How to Schedule a Message in Slack on Desktop and Mobile

It's late at night, you've just remembered the thing you need to tell your designer, and you don't want to be the boss who pings people at midnight. Scheduling the message in Slack fixes that: you write it now, and it lands at a sensible time tomorrow morning.

For anyone working with people in other time zones, or running a business around school runs and late evenings, it's one of Slack's most useful habits. I'll cover the desktop and mobile steps from Slack's help centre, how to change or cancel a scheduled message, and the option for messages that need to go out every week.

Scheduling a message in Slack on desktop

Slack's help gives these steps for the desktop app and Slack in a browser:

1. Open the channel, direct message or thread where the message should go.
2. Type your message as normal.
3. Instead of pressing Enter, click the small arrow icon next to the paper plane (send) icon.
4. Choose when you want it to send from the options Slack shows you.

The arrow is easy to miss. It sits right beside the send button, and clicking it opens the scheduling choices rather than sending straight away.

Scheduling a message in Slack on your phone

On the Slack mobile app, Slack's help says to type your message, then tap and hold the paper plane icon rather than tapping it. A press-and-hold opens the option to schedule it for later. A quick tap sends it immediately, so take your time with this one.

Finding your scheduled messages in Slack

Once something is scheduled, it sits in a holding area until it goes out. According to Slack:

Device	Where scheduled messages live
Desktop	Click Drafts and sent at the top of the sidebar, then the Scheduled tab
Mobile	From the Home tab, tap Drafts and Sent, then the Scheduled tab

It's worth a glance at the end of the day, especially if you scheduled several messages at once and want to check they're all going to the right people.

Editing, rescheduling or cancelling a scheduled Slack message

Changed your mind? You don't have to let it send.

• On desktop, hover over the message in the Scheduled tab to see its options, which include editing and deleting.
• On mobile, tap and hold the message in the Scheduled tab. Slack says you can then edit, reschedule, send, cancel or delete it.

The send option on mobile is handy if something becomes urgent and you'd rather it went now.

Sending a recurring message in a Slack channel

Scheduling covers one-off messages. If you need the same message every week, such as a Monday priorities prompt or a Friday wins thread, Slack's help points to a different tool. Its guidance for recurring messages suggests the Send a scheduled message workflow template in Workflow Builder.

For a simple nudge, Slack also lets you set reminders with the /remind command, followed by who or which channel, what and when. That's lighter than a workflow, but it arrives as a reminder rather than a normal message.

What you want	Slack's tool
One message at a set time	Schedule it with the arrow next to send
The same message on repeat	A scheduled message workflow
A quick reminder to yourself or a channel	The /remind command

Why scheduled Slack messages help small teams

I'm a big fan of this feature for anyone managing a team or working with freelancers. A few ways it earns its place:

• You can clear your head at night without sending notifications into someone else's evening.
• Updates for colleagues in other time zones arrive at the start of their day, not yours.
• Weekly posts like a team update can be written in one go and spread out.
• Client messages go out during working hours, which looks more polished.

If your team works remotely, good timing is half of good communication. I've written more about how remote teams work across locations, and if you're new to it, my guide to finding entry-level remote jobs covers the habits employers look for.

Writing a scheduled Slack message that still makes sense later

A message you write at night gets read in a different mood the next morning, so it's worth a quick reread before you schedule it. I'd check three things. First, that it stands on its own, without relying on a conversation that may have moved on by the time it arrives. Second, that any dates say the day rather than 'tomorrow', which gets confusing once the message lands. Third, that the tone is calm, because a scheduled message can't be explained in real time.

If the message depends on something that might change overnight, like a file someone is still editing, schedule a reminder for yourself instead and send the real message once you've checked.

If you can't schedule a message in Slack

1. Look for the arrow beside the paper plane icon on desktop. If the box is empty, type something first.
2. On mobile, tap and hold the paper plane icon rather than tapping it.
3. Update the Slack app, since older versions may not show the option.
4. Check the Scheduled tab under Drafts and sent if you think a message vanished. It's probably waiting there.
5. If the option still doesn't appear, ask your workspace owner or admin, as some workspaces are set up differently.

Frequently asked questions

How do I schedule a message in Slack?

Type your message, then click the arrow icon next to the paper plane icon instead of sending it. Choose when it should go and Slack holds it until then.

How do I schedule a Slack message on my phone?

Type your message, then tap and hold the paper plane icon. That opens the option to schedule it for later.

Where do I find scheduled messages in Slack?

On desktop, click Drafts and sent at the top of the sidebar and open the Scheduled tab. On mobile, go to Home, tap Drafts and Sent, then Scheduled.

Can I edit a scheduled message in Slack?

Yes. On desktop, hover over it in the Scheduled tab. On mobile, tap and hold it to edit, reschedule, send, cancel or delete it.

Can I schedule a recurring message in Slack?

Not with the schedule button. Slack's help suggests the Send a scheduled message workflow template, or the /remind command for simple reminders.