diff --git a/config.ini.example b/config.ini.example
index 2b10613..4d154a6 100644
--- a/config.ini.example
+++ b/config.ini.example
@@ -311,6 +311,9 @@ help = "Bot Help: test (or t), ping, help, hello, cmd, advert, @string, wx, aqi,
 # Time format: HHMM (24-hour, no colon)
 # Bot will send these messages at the specified times daily
 # Example: 0800 = general:Good morning! Weather update coming soon.
+#
+# Newlines: use \n in the message for a line break (e.g. general:Line one\nLine two).
+# Literal backslash: use \\n for backslash+n; \\t for tab.
 # 
 # Available placeholders for mesh network information:
 # 
diff --git a/modules/command_manager.py b/modules/command_manager.py
index ac1765a..4b13beb 100644
--- a/modules/command_manager.py
+++ b/modules/command_manager.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from meshcore import EventType
 from .models import MeshMessage
 from .plugin_loader import PluginLoader
 from .commands.base_command import BaseCommand
-from .utils import check_internet_connectivity_async, format_keyword_response_with_placeholders
+from .utils import check_internet_connectivity_async, decode_escape_sequences, format_keyword_response_with_placeholders
 
 
 @dataclass
@@ -342,32 +342,6 @@ class CommandManager:
         self.bot.bot_tx_rate_limiter.record_tx()
         return True
     
-    def _decode_escape_sequences(self, text: str) -> str:
-        """Decode escape sequences in config strings.
-        
-        Processes common escape sequences like \\n (newline), \\t (tab), \\\\ (backslash).
-        This allows users to add newlines in keyword responses using \n (single backslash).
-        
-        Behavior:
-        - \n in config file → newline character
-        - \\n in config file → literal backslash + n
-        
-        Args:
-            text: The text string to process.
-            
-        Returns:
-            str: The text with escape sequences decoded.
-        """
-        # Replace escape sequences
-        # Order matters: \\ must be processed first to avoid double-processing
-        # This preserves literal backslashes (\\n becomes \n, not a newline)
-        text = text.replace('\\\\', '\x00')  # Temporary placeholder for backslash
-        text = text.replace('\\n', '\n')     # Newline
-        text = text.replace('\\t', '\t')     # Tab
-        text = text.replace('\\r', '\r')     # Carriage return
-        text = text.replace('\x00', '\\')    # Restore backslash
-        return text
-    
     def load_keywords(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
         """Load keywords from config.
         
@@ -380,8 +354,8 @@ class CommandManager:
                 # Strip quotes from the response if present
                 if response.startswith('"') and response.endswith('"'):
                     response = response[1:-1]
-                # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \\n for newlines)
-                response = self._decode_escape_sequences(response)
+                # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \n for newlines)
+                response = decode_escape_sequences(response)
                 keywords[keyword.lower()] = response
         return keywords
     
@@ -393,8 +367,8 @@ class CommandManager:
                 # Strip quotes from the response format if present
                 if response_format.startswith('"') and response_format.endswith('"'):
                     response_format = response_format[1:-1]
-                # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \\n for newlines)
-                response_format = self._decode_escape_sequences(response_format)
+                # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \n for newlines)
+                response_format = decode_escape_sequences(response_format)
                 syntax_patterns[pattern] = response_format
         return syntax_patterns
     
diff --git a/modules/commands/greeter_command.py b/modules/commands/greeter_command.py
index 7063fec..9410a64 100644
--- a/modules/commands/greeter_command.py
+++ b/modules/commands/greeter_command.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from typing import Optional, Dict, Any, List, Tuple
 from .base_command import BaseCommand
 from ..models import MeshMessage
+from ..utils import decode_escape_sequences
 
 
 class GreeterCommand(BaseCommand):
@@ -119,39 +120,13 @@ class GreeterCommand(BaseCommand):
                 import traceback
                 self.logger.error(traceback.format_exc())
     
-    def _decode_escape_sequences(self, text: str) -> str:
-        """Decode escape sequences in config strings.
-        
-        Processes common escape sequences like \\n (newline), \\t (tab), \\\\ (backslash).
-        This allows users to add newlines in greeting messages using \n (single backslash).
-        
-        Behavior:
-        - \n in config file → newline character
-        - \\n in config file → literal backslash + n
-        
-        Args:
-            text: The text string to process.
-            
-        Returns:
-            str: The text with escape sequences decoded.
-        """
-        # Replace escape sequences
-        # Order matters: \\ must be processed first to avoid double-processing
-        # This preserves literal backslashes (\\n becomes \n, not a newline)
-        text = text.replace('\\\\', '\x00')  # Temporary placeholder for backslash
-        text = text.replace('\\n', '\n')     # Newline
-        text = text.replace('\\t', '\t')     # Tab
-        text = text.replace('\\r', '\r')     # Carriage return
-        text = text.replace('\x00', '\\')    # Restore backslash
-        return text
-    
     def _load_config(self) -> None:
         """Load configuration for greeter command."""
         self.enabled = self.get_config_value('Greeter_Command', 'enabled', fallback=False, value_type='bool')
         self.greeting_message = self.get_config_value('Greeter_Command', 'greeting_message', 
                                                       fallback='Welcome to the mesh, {sender}!')
-        # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \\n for newlines)
-        self.greeting_message = self._decode_escape_sequences(self.greeting_message)
+        # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \n for newlines)
+        self.greeting_message = decode_escape_sequences(self.greeting_message)
         
