> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.lightpost.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.lightpost.app/core-concepts/groups/scheduled-group-posts.md).

# Scheduled Group Posts

Write a group post or forum topic now and have Lightpost publish it to the group at a later date and time.

Scheduling lets someone write a post or forum topic ahead of time and choose when the group sees it. Until then it stays private and no one is notified. At the scheduled time Lightpost publishes it like any other new post. It works with both [Group Posts and Group Forum](/core-concepts/groups/group-posts.md) and is off by default.

### Turn On Scheduled Posts

Each group has two options:

<table><thead><tr><th width="300">Option</th><th>What it does</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Allow scheduled posts</strong> (or <strong>topics</strong>)</td><td>Turns scheduling on for the group. Group Admins and Group Post Admins can schedule.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Allow all members to schedule posts</strong> (or <strong>topics</strong>)</td><td>Also lets every member who can post schedule. When this is off, only Group Admins and Group Post Admins can.</td></tr></tbody></table>

**In the Admin:**

1. Go to **Groups** and select the group.
2. Open **Group Posts**.
3. Check **Allow Scheduled Posts or Topics**.
4. To include members, also check **Allow All Members to Schedule Posts or Topics**.
5. Save.

**In the member web app:** Group Admins and Group Post Admins can open the group's **Settings**, then **Group Post Admin Settings**, and turn on **Allow scheduled posts**. **Allow all members to schedule posts** appears underneath once it is on.

{% hint style="info" %}
Members whose posts need [review](/core-concepts/groups/group-post-review.md) cannot schedule, even when all members are allowed to. In a group that requires review, only Group Admins and Group Post Admins can schedule.
{% endhint %}

### Schedule a Post

Scheduling is done in the member web app.

1. Open the group and choose **Create Post** (or **New Topic** in a forum).
2. Write the post and add any files or a poll.
3. Turn on **Schedule for later**. This switch only appears if you are allowed to schedule in the group.
4. Choose the date and time. The time starts at one hour from now, and dates in the past cannot be selected.
5. Choose **Schedule Post** (or **Schedule Topic**).

Dates and times use your church's time zone, which is shown next to the date. If the post has a poll with a close date, the poll must close after the scheduled time.

### Before It Is Published

A scheduled post is listed on the group's **Scheduled** tab, soonest first. The tab appears when there is a scheduled post you are able to see.

* The post shows a **Scheduled** badge and the date and time it will be published.
* Only the author, Group Admins, Group Post Admins, and account administrators who manage groups can see it. Other members cannot see the post or its files, and it does not appear in the regular feed for anyone.
* No one can comment on, react to, or vote on it until it is published.

The author and the group's admins can change it at any point before it goes out:

<table><thead><tr><th width="180">Action</th><th>How</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Publish Now</strong></td><td>Shares the post with the group immediately instead of waiting.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Change Time</strong></td><td>Moves the post to a new date and time.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Edit</strong> or <strong>Edit Files</strong></td><td>Open the post's menu to change the text or attachments.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Delete</strong></td><td>Open the post's menu and choose <strong>Delete</strong> to cancel it. The post and its files are removed and nothing is sent.</td></tr></tbody></table>

### When It Is Published

Lightpost checks every minute, so a post goes out within about a minute of its scheduled time. When it does:

* It appears in the group as the newest post or topic, for everyone, in the web and mobile apps.
* Members receive the usual new-post notifications and see it marked unread.
* Comments, reactions, and poll voting open.

### Turning Scheduling Off

Turning off either option stops new posts from being scheduled. Posts that are already scheduled are not affected: they are still published at their time, and their authors can still publish them early, change the time, or delete them.

{% hint style="info" %}
A scheduled post is held for [review](/core-concepts/groups/group-post-review.md) instead of being published if, by its scheduled time, the author's posts would need review or the author can no longer post in the group. For example, post review was turned on, member posting was turned off, or the author left the group. A Group Admin or Group Post Admin can then accept or decline it.
{% endhint %}

If the group's communication format is set to **Off**, its scheduled posts wait and are published once Group Posts or Group Forum is turned back on.