How To Schedule A Slack Message, With Photos

Key Points

• Slack has a built-in feature that lets you schedule messages.
• While you can schedule a message, it’s impossible to schedule a reply to a thread.
• It’s possible to edit, reschedule, save, and cancel scheduled messages
• Go to Drafts & Sent from the Home tab, then click scheduled to view scheduled messages

Managing the flow of information within an organization is often a stressful and time-consuming task. That’s especially true when work colleagues are in different time zones or have different work schedules. In countries like Portugal, it’s illegal to contact your employees after work hours, and France passed a law that allows employees not to read emails or take calls after work hours.

It’s quite an inconvenience, especially when you have important messages to communicate but don’t have the luxury of doing so during the predefined time. Slack, a workplace messaging software, provides an excellent solution to this problem. In 2021, it introduced a built-in feature that allows you to schedule and send messages anytime.

While there are third-party software programs you can integrate with Slack for a more advanced scheduling solution, the built-in feature is quite intuitive and easy to use. This article will help you understand how to schedule a Slack message in a few simple steps. We’ll also cover how you can use third-party apps to achieve similar results.

4 Steps to Schedule Your Slack Messages Using Your Desktop

If you are using a desktop to schedule a Slack message, follow these four steps.

Step 1: Launch Slack on Your Computer

Sign in to your account and open the Slack channel to which you want to send a message. If you want to schedule a direct message so that only the recipient can view it, you’ll need to select their user name from the list of direct messages.

Step 2: Compose Your Message

Type your message in the text box as you normally would. You can also add attachments or images to your messages.

Step 3: Select the Drop Down Button

Next to the green “Send” icon, you’ll see an arrow pointing downward. Click on this arrow to view the options available.

Step 4: Schedule the Message

Clicking the drop-down will reveal two options: a custom time and a specific date. Select one of these options to schedule your message.

If you select the first option, “Monday at 9:00 AM.” Slack will automatically schedule the message for that time. The second option, “Custom Time,” allows you to set a specified time frame.

4 Steps to Schedule Your Slack Messages Using Your Phone

Most people use mobile phones for work. Understanding how to schedule a Slack message using your mobile phone ensures that you can send your messages on time, no matter where you are. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Launch the Slack App

Look for the Slack app icon on your phone, and open it. Sign in to your account and select the channel or user you wish to send a message to. If it’s a direct message, select the user from the list.

Step 2: Compose Your Message

When you open the channel or user, you’ll see a text box at the bottom of the screen. Type the message you want to send here. Add attachments like photos whenever necessary. You can also include some Slack emojis.

Step 3: Press and Hold the “Send” Button

Once the message is ready, locate the airplane icon next to the message box. It’s a green button that looks like an old-fashioned paper airplane. Press and hold this button for a second.

Step 4: Schedule Your Message

Two options will appear at the bottom of the screen. One lets you schedule a custom time, and the other allows you to select a specific date.

If the specific time is what you need, select it and confirm the schedule. Use the alternative option to customize the time and date according to your preference.

Using Third-Party Software to Schedule Slack Messages

Besides the native messaging scheduling feature within Slack, you can use third-party software programs and extensions to schedule messages. These applications usually have a more intuitive interface, scheduling options, and various features.

For instance, some apps allow you to schedule recurring messages, a feature that isn’t available in native Slack messaging. You can also use these apps to schedule messages for multiple channels or users simultaneously, saving time and energy.

The Slack app directory has several third-party apps you can choose from. Some of these apps include;

• Scheduler
• Send It Later
• Message Scheduler
• Timy

These apps aren’t free to use. However, they aren’t expensive either. For the purposes of this article, we will use Timy as our example.

How to Use Timy to Schedule Your Slack Messages

Timy is better than the built-in Slack feature in many ways. Perhaps the most impressive element is that it allows you to set up a recurring message. For example, you can schedule messages every Monday, every month, or biweekly.

If you have team members working in different time zones, Timy also offers a feature that allows you to schedule messages according to their local time zone.

Step 1: Add Timy to Slack

Go to the App Directory in Slack and add the Timy bot to your workspace. It’s free to set up, but you must pay if you want to use Pro features. The app offers a 14-day trial.

Step 2: Compose Your Message

Click “New Scheduled Message,” then select “Schedule.” Choose the channel you want from the options and compose your message.

Step 3: Schedule Your Message

Fill in the details of your message. Choose when you want it to be sent, whether it’s one-time or recurring, and whether it needs to be sent in the recipient’s local time zone. Choose how often you want to repeat the message if you wish to do so.

When everything is ready, click OK. Your message will be sent according to your preferences. Moreover, they won’t appear as though they come from a bot but from you.

Reasons Why You Should Schedule Slack Messages

Several reasons make scheduling Slack messages a great idea. Here are some of them:

• Message scheduling is an easy way to keep up with your team’s communication without constantly being present.
• You can customize messages according to the recipient’s time zone and ensure that your message reaches them at the best time.
• Reminding team members about a deadline or event ahead of time decreases the chances of missing it.
• Scheduling messages ensures that all team members receive the same message simultaneously, so you don’t have to worry about someone not getting the memo.
• You can use the tool to set a reminder for yourself if there’s something you need to do. This feature is especially useful when you’re on vacation or away from your workspace.

Given the functionality and convenience of this feature, it’s no wonder many people are opting to use Slack for their team communication needs. Plus, message scheduling makes it easier to stay organized, get the most out of your team’s communication, and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Conclusion

Understanding how to schedule Slack messages is the first step to becoming a Slack pro. This feature can save you time, money, and energy while ensuring your messages reach their destination when needed.

While Slack’s built-in feature is straightforward, several third-party tools and integrations can also help you set up automated messages and reminders.

No matter which option you choose, scheduling Slack messages is an essential tool for any team using the platform. With this newfound knowledge, you’re ready to work smarter, not harder. Good luck.