         self.rollout_days = self.get_config_value('Greeter_Command', 'rollout_days', fallback=7, value_type='int')
         self.include_mesh_info = self.get_config_value('Greeter_Command', 'include_mesh_info', 
@@ -159,7 +134,7 @@ class GreeterCommand(BaseCommand):
         self.mesh_info_format = self.get_config_value('Greeter_Command', 'mesh_info_format',
                                                       fallback='\n\nMesh Info: {total_contacts} contacts, {repeaters} repeaters')
         # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \n for newlines)
-        self.mesh_info_format = self._decode_escape_sequences(self.mesh_info_format)
+        self.mesh_info_format = decode_escape_sequences(self.mesh_info_format)
         
         # Log configuration for debugging
         self.logger.debug(f"Greeter config loaded: include_mesh_info={self.include_mesh_info}, "
@@ -199,8 +174,8 @@ class GreeterCommand(BaseCommand):
                     channel_name, greeting = entry.split(':', 1)
                     channel_name = channel_name.strip()
                     greeting = greeting.strip()
-                    # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \\n for newlines)
-                    greeting = self._decode_escape_sequences(greeting)
+                    # Decode escape sequences (e.g., \n for newlines)
+                    greeting = decode_escape_sequences(greeting)
                     # Store both original and lowercase channel name for case-insensitive matching
                     self.channel_greetings[channel_name.lower()] = {
                         'channel': channel_name,
diff --git a/modules/scheduler.py b/modules/scheduler.py
index 18b9975..807b539 100644
--- a/modules/scheduler.py
+++ b/modules/scheduler.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import json
 import os
 from typing import Dict, Tuple, Any
 from pathlib import Path
-from .utils import format_keyword_response_with_placeholders
+from .utils import decode_escape_sequences, format_keyword_response_with_placeholders
 
 
 class MessageScheduler:
@@ -57,15 +57,17 @@ class MessageScheduler:
                         continue
                     
                     channel, message = message_info.split(':', 1)
+                    channel = channel.strip()
+                    message = decode_escape_sequences(message.strip())
                     # Convert HHMM to HH:MM for scheduler
                     hour = int(time_str[:2])
                     minute = int(time_str[2:])
                     schedule_time = f"{hour:02d}:{minute:02d}"
                     
                     schedule.every().day.at(schedule_time).do(
-                        self.send_scheduled_message, channel.strip(), message.strip()
+                        self.send_scheduled_message, channel, message
                     )
-                    self.scheduled_messages[time_str] = (channel.strip(), message.strip())
+                    self.scheduled_messages[time_str] = (channel, message)
                     self.logger.info(f"Scheduled message: {schedule_time} -> {channel}: {message}")
                 except ValueError:
                     self.logger.warning(f"Invalid scheduled message format: {message_info}")
diff --git a/modules/utils.py b/modules/utils.py
index 0b71f34..14f0463 100644
--- a/modules/utils.py
+++ b/modules/utils.py
@@ -133,6 +133,28 @@ def truncate_string(text: str, max_length: int, ellipsis: str = '...') -> str:
     return text[:max_length - len(ellipsis)] + ellipsis
 
 
+def decode_escape_sequences(text: str) -> str:
+    """Decode escape sequences in config strings (e.g. Keywords, Scheduled_Messages).
+
+    Processes \\n (newline), \\t (tab), \\r (carriage return), \\\\ (literal backslash).
+    Use a single backslash in config: \\n for newline; \\\\n for literal backslash + n.
+
+    Args:
+        text: The text string to process.
+
+    Returns:
+        str: The text with escape sequences decoded.
+    """
+    if not text:
+        return text
+    text = text.replace('\\\\', '\x00')  # Temporary placeholder for backslash
+    text = text.replace('\\n', '\n')     # Newline
+    text = text.replace('\\t', '\t')    # Tab
+    text = text.replace('\\r', '\r')    # Carriage return
+    text = text.replace('\x00', '\\')   # Restore backslash
+    return text
+
+
 def format_location_for_display(city: Optional[str], state: Optional[str] = None, 
                                country: Optional[str] = None, max_length: int = 20) -> Optional[str]:
     """Format location data for display with intelligent abbreviation.