Open the chat, type your message, then press and hold the send button instead of tapping it. Choose the date and time, confirm, and Instagram sends it for you at that moment. Before it goes out you can tap the note above the message box to edit or delete it.
Scheduled messages came to Instagram DMs in 2025, according to Instagram's own announcement, so if you haven't seen the option before, that's why. It sits behind the send button rather than in a menu, which is why so many people never find it.
Schedule an Instagram DM, step by step
- Update the Instagram app, so you've got the latest features.
- Open your DMs (the paper plane or Messages icon) and go into the chat you want.
- Type your message in the box as normal. Don't tap send yet.
- Press and hold the send button until a scheduling screen opens.
- Pick the date and the time you want it sent.
- Confirm. The message doesn't appear in the chat yet; instead you'll see a small note above the message box saying you've got a scheduled message.
That's it. Instagram sends the message at the time you chose, and it then shows in the chat like any other message.
The catch: the other person can't see a scheduled message until it sends, and the feature isn't in every chat type, account or region yet. If pressing and holding the send button does nothing, it's most likely not switched on for you, rather than you doing it wrong. Scroll down for what to try.
See, edit or cancel a scheduled message
Plans change. Maybe the meeting moved, or you'd rather send it now. You can manage anything that's waiting to go out.
- Open the chat where you scheduled the message.
- Tap the note above the message box that tells you there's a scheduled message.
- You'll see the message or messages queued for that chat.
- Press on the one you want to change. Choose to edit the text or delete it.
- If you delete it, it's gone, and the other person never sees it.
Scheduled messages are tied to the chat they're in. If you've scheduled in several chats, check each one; there's no single list across all your conversations that I'd rely on.
Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger compared
People often ask whether they could schedule on their other apps instead. Here's the short version, kept general because these apps change often.
| App | Built-in scheduling? | How people usually do it |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram DMs | Yes, where it's rolled out | Type the message, press and hold send, pick a date and time |
| No built-in scheduler for ordinary chats | A reminder to send it yourself, or business tools for business accounts | |
| Messenger | Not as a standard option in everyday chats | A reminder, or the inbox tools that come with a Facebook Page |
| Slack | Yes | The arrow next to the send button lets you choose a time |
If WhatsApp is where you need it, I've written up the workarounds in how to schedule a WhatsApp message on Android and iPhone. For work chat, here's how to schedule a message in Slack.
If the schedule option isn't showing
Work through these in order. Most people find the answer in the first two.
- Update the app. Go to the App Store or Google Play, search Instagram and tap Update if it's offered.
- Try a one-to-one chat. The feature isn't in every chat type, so test it in a simple chat with one person before you try a group.
- Press and hold, don't tap. A quick tap sends the message straight away. Keep your finger on the send button for a moment longer.
- Check you're in a normal chat. Some special chat types and broadcast channels may not show the option.
- Give it time. Instagram rolls features out in stages, by account and by region. If none of the above works, it hasn't reached you yet.
If a menu name looks different in your version, search the app's settings for the key word. There's no hidden setting that turns scheduling on, though, so don't trust any site or app that says it can switch it on for you or asks for your password.
When scheduling helps, and when it doesn't
| Good use | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Birthday or anniversary messages | Lands first thing on the day, even if you're busy |
| Different time zones | Your message arrives in their morning, not in the middle of their night |
| Late-night ideas | You write it while it's fresh, they get it at a polite hour |
| Appointment or event reminders | Arrives close to the date, when it's useful |
Where I'd avoid it: anything that depends on a reply you haven't had yet, anything emotional that might read differently by the time it lands, and anything with a link or date that could change before the send time. A scheduled message goes out exactly as you wrote it, so if the situation moves on, it won't.
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A small courtesy point too. Scheduling a message for the middle of the night defeats the purpose; pick a time the other person is likely to be awake and not in the middle of their working day if it's personal.
A tip for businesses
Scheduling is great for one-off messages: a happy birthday to a client, a reminder before an appointment, a thank-you that lands at a sensible hour instead of late at night. It's less useful for busy inboxes. Businesses with lots of enquiries usually get more from saved replies (also called quick replies), which let you type a shortcut and drop in a full answer to common questions about opening hours, delivery or booking.
If you're answering lots of messages from a computer, it's also worth knowing your options for replying to Instagram DMs on a laptop or phone, because typing longer replies on a keyboard is quicker.
What I'd do
If it were my account, I'd use scheduling for messages where timing matters to the other person, and saved replies for the questions I answer every day. And I'd always reread a scheduled message the evening before it goes out, because what made sense at midnight doesn't always make sense the next morning.
If that raises the next question, see Does WhatsApp Have Schedule Send?.
Frequently asked questions
Can the other person see a scheduled message before it sends?
No. The other person can't see a scheduled Instagram message until it sends. Only you can see it, in the note above the message box.
Why can't I schedule messages on Instagram?
The feature isn't in every chat type, account or region yet. Update the app, try a one-to-one chat and make sure you press and hold the send button rather than tapping it.
How do I cancel a scheduled message on Instagram?
Open the chat, tap the note above the message box, press on the scheduled message and delete it. The other person will never see it.
Can I schedule messages in WhatsApp the same way?
No. WhatsApp doesn't have a built-in scheduler for ordinary chats, so people use reminders or business tools instead.
