduling apps safe?
Can scheduled messages get a group suspended?
Does my phone need to stay on for a scheduled message to send?
What is the difference between scheduled and recurring messages?
