How to Schedule an Email for Later in Microsoft Outlook

To schedule an email in Outlook, compose it, open the menu beside Send, choose Schedule send, and select a date and time. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. The exact controls depend on which Outlook app you use, and classic Outlook may need to stay open and connected until the message sends.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, or Outlook on the web.
The recipient’s email address and a completed message. You can add attachments before scheduling.
A date and time to send, checked against the time zone set for your device or account.
For classic Outlook for Windows, a reliable internet connection and Outlook open at the scheduled time. The newer Outlook app and Outlook on the web generally schedule messages through the mail service, so you do not have to keep the app open.

Step-by-Step

Identify which Outlook you are using. The newer Outlook for Windows has a simplified interface and a settings gear near the top. Classic Outlook has the traditional ribbon, including tabs such as File, Home, and Options. Outlook on the web runs in a browser. If you are unsure, check the app name in the Start menu or look for the New Outlook switch in Windows. This matters because the scheduling method and whether Outlook must remain open are different.
Start a message and fill it in. Select New mail or New Email, depending on the version. Enter recipients in To, add a clear subject, and write the message. Add any attachment now, and check that it has finished uploading before scheduling. Review names carefully, especially if Outlook suggests multiple contacts with similar names. Scheduling does not correct a wrong recipient or an unfinished attachment.
In new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web, open the send menu. Select the small arrow beside Send, not the main Send button. Choose Schedule send. Outlook may offer suggested times, such as the next morning, as well as a custom date and time. Select Custom time or the equivalent option if you need a specific schedule. If you click the main Send button by mistake, the message sends immediately.
Choose and confirm the delivery time. In the scheduling window, select the date and time you want, then confirm with the button shown, such as Send or Schedule send. Check both the day and the time before confirming: a message intended for Tuesday morning can easily be set for Wednesday or for the evening if the date picker changes unexpectedly. Outlook uses the time zone associated with your account or device, so check its settings if you travel or work across regions.
For Outlook for Mac, use the send dropdown when available. Compose the message, then open the arrow or dropdown beside Send and select Schedule Send. Choose a suggested time or enter a custom one, then confirm. Outlook for Mac menus can differ by app version and account type. If you do not see the scheduling option, update Outlook, check that you are using the newer Outlook experience, or schedule the message in Outlook on the web instead. Do not assume that leaving a message in Drafts will send it later.
In classic Outlook for Windows, set Delay Delivery. With the message open, select the Options tab on the ribbon, then choose Delay Delivery (in the More Options area). In the Properties window, find Delivery options and check Do not deliver before. Set the date and time, close the Properties window, and select Send in the message. The message is held in the Outbox until the chosen time. This is not the same as the newer server-side Schedule send: classic Outlook normally needs to be running and connected when the message is due to leave.
Confirm that Outlook accepted the schedule. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, look for the scheduled message in the folder or message list marked Scheduled; depending on the account and version, it may appear under Drafts or another scheduling view. Open it to verify the recipient and scheduled time. In classic Outlook, check the Outbox and confirm the message is still queued. If you cannot find it, search by subject and check Sent Items as well; a message that already sent will no longer be waiting in the queue.
Make changes before the delivery time if needed. Open the scheduled message from its folder or list, then use the available cancel or edit option. In classic Outlook, open the Outbox message and change its delivery time through Options > Delay Delivery. To stop it from sending, delete it from the Outbox or remove the scheduled send setting, depending on the version. Save or reschedule after editing, and confirm the updated message is still queued.

Common Mistakes

Choosing Send instead of Schedule send: In new Outlook and Outlook on the web, the schedule command is usually in the small dropdown beside Send. Selecting the main button sends immediately. Look for the schedule confirmation before closing the compose window.

Expecting classic Outlook to send while it is closed: Delay Delivery in classic Outlook for Windows relies on Outlook being open and connected when delivery is due. If you shut down the computer or exit Outlook, the message may wait in the Outbox and go later when Outlook reconnects. Use new Outlook or Outlook on the web when you need service-side scheduling that does not depend on the desktop app staying open.

