How to Schedule a Message on Telegram (Phone and Desktop)

To schedule a message on Telegram, type it, press and hold the Send button (right-click it on desktop), choose Schedule Message and pick a date and time. Telegram sends it for you at that moment. It works in private chats, groups, channels and your own Saved Messages, as of November 5, 2026.

Scheduling on Telegram: key facts, as of November 5, 2026

You want to	Do this	Source
Send a message later	Hold Send, then Schedule Message	Telegram blog
Set yourself a reminder	Schedule a message in Saved Messages	Telegram blog
Send when a person next comes online	Hold Send, then Send When Online (private chats only)	Telegram API docs
See what is queued	Open the chat's scheduled messages; each chat has its own queue	Telegram API docs

How do you schedule a message on your phone?

Press and hold Send, then pick the time. Step by step:

Open the chat and type your message, or attach a photo or file.
Press and hold the Send button until a small menu appears.
Tap Schedule Message.
Choose the date and time, then confirm.

Button names can differ slightly between the iPhone and Android apps and between versions.

How do you schedule a message on desktop?

Right-click the Send button instead of holding it, choose Schedule Message and set the time. The steps after that match the phone.

How do you use scheduling as a reminder?

Schedule a message in your Saved Messages chat. Telegram introduced this in September 2019: when the time comes you get a notification marked with a calendar emoji, so it stands out from ordinary messages. Other scheduled messages trigger the same kind of alert for you when they go out.

What does Send When Online do?

It holds your message until the other person next comes online, then delivers it. If they are online now, it goes straight away. Telegram's API documentation limits it to private chats, and it fails when the person hides their last-seen time, so you won't always see the option work.

Can you edit or cancel a scheduled message?

Yes, until it is sent. Each chat keeps its own queue, shown from the calendar icon beside the message box once something is scheduled. Open it and press the message to edit it, send it now or delete it.

Why didn't my scheduled message arrive on time?

First check the date and your phone's time zone, then look in the chat's queue to see whether it is still waiting. A time less than 10 seconds ahead isn't really scheduled at all: Telegram's API documentation says such a message goes out immediately.

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FAQ

Can you schedule messages on Telegram for free?

Yes. Telegram announced Schedule Message for any chat in 2019, before Telegram Premium existed. You only need to hold Send.

Does the other person know a message was scheduled?

Telegram's pages don't describe any label for the recipient. They say the special calendar notification goes to you, the person who scheduled it.

Can I schedule posts in a Telegram channel?

Yes. Telegram's API documentation gives every private chat, group, supergroup and channel its own schedule queue, so admins who can post can use the same menu.