Send a birthday link that opens at midnight
Updated
Write your birthday message and add a couple of photos. Send the link before the day. They see a countdown until the moment you choose.
Postdate shares a message and files through one link that opens at the time you choose. With Basic, Postdate holds the key until then; with Timelock, the key needs a scheduled drand release.
Make a birthday link Basic: free within 7 days and 1 MB after encryption. $3 up to 1 year and 100 MB after encryption.
Send the link early, and it opens at midnight
Not every chat app can schedule a message for midnight, and the workarounds take setup. With Postdate you do not need one. Send the link the evening before, or a few days early.
Until midnight, the link shows a countdown. At 00:00 it opens in any browser, on any phone. Nothing is sent at midnight: the link you already shared opens. Set the opening time to midnight in their time zone.
Ways to send a birthday message at midnight
Some apps can schedule a message, and a countdown link can be shared early. This is what each one does, so you can pick the one that fits the person and the day.
| Method | How far ahead | What they see before midnight | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postdate | How far aheadShare the link any time. It opens at the time you set, up to a year ahead. | What they see before midnightA countdown. At 00:00 the same link opens. | CatchNothing arrives at midnight: they open the link. Photos and files can go with it. |
| Apple Messages, Send Later | How far aheadUp to 14 days. | What they see before midnightNothing until it arrives. | CatchiMessage only, on iOS 18 or later. |
| Google Messages, scheduled send | How far aheadNo limit stated. | What they see before midnightNothing until it arrives. | CatchIt sends from your phone, so it waits if the phone is offline. |
| Telegram, Schedule Message | How far aheadUp to 367 days. | What they see before midnightNothing until it arrives. | CatchTelegram's servers send it, so your phone can be off. |
| How far aheadNo scheduled send in the regular app. | What they see before midnightNot applicable. | CatchAn Android beta is testing scheduling up to two weeks ahead. | |
| LINE | How far aheadNo scheduled send in personal chats yet. | What they see before midnightNot applicable. | CatchLY Corporation has announced it as a paid LYP Premium feature for autumn 2026. |
| Instagram direct messages | How far aheadNo limit stated. | What they see before midnightNothing until it arrives. | CatchText only: photos cannot be scheduled. Phone app only. |
| Gmail, Schedule send | How far aheadNo limit stated. | What they see before midnightNothing until it arrives. | CatchAn email, not a chat message. Up to 100 scheduled at once. |
Checked on each service's own help pages on .
Send it before it opens
Write the note while a shared memory is fresh. Add the photos that go with it, then choose when they can open it.
Write it when you have the words. Set it to open on their birthday. You can send the link before the day.
What people see
Before opening, the birthday message and photo filenames stay hidden. After opening, they can read the note and save the photos. Keep your originals: expiry does not erase downloaded copies.
Adding a calendar event downloads a file to import into your calendar. Set any reminder there. Postdate does not send opening notifications.
Choose a lock
Basic. Basic gives you a private delete link. If plans change over the coming months, use it to delete the message before opening.
Basic is free for messages that open within 7 days and are 1 MB or less. Later dates or larger uploads cost $3 USD, up to one year and 100 MB including encryption and file packaging. Postdate holds the key and promises not to read your content before opening. You get a private delete link that works until your Postdate expires. Compare the locks.
Create your Postdate
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01
Write the message, and attach photos if you like.
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02
Set the opening time to midnight on their birthday. Check the timezone so it matches their midnight.
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03
Choose Basic so you can delete it before it opens.
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04
Send the link, or save it to send nearer the time.
Make a birthday link Basic: free within 7 days and 1 MB after encryption. $3 up to 1 year and 100 MB after encryption.
Common questions
Will Postdate send the birthday message at midnight?
You send the link yourself, before the birthday if you like. It shows a countdown and opens at the time you chose. Postdate does not send texts, emails, or opening notifications.
What if I change my mind?
With Basic, use your private delete link before the message opens. This permanently deletes the key and message.
Can I include photos or a video?
Yes, within 100 MB including encryption and file packaging. Basic is free for messages that open within seven days and are 1 MB or less. A birthday months from now costs $3.
More examples
Write a time capsule letter to open in a year, Write a letter to your future self
Browse all examples or read about Postdate.