Google Messages just gave us the Android SMS functionality we always wanted

Have you ever forgot to send a happy birthday text message to a friend? Or did you have an idea in the middle of the night that you desperately wanted to share with your coworkers but didn’t want to risk waking them up if their ringtones were on? The next time this happens, use Google Messages‘new scheduling tool to choose the exact time and date you want to send a message.

The Text Message Scheduler is one of the several new updates from Google for its Android applications. Google recently announced updates to several of its Android applications, including Google Maps, Google Assistant and Reply.

Before you can schedule a message, you must have the latest version of Google Messages installed on your phone. Note that this feature will not work with your phone’s default text messaging app, only with Google Messages. If you don’t know how to change your default messaging app, don’t worry: the first time you open Google Messages, you’ll be asked if you want to make the change. The easiest way to make sure you have the latest version of Messages is to open the Play Store app, go to My applications and check for updates. (I have the new feature with version 7.4.050 of Messages.)

Below, I’ll show you how to schedule a text message, including choosing a custom send time and how to edit the message if you want to change anything.

How to schedule a text with the Google Messages app

The first time you launch the Google Messages app and open a conversation after updating to the latest version, you will see a small pop-up window appear above the Send button to notify you that you can schedule messages. This is similar to what you see with schedule an email in Gmail.

To schedule a text, start typing your message and then long press the Send button. I recommend that you choose the scheduled time before you write your entire message, so as not to write the message and send it accidentally.

After you long press Send, you will see a pop-up window with the pre-selected dates and times. You can choose one of these suggestions or press Choose the date and time. This will open up Android’s date and time picker which will allow you to customize when the message will be sent, down to the minute. (Handy if you want to wish someone a happy birthday the exact minute they are born.)

When you are done setting the time, press Save.

You can then finish writing your message. You are not limited to scheduling text messages only, but you can add images and videos as well. When you’re done, hit the Send button, which should now have a small clock icon above the paper plane.

How to view, edit or delete a scheduled text message

A scheduled message will appear in your conversation thread, however, it will have a clock next to it and a note that says Scheduled message below. You can hide the message by pressing Scheduled message if you prefer.

To change the message or the scheduled delivery time, tap the clock icon. A menu with three options will appear. These options are update message, send now, or delete message.

The update message will let you change the text or choose a different time. Send now will immediately send the message. Delete Message will delete the text.

Being able to schedule a message is a feature that will definitely come in handy, especially if you often remember to send a message at an inconvenient time and end up forgetting.

Google Messages is a powerful text messaging app that has more tricks up its sleeve, like Google’s chat feature which adds IMessage-like features on Android. Android 12 was also announced recently, and there is a lot to look forward to its launch later this year. Or, if you’re brave enough, you can install it now.