How to Schedule a Birthday Text

On an iPhone, open the conversation in Messages, tap the plus button, choose Send Later, pick the time, then write the message and tap Send; it needs iOS 18 or later and iMessage, and reaches up to 14 days ahead. On Android, in Google Messages, write the message, then touch and hold Send and pick a date and time. WhatsApp doesn't offer scheduling in regular chats, so there you need a reminder and a message ready to paste.

1. 1.Open Messages and go to the conversation, or start a new one.
2. 2.Tap the plus button, then Send Later.
3. 3.Tap the time to open the scheduler, and choose when to send it.
4. 4.Write the message, then tap Send.

The message shows with a dashed outline until it goes, and it's delivered even if your iPhone is offline at that time. Before then, touch and hold it to edit or delete it, or tap Edit beside the date above it to change the time.

Three limits from Apple's guide: you need iOS 18 or later, it works only with iMessage (the person can use any device), and you can schedule up to 14 days ahead.

1. 1.Open Google Messages and go to the conversation.
2. 2.Write the message.
3. 3.Touch and hold Send.
4. 4.Choose one of the suggested times, or pick your own date and time and tap Next.
5. 5.Tap Send.

If your phone has no connection at that time, the message goes when it reconnects. To change it, tap Schedule next to the scheduled message, where you can update, send or delete it. Google's guide says this works on Android 7.0 and later.

WhatsApp's help center describes scheduled messages only for businesses sending marketing messages, not for regular chats. So for WhatsApp, the plan is a reminder at a moment you can send it, with the message already written. More on that in birthday reminders for WhatsApp.

In Gmail on a computer, write the email, click the arrow next to Send, then Schedule send, and pick the time. Gmail sends it in the time zone you scheduled it in. An email works well for a coworker or someone you don't usually text.

• •You still have to remember to schedule it. Send Later reaches 14 days ahead, so something has to remind you before then.
• •It goes once. A scheduled message doesn't repeat, so next year you start again.
• •It can't react to the day. If they've had news, or plans changed, a message written two weeks ago can read oddly.
• •It depends on the app. Send Later needs iMessage, and WhatsApp has no scheduling for regular chats.

That's why scheduling works best with a reminder: the reminder comes a day or two before, and then you schedule or send the message.

Greetigo is one option for the reminder. It emails you in the morning, your time: the day before by default, or on the day, or 1, 3, 7 or 14 days before, with a message already written: a free template with their name, or on Plus and Premium the AI-written draft you saved for that date. From the reminder you can copy the message, share it to Messages or WhatsApp from your phone, schedule it with Send Later or Google Messages for the next morning, or, if you saved their email address, send it from Greetigo.

Greetigo doesn't send text messages, and it never sends anything on its own. Nothing is sent until you click Send. It works in any browser, including your phone's; there's no iPhone or Android app. It's free for up to 10 saved dates. The free plan can email 2 messages a month through Greetigo; messages you copy and send yourself have no limit.

Short and specific beats long and late: their name, one line about them, and a wish for the year. "Happy birthday, Sam. I hope this year is a good one. Lunch soon?" For more ideas: short birthday messages, birthday wishes, and belated birthday wishes if the day has already passed.