How to Schedule an Email in Outlook to Send at a Later Time

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, open the menu beside Send, choose Schedule send, and select a time. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. The scheduled message is sent once at the time you choose; you do not need to be at your computer for cloud-based scheduling in new Outlook or Outlook on the web.

The exact controls depend on which Outlook version you use. These steps cover new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, then explain the different process in classic Outlook for Windows and Outlook for Mac. Before scheduling, check the recipient, message, date, time, and time zone carefully.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to new Outlook, Outlook on the web, classic Outlook for Windows, or Outlook for Mac.
The recipient’s correct email address, plus the message subject and content you want to send.
A planned send date and time. Check which time zone Outlook is using, especially if you or the recipient will be in a different region.
For classic Outlook with a POP or IMAP account, Outlook may need to remain open and connected until the delayed message is sent. Cloud scheduling in new Outlook or Outlook on the web does not require your computer to stay on.

Step-by-Step

Open a new message. In new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web, select New mail. In classic Outlook for Windows, select New Email. In Outlook for Mac, choose New Email or New Message, depending on the interface. If you already drafted the message, open it from Drafts and continue.
Fill in the recipients and subject. Enter the email address in the To field, and add Cc or Bcc recipients if needed. Check the spelling and make sure you selected the intended contact if Outlook suggests names. Add a clear subject so the recipient can identify the message.
Write and review the message. Add the body text and attach any files before scheduling. Open attachments once to confirm they are the right versions. If the email depends on information that may change before the send time, verify it again before scheduling or use a reminder to review the draft.
Find the scheduling control in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. Select the small arrow or dropdown beside Send. Choose Schedule send. In some layouts the option may appear as Schedule send in a menu rather than as a separate button. Do not select the main Send button, which sends the message immediately.
Choose a send time. Select one of the suggested times if it suits your needs, or choose the option to set a custom time. Enter the date and time, then confirm the schedule. Read the confirmation prompt before accepting it. Outlook should report that the message is scheduled rather than sent.
Schedule in classic Outlook for Windows. In the open message window, select the Options tab, then choose Delay Delivery. In the Properties window, under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before and set the date and time. Close the Properties window, then select Send. The message is held in the Outbox until its delivery time; clicking Send here does not mean it has already gone out.
Schedule in Outlook for Mac. Compose and review the email, then open the dropdown beside Send and choose Schedule Send or Schedule send. Set a suggested or custom time and confirm. The wording and placement can vary between Outlook for Mac releases. If the schedule option is not available, check for Outlook updates or use Outlook on the web instead.
Confirm that Outlook accepted the schedule. In new Outlook and Outlook on the web, look for the message in Scheduled or the scheduled messages view. In classic Outlook, check the Outbox. In Outlook for Mac, check the scheduled messages area if available. Open the message if you need to verify its recipient, content, or scheduled time.

Once the scheduled time arrives, cloud-scheduled messages are sent by Outlook even if you close the browser or turn off your computer. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery works differently: the message remains in the Outbox until it can be delivered. With a POP or IMAP account, keep Outlook open and connected. Account and organization settings can affect delivery, so check the Outbox if punctual delivery matters.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of Schedule send. In new Outlook and the web version, the main Send button sends immediately. Use the dropdown beside it to open the scheduling options.
Assuming classic Outlook behaves like cloud scheduling. Delay Delivery in classic Outlook places the message in the Outbox. For POP or IMAP accounts, closing Outlook or losing the connection before the due time can prevent it from being sent on time.
Choosing the wrong date, time, or time zone. A scheduled time can seem wrong if you misread AM and PM, choose tomorrow instead of today, or are working across time zones. Check the displayed date and local time before confirming.
Scheduling before adding the final attachment or recipient. A message is easy to overlook once it is scheduled. Review the To, Cc, subject, body, and attachments before you confirm.
Expecting a repeating email. Schedule send is for one message sent once, not for a weekly or monthly email series. A repeating process needs a separate automation solution, such as an appropriately configured Power Automate flow.

