FindTime Not Working in Outlook? Fix Scheduling Poll

If FindTime is not working in Outlook, look for Scheduling Poll: Microsoft replaced the FindTime add-in with this feature, so reinstalling the old add-in usually is not the fix. In Outlook, start a new meeting and choose Scheduling Poll; if the option is missing or a poll will not send, check your account, Outlook version, add-in access, and calendar permissions.

What happened to FindTime?

FindTime was an Outlook add-in that let an organizer suggest several meeting times and ask invitees to vote. Microsoft moved that workflow to Scheduling Poll. This is why older instructions that say to search for or install FindTime can lead to a dead end: the feature name and its place in Outlook have changed.

Scheduling Poll serves a similar purpose, but it is not the same thing as Outlook’s calendar availability view. A poll gathers responses from attendees about proposed times; the organizer can then choose a time and schedule the meeting. The availability view, called Scheduling Assistant, shows free and busy information for people whose calendars you are permitted to view. It can help you choose a time without asking everyone to vote.

Availability depends on the Outlook app, account type, and organization settings. Scheduling Poll is primarily intended for work or school Microsoft 365 accounts using an Exchange Online mailbox. A personal Outlook.com account, an on-premises Exchange setup, or an organization that restricts add-ins may not offer the same controls. If you cannot find the feature, confirm which account is signed in before changing settings.

Where to find Scheduling Poll in Outlook

In classic Outlook for Windows, open Calendar, create a new meeting, and look for Scheduling Poll on the meeting ribbon. Depending on the ribbon layout and Outlook build, it may appear as a button or under the add-ins or meeting options. In new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, open Calendar, select New event, and look for Scheduling Poll in the event-creation window. In Outlook for Mac, start a new meeting and check the meeting ribbon for the Scheduling Poll option; the exact layout can differ by release.

If the button is present, create a poll, add attendees, choose candidate dates and times, and send it. Recipients use the poll link or invitation to indicate which options work for them. After responses arrive, review the results and select the meeting time. Depending on the poll settings and your organization, Outlook may be able to schedule the selected option and notify attendees.

Do not confuse this with the Scheduling Assistant tab. To use the standard availability grid, create a new meeting and select Scheduling Assistant. Add attendees to see their free and busy blocks, subject to calendar-sharing permissions. The tab is useful when you want to choose a time yourself; Scheduling Poll is useful when people need to express preferences among alternatives.

Check the account and Outlook version

A missing button is often an account or availability issue rather than a damaged installation. First check whether Outlook is signed in with the mailbox you intend to use. In a workplace, a Microsoft 365 license and an Exchange Online mailbox are commonly required for Microsoft 365 scheduling features. If you have several accounts in Outlook, a personal account may be selected even though your work mailbox is also present.

In Outlook for Windows, check the account shown under File > Account Settings > Account Settings. The available details vary between classic and new Outlook.
In Outlook on the web, confirm the signed-in account from the profile menu, then open the work or school mailbox calendar.
Ask your Microsoft 365 administrator whether your mailbox is hosted in Exchange Online and whether the organization permits Scheduling Poll or Office add-ins.
Update Outlook and restart it. A feature rollout or an older build can make the instructions and ribbon differ from what you see.

Outlook for Mac has different menus from Windows, and its feature availability can depend on the update channel and account configuration. Do not follow Windows-only instructions such as File > Options if you are on a Mac. If the button is unavailable there, try Outlook on the web with the same work account; that comparison can help separate an app-specific issue from an account or policy restriction.

Fix a missing Scheduling Poll button

Work through these checks in order, stopping when the option appears. A restart is worthwhile after an update or account change, but repeatedly reinstalling Outlook is rarely the first useful step.

Open a new meeting, not an email. Scheduling Poll is part of meeting scheduling. Look in the meeting window or event form rather than the message compose ribbon.
Check the right calendar and mailbox. If Outlook has multiple accounts, create the event from the calendar belonging to the eligible work or school account.
Try Outlook on the web. Sign in with the same account and open Calendar. If the feature works there but not in the desktop app, update or restart the desktop app and check its add-in controls.
Check add-in access. In classic Outlook for Windows, use File > Manage Add-ins if that option is available, or ask your administrator about organization-managed add-ins. In Outlook on the web, add-in management may be under Settings or the app’s add-ins controls. Menu names vary by release.
Check organizational policy. Administrators can control which add-ins and connected services users may use. If coworkers also cannot see Scheduling Poll, ask IT rather than changing account settings at random.

