How to Schedule an Email in Outlook on Desktop and Mobile

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, choose the arrow beside Send, select Schedule send or Send later, and set a delivery time. The exact controls depend on whether you use new Outlook, classic Outlook, Outlook for Mac, the web app, or a phone. Check the time zone and confirm the message appears in the scheduled folder before closing the app.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and a connection to the internet when you compose and schedule the message.
The Outlook app or Outlook on the web, signed in to the account that should send the email. Menu names vary slightly by version and account type.
The recipient’s correct email address, the message content, and the date and time you want it delivered. If you are using classic Outlook for Windows, plan to leave Outlook open and connected until it sends.

Step-by-Step

Open a new message. In Outlook, select New mail or New Email. Enter the recipient, subject, and message. Add attachments now, and check that you have chosen the correct From account if you use more than one mailbox. Scheduling does not prevent you from editing the email before it goes out, but it is easier to verify the details before setting the delivery time.
Choose the instructions for your version of Outlook. In new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, select the small arrow beside Send, then choose Schedule send. If the arrow is not visible, make sure the compose window is open and look at the end of the Send button. In some layouts, you may need to expand the compose window to see the full controls.
Pick a delivery time in new Outlook or on the web. Choose one of the suggested times, or select a custom time if that option is shown. Set the date and time, review the time zone displayed by Outlook, and confirm with the schedule button. The message should move out of the draft and appear under Scheduled or in a scheduled-send view. The exact folder label can vary by account and Outlook version.
Schedule a message in classic Outlook for Windows. In the message window, open the Options tab and select Delay Delivery. Under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before, then choose the date and time. Select Close to return to the message and click Send. The message will remain in the Outbox until the specified time; sending it to the Outbox is part of the scheduling process, not a sign that it has already reached the recipient.
Keep classic Outlook available. For a delayed message in classic Outlook, keep the computer on and Outlook open, signed in, and connected to the internet until the scheduled time. If the computer is asleep, Outlook is closed, or the account is offline at that time, the message may wait in the Outbox and send after Outlook reconnects. This behavior differs from cloud-based scheduling in new Outlook and Outlook on the web.
Schedule from Outlook for Mac. Compose the message, then select the arrow beside Send and choose Schedule Send or Send Later, depending on the app version. Pick a suggested time or set a custom date and time, then confirm. Find the message in the scheduled area, often called Scheduled. Outlook for Mac versions can display different labels; if the arrow or option is missing, update Outlook and check that you are using the current Outlook experience.
Schedule from the Outlook mobile app. Start a message and fill in the recipient, subject, and body. Tap the arrow or menu beside the Send control, then choose Schedule send or Send later. Select a suggested time or choose a custom date and time, and confirm. On some app versions, the schedule control is available by tapping the three-dot menu in the compose screen. If you cannot find it, update the Outlook app and look in the message’s send options.
Verify the scheduled message. Open the Scheduled folder or view and check that the right message, recipient, and delivery time are listed. In classic Outlook for Windows, check the Outbox instead. If the message is absent, it may still be a draft or may have been sent immediately. Open the message only if you intend to make a change, and avoid pressing Send again unless you want to send it now.
Edit or cancel before delivery. Open the scheduled message from the Scheduled folder or the Outbox. Choose the option to cancel the schedule or edit the message, if offered. Often, opening a scheduled item lets you change the text or time; another version may first require you to cancel sending and return the item to drafts. Save the changes and schedule it again if needed. In classic Outlook, open the Outbox item and change or remove its delivery setting. Make changes well before the send time, since a message that has already left the Outbox or Scheduled folder cannot usually be recalled reliably.

Common Mistakes

Assuming every version sends the same way. New Outlook, Outlook on the web, Mac, and mobile generally use a scheduled-send control that queues the message online. Classic Outlook for Windows uses the Delay Delivery setting and keeps the item in the Outbox. Mixing up the two behaviors can lead to a message waiting until the next time you open Outlook.

Choosing the wrong time zone or date. Outlook schedules using the time zone settings for the account or device. A time that looks right on a travel day may be interpreted in the device’s current zone. Check the displayed date, time, and time zone before confirming, especially when sending to someone in another country. If the selected date has passed, Outlook may offer a different time or send the message sooner than expected.

