Slack's message scheduling feature allows you to automatically send messages at a specific time.
Solve message delivery issues caused by vacations, staggered work schedules, etc., and schedule work-related messages that come to mind at night for delivery during work hours.
Available in the free version, this feature is supported on PC and mobile, as well as in comments. Scheduled messages are only visible to you before they are sent.
Schedule a message
This guide explains how to schedule messages in Slack, an internal messaging tool used for collaboration.
The official term is "Schedule message".
This means that the message is not sent immediately but is sent at a specific scheduled time.
There are many situations where scheduling a message is useful.
Scheduling a message when the recipient is absent due to leave or vacation.
Scheduling a message when the recipient's working hours differ due to flextime or self-directed work schedules.
Scheduling a message for a work-related matter that comes up late at night, but needs to be addressed during work hours to avoid forgetting.
And so on.
Usage Conditions
Available in the free version.
Similar Functions
Reminders
Using Slackbot with /remind
Instructions on using reminders are provided in a separate article.
Workflow Builder
Available in the paid version, and it allows for easy configuration.
How to Use
1. Select the user or channel using [Drafts & Sent]. Or, go directly to the desired user's DM or channel.
While a button may be visible on the top left of Slack, if not, click [More] → [Drafts & Sent].
Click [Draft & Sent]
2. Write your message in the Slack chat window at the bottom.
Write your message, but do not press Enter.
Write in the chat window
3. Hover your mouse over the down arrow in the bottom right corner to reveal the [Schedule Message] button.
Click this button.
Click the [Schedule for Later] button
4. You can set the time, and you can also save a custom time.
Time setting screen
5. While it may appear that the time is set only in 10-minute increments, you can manually adjust it to set the time in 1-minute increments.
Set the time
6. Once scheduled, the message will appear in the relevant DM or channel.
You can check the scheduled messages
Other Notes
Scheduled messages are only visible to the sender until they are sent.
On mobile, press and hold the send button to access the time settings.
The scheduling function is supported in comments on both PC and mobile. While unavailable previously (as of October 2022), it is now available (as of September 2024).
All forms of message delivery are possible in conversations.
This includes using mentions such as "@someone", code blocks, bold text, etc.
You can view and delete scheduled messages by clicking on [View all scheduled messages] or [Drafts & Sent].