Classic Outlook and new Outlook do not manage every add-in in the same way. A classic COM add-in is not interchangeable with a modern Office add-in, and an old FindTime installer cannot restore a service that has been replaced. Avoid downloading unofficial add-in installers or granting access to an unknown scheduling service.

When a poll will not send or collect votes

If you can create a poll but cannot send it, check that the event has recipients and valid proposed times, then confirm Outlook is online and connected to the intended mailbox. A recipient may be external to your organization, using an unsupported account, or blocked by a link-security policy. Ask one attendee to try the poll link in a current browser and report the exact error rather than forwarding a private or organization-only link publicly.

Also check whether the meeting or poll was edited after it was sent. Recipients may be looking at an older invitation or a different poll link. Resend or update the invitation through Outlook rather than creating several nearly identical polls, which can make votes and final details confusing.

When responses do not appear, make sure people submitted their choices rather than merely opening the poll. Ask them to check that they voted on the correct set of proposed times. If the organizer cannot see results, verify that they are signed into the account that created the poll. If the issue affects multiple users, an administrator can check service health and organizational policies; an individual user may not have permission to diagnose those settings.

Use Scheduling Assistant when you need availability

Sometimes the actual problem is not FindTime but locating a time when colleagues are free. For a small internal meeting, the Scheduling Assistant may be quicker than creating a poll. Create a meeting, add the required attendees, and select Scheduling Assistant. The grid displays availability where calendar permissions allow it, helping you compare a candidate time against multiple calendars.

Free and busy information is not a full view of someone’s calendar. Private appointments may show only as busy, and external invitees’ availability may not appear. A blank or unavailable grid does not necessarily mean that a person is free; it can mean Outlook cannot retrieve their calendar details. In that case, ask the person directly or send a poll with a few reasonable options.

For example, if a project team needs a 30-minute meeting, use Scheduling Assistant when all participants are in the same organization and their availability is visible. If a customer, supplier, or several people in different time zones must choose among options, Scheduling Poll is often more practical. Include the time zone in the invitation and avoid proposing options outside normal working hours for attendees.

Alternatives and privacy considerations

If Scheduling Poll is unavailable, you can still schedule without the retired FindTime add-in. Use Scheduling Assistant for visible internal availability, or send a short message listing several dates and ask invitees to reply with their preferences. For recurring groups, a shared calendar or a clearly maintained availability schedule can reduce repeated polling. An organization may also approve another scheduling tool, but use only services allowed by your workplace.

Consider what information a scheduling service receives. A poll may expose attendee names, email addresses, proposed times, and meeting context to the service or to people who can access its link. Do not include sensitive project details in a poll title, and follow your organization’s rules for external sharing and data handling. If a meeting is confidential, ask IT which scheduling method is approved.

Time zones deserve special attention when invitees are in different regions. Check Outlook’s displayed time zone and include the zone in any message where people are asked to compare options manually. Daylight-saving changes can also make a time that looks familiar differ from the recipient’s local time. A poll reduces some back-and-forth, but attendees should still confirm the final invitation’s date and time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FindTime discontinued?
Microsoft replaced the FindTime Outlook add-in with Scheduling Poll. If an old guide tells you to install FindTime, look for Scheduling Poll in a new meeting instead. Feature availability still depends on your Outlook app, account, and organization settings.

Why can’t I see Scheduling Poll in Outlook?
Common causes include using a personal rather than eligible work or school mailbox, an older Outlook build, opening an email instead of a meeting, or an administrator disabling the feature. Try Outlook on the web with the same account and ask IT if it is missing there too.

Is Scheduling Poll the same as Scheduling Assistant?
No. Scheduling Poll asks invitees to vote on proposed times. Scheduling Assistant shows calendar free and busy information that you are allowed to see, so you can choose a time yourself. Use the poll when attendee preferences are needed.

Can I use FindTime or Scheduling Poll with a personal Outlook.com account?
Do not assume that a personal account has the same availability as a Microsoft 365 work or school mailbox. If Scheduling Poll is not offered, use Outlook’s calendar tools or ask invitees to choose from times by email. Your account type and current feature support determine what is available.

What should I do if people cannot vote?
Confirm they are opening the current poll link and submitting a choice, then check whether their account or organization blocks access. If only external attendees are affected, link or tenant restrictions may be involved. Ask your administrator for help if the problem persists.

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