Confusing a draft with a scheduled message: Saving a message as a draft does not set a send time. Make sure you use Schedule send or set Do not deliver before, and then verify the message appears in the appropriate scheduled location or Outbox.

Overlooking the time zone or date: A correct clock time in the wrong time zone can mean the email arrives hours early or late. Check the date, time, and account/device time-zone settings, especially after travel or a daylight-saving change.

Forgetting the recipient or attachment: Scheduling is not a final review step. Check the To, Cc, and Bcc fields, confirm the intended file is attached, and make sure the message says what you mean before setting it to send.

Tips

Use a short, searchable subject. It makes the message easier to find if you need to edit or cancel it later. Searching the subject is often quicker than browsing multiple folders.
Schedule a little earlier than the actual deadline. Delivery systems can experience delays, and a scheduled message is not proof that the recipient has read it. For a time-sensitive message, allow a buffer and follow up through an appropriate channel if necessary.
Check the recipient’s local time. If you are emailing someone in another region, schedule for a suitable working hour there rather than relying only on your own clock. A time-zone converter or the recipient’s stated availability can help.
Leave time to revise. If the message depends on a meeting, approval, or changing information, schedule it with enough lead time to review it before it goes out. A message scheduled far ahead can become inaccurate.
Use an account with a dependable connection. For classic Outlook’s Outbox-based delay, keep the computer awake and Outlook online near the scheduled time. For new Outlook or web scheduling, still verify the message is listed as scheduled rather than merely saved as a draft.

Troubleshooting

The Schedule send option is missing: Check that you are opening the arrow beside Send, and make sure you have a message open rather than just a draft list. If the option is still absent in Outlook for Mac or Windows, the app version or account type may not support it. Update Outlook if possible, try Outlook on the web, or use classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery option where available.

The message is still in the Outbox after its scheduled time: This commonly happens with classic Outlook. Open Outlook, check that it is not in Work Offline mode, and confirm that the computer has internet access. Open the Outbox message and inspect the delivery time in Options > Delay Delivery. If it is already past due, correct the time or send the message manually after checking that it has not already been delivered.

The message sent immediately: Check Sent Items to confirm it went out. You may have selected the main Send button instead of Schedule send, or the scheduled time may have been set in the past. Outlook may offer a brief undo option in some versions, but it is not a reliable way to recall an email; contact the recipient promptly if a correction is needed.

You cannot find or edit the scheduled email: Search for its subject and check Scheduled, Drafts, and, for classic Outlook, Outbox. Folder names and placement vary by Outlook version and account. If the message is in Sent Items, it may already have gone. Before sending a replacement, verify its status so you do not send duplicates.

The time appears wrong: Check the time zone on your computer and in your Outlook account settings, then reopen the message and inspect its scheduled time. If you changed time zones after scheduling, do not rely on the displayed clock alone; confirm the intended local delivery time and reschedule if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for free?
Scheduling is available in many Outlook experiences, including Outlook on the web and supported desktop apps. The exact feature can depend on your Outlook version and account type, so check whether Schedule send or Delay Delivery appears in your compose window.

Does Outlook have to be open for a scheduled email to send?
For new Outlook and Outlook on the web, a scheduled message is generally handled by the mail service, so the app can be closed. Classic Outlook for Windows uses the Outbox for Delay Delivery and normally must be open and connected at the scheduled time.

Can I cancel or change a scheduled email?
Usually, yes, as long as it has not sent. Find the scheduled message, open it, and use the cancel or edit controls provided by your version. In classic Outlook, edit or remove the message from the Outbox. Check the queue again after making changes.

Will a scheduled email send if my computer is asleep?
New Outlook and Outlook on the web generally schedule through the service, so your computer does not need to stay awake. With classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery, the message may remain in the Outbox until Outlook is running and connected; keeping the computer awake is the safer choice.

Can I schedule an email from my phone?
Some Outlook mobile versions and account types provide a schedule-send option in the compose menu. If you do not see it, schedule the message in Outlook on the web or a supported desktop version, then verify that it appears in the scheduled list.

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

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