Forgetting to check the queue. Clicking a scheduling option is not enough to confirm that the message is queued. Verify the scheduled item is visible in the Scheduled folder or, for classic Outlook, the Outbox. Also make sure you did not click the main Send button by mistake, which may deliver the message immediately.

Expecting recall to undo a sent email. Once a message has been delivered, cancelling its scheduled status is no longer possible. Outlook’s recall feature has limited requirements and does not reliably remove mail from recipients’ inboxes. Treat the scheduled window as your chance to proofread and cancel before delivery, not as a guarantee that you can retrieve a mistake later.

Tips

Schedule a message a few minutes ahead as a test if you are unfamiliar with the controls. Use a message to yourself, then confirm when it arrives and where the scheduled item was stored.
Use a clear subject and finish proofreading the recipient list, attachments, and links before scheduling. An attachment is not automatically checked just because the message is set to send later.
For an important message, set the delivery time during the recipient’s normal working hours, while accounting for their local time zone. If timing matters, consider whether a delay or a delivery failure notification could affect the deadline.
For classic Outlook, do not rely on a scheduled message if you expect to shut down or disconnect the computer before delivery. Use new Outlook or Outlook on the web when you need the message to be queued online, if that option is available for your account.
After editing or rescheduling, check the queue again. A change may return the email to drafts or reset its delivery time, depending on the Outlook version.

Troubleshooting

The Schedule send option is missing: Confirm that you are composing a new email and look for a small arrow beside Send or a three-dot menu. Maximize the compose window and check the app’s update status. If you are in classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. Some work or school account policies and older app versions can affect which controls appear; try Outlook on the web or ask your organization’s Microsoft 365 administrator if the feature is unavailable.

The email is still in the Outbox: This is expected before the delivery time in classic Outlook. If the scheduled time has passed, check that Outlook is open, the computer is awake, and the account is connected. Select Send/Receive and check whether Outlook is in Work Offline mode. If necessary, open the message and verify its delivery setting. Avoid deleting it unless you are sure you no longer need it.

The message did not arrive when expected: First inspect the Scheduled folder, Outbox, and Sent Items. A message still in Scheduled has not been sent; a message in Sent Items may have been sent but delayed by the recipient’s mail service. Check the time zone and the scheduled date, then look for a non-delivery report or a message in your Junk or Deleted folders. For an organization account, an administrator can check mail-flow or policy issues.

You cannot change or cancel the queued email: Open the message from its queue rather than from Sent Items. If Outlook does not offer direct editing, cancel the scheduled send and save the message as a draft, then make the change and schedule it again. If the item is no longer in Scheduled or Outbox, it may already have been sent; check Sent Items before creating another copy to avoid sending duplicates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email if Outlook is closed?
With new Outlook, Outlook on the web, and supported Mac or mobile scheduling, the message is generally queued online and can send while the app is closed. Classic Outlook for Windows uses an Outbox delay, so keep Outlook open, the computer on, and the account connected for reliable delivery at the chosen time.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?
In newer Outlook versions, look for a Scheduled folder or scheduled-send view. In classic Outlook for Windows, a delayed message stays in the Outbox until its delivery time. The folder layout can differ with account type and version.

Can I change the time after scheduling?
Usually. Open the item in Scheduled or the Outbox, edit or cancel its scheduled delivery, and choose a new time. Check the queue afterward to make sure the new time was saved. If the message has already been sent, changing its schedule is no longer possible.

Will a scheduled email send if my laptop is asleep?
Cloud-scheduled messages in supported versions generally do not depend on your laptop staying awake. A classic Outlook for Windows Delay Delivery message can wait in the Outbox while the computer sleeps or Outlook is offline, then send after the app reconnects.

Can I schedule an email from my phone?
Yes, in supported versions of the Outlook mobile app. Compose the message, open the send options beside Send or in the three-dot menu, and select Schedule send or Send later. Update the app if the option is not visible.

Does Outlook send a scheduled email if I am offline?
Cloud-based scheduling queues the message online once it has been scheduled successfully, so your device can usually go offline afterward. You need a connection to create and confirm the schedule. Classic Outlook’s delayed delivery is more dependent on the computer and Outlook being online at send time.

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

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