Key points
- WhatsApp is testing a message scheduling feature in its Android beta, spotted by WaBetaInfo.
- Users can delay delivery from ten minutes to two weeks, with no visual indicator that a message was scheduled.
- The feature complicates compliance with European laws restricting after-hours work communications.
WhatsApp is currently testing a feature that allows users to schedule messages for later delivery. The functionality appeared in an Android beta version, according to WaBetaInfo. Users can hold the send button and select a future time for the message to go out. This update is reaching some testers now, with wider access expected over the coming weeks, Engadget reported.
In plain English
The scheduling window runs from ten minutes ahead to two weeks in the future. Messages sent this way include text, links, photos, and video while maintaining end-to-end encryption. WaBetaInfo noted specific limits: only one photo or video can be included per scheduled message. In group chats, the message reaches only those who were members when the schedule was set. Telegram has offered similar scheduling since 2019.
The background
This update matters more in Europe than in the United States. WhatsApp has roughly 500 million monthly users in Europe out of two billion worldwide. Many European nations regulate sending work messages outside standard hours. France established the right to disconnect in 2017. Italy and Spain followed in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Belgium updated its laws in 2018 and 2022. Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Slovakia enacted rules in 2021 and 2024.
What changes now
Portugal’s labor code restricts contacting staff outside working hours except in emergencies, with fines for violations. Scheduling tools can help managers send messages at appropriate times rather than late at night. However, nothing marks a delivered message as scheduled. Recipients cannot see that a message was held, nor do they receive notifications if the sender deletes it before delivery. This shifts the timestamp but not the time the message was written.
What to do and how to stay safe: WhatsApp
- Review your company’s policy on after-hours communication to ensure scheduled messages comply with local labor laws.
- Train employees to recognize that scheduled messages may appear to be sent during work hours even if drafted later.
- Monitor beta features closely to understand how new tools might impact your organization’s compliance obligations.
- Consider using enterprise messaging platforms with built-in compliance logging if managing large teams across regulated regions.
Step-by-step guide: How Software Updates Work: The Hidden Verification Steps
General security guidance from the Patch Herald newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see if a WhatsApp message was scheduled?
No, WaBetaInfo reports that recipients cannot see if a message was held and receive no notification if the sender deletes it.
How far in advance can I schedule a message?
Users can schedule messages from ten minutes ahead to two weeks in the future, according to the beta testing details.
Does this feature work in group chats?
Yes, but it only reaches people who were members of the group when the message was scheduled, WaBetaInfo found.