Tips

Leave time for a final check. If the email is important, schedule it a few minutes ahead rather than at the last possible moment. Then confirm that it appears in the Scheduled view or Outbox.
Use a specific subject. A subject such as Updated agenda for Thursday’s meeting is easier to identify later than a generic subject such as Update. This also helps if you need to find the message to change or cancel it.
Keep the message suitable for the future send time. Avoid wording such as today or tomorrow unless it will still be accurate when the email arrives. If the timing is uncertain, use an exact date in the message.
Know where to make changes. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the Scheduled view and select the message to edit or cancel it. In classic Outlook, open the Outbox item; make the change before its delivery time. Depending on the version, you may need to reopen the message and set its delivery options again.
Use a calendar reminder for a high-stakes message. A reminder shortly before delivery gives you a chance to check whether the message is still relevant. Scheduling is not a substitute for reviewing last-minute changes.
Do not use schedule send as a guarantee of receipt. Outlook can send a message, but it cannot ensure that the recipient’s server accepts it, that it avoids spam filtering, or that the recipient reads it by a particular deadline.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find Schedule send. First check that you opened the dropdown beside Send rather than the main button. If it is still missing, confirm which Outlook version you are using. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery; in Outlook for Mac, the control may be in the Send dropdown. You can also try Outlook on the web, where the option may be available even if your desktop layout differs. Work or school administrators can restrict features, so contact your organization’s support team if the option is unavailable everywhere.

The message sent immediately. Check Sent Items to confirm whether it was delivered. If it was, scheduling was not applied—perhaps the main Send button was selected or the schedule was not confirmed. You generally cannot recall an email reliably after it has been delivered. For the next message, use the schedule menu and wait for the scheduled confirmation before closing the compose window.

The message has not sent at the scheduled time. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, check the Scheduled view and open the message to verify its time and status. Confirm that the account is online and that there is no service or organization restriction. In classic Outlook, look in the Outbox. For POP or IMAP, open Outlook and reconnect to the internet; the application may need to stay running for the delay to take effect. If the message remains there after the scheduled time, open it, check its delivery options, and resend or reschedule if appropriate.

I need to edit or cancel the message. Find it in Scheduled or the Outbox before its send time. Open the message and use the available edit, cancel, or delete control. If editing a classic Outlook message, verify its delivery time again before sending it back to the Outbox. If you cannot locate it, search the relevant folder by recipient or subject and check that you are using the account from which it was scheduled.

The email went at an unexpected time. Compare the scheduled time with the time zone shown by Outlook and your device. Check the message’s scheduled details rather than relying on memory, and consider daylight-saving changes if the date is near a clock change. If you work with people in different regions, state the intended time zone when coordinating with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook if my computer is off?
Yes, when you use Schedule send in new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or a supported Outlook for Mac version. The message is scheduled through the account, so your computer does not need to remain on. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery can depend on the account type; POP or IMAP users should keep Outlook open and connected.

Can I change a scheduled email after I set it?
Usually. Open the message from Scheduled or the Outbox before its send time, make the changes, and confirm the schedule again if Outlook asks. If the message has already been sent, it is no longer a scheduled draft and changes cannot be applied to that delivered copy.

Does Outlook send scheduled emails when I am offline?
Cloud-based Schedule send can send while your computer is offline. For classic Outlook, behavior depends on the account and setup. POP or IMAP accounts generally require Outlook to be open and connected at the delivery time. If you are unsure, keep Outlook online or schedule from Outlook on the web.

Can Outlook send the same email automatically every week?
Schedule send is a one-time send, not a recurring-email feature. To send a repeated message, investigate an automation workflow such as Power Automate and check that it meets your organization’s rules and account requirements.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?
Scheduling controls vary by Outlook mobile app version and account. If you do not see Schedule send in the compose screen’s Send menu, use Outlook on the web or a desktop version with the feature. Check the scheduled message folder afterward to confirm the email was queued.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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