Schedule an Email in Outlook Desktop: Step-by-Step

To schedule an email in Outlook desktop, compose your message and choose a future send time: in new Outlook, open the arrow beside Send and select Schedule send; in classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery and set Do not deliver before. The message will be sent at the time you choose, provided the feature and your account are set up correctly. First identify which Outlook version you have, because the controls and where a scheduled message is stored differ.

What You’ll Need

A supported Outlook desktop app and an email account configured in it. The steps below cover new Outlook for Windows and classic Outlook for Windows.
The recipient’s correct email address, your message, and any attachments you want to include.
A future date and time to send. Check the time zone shown by your computer, particularly if you are scheduling across time zones.
For classic Outlook, be aware that behavior can depend on your account type and connection. POP or IMAP accounts generally require Outlook to remain open and connected until the message is sent.

Step-by-Step

Identify your Outlook version. New Outlook has a modern interface and typically shows a Settings gear near the top. Classic Outlook has the traditional ribbon with tabs such as File, Home, and Send/Receive. If your app has a Try the new Outlook switch, that can also help you identify classic Outlook. Follow the matching set of steps below; do not look for Schedule send in classic Outlook, where the equivalent is Delay Delivery.
Start a new message. Select New mail or New Email, depending on the version. Enter the recipient in the To field. Add Cc or Bcc recipients if needed, then write a clear subject and the message body. Scheduling does not change how recipients are addressed, so check names and addresses before setting the delivery time.
Finish and check the message before scheduling. Add any attachments and wait for them to finish uploading or attaching. Review the subject, recipient list, links, and spelling. This is a useful point to confirm you have selected the right file and have not left out information that would require a follow-up email. Scheduling a message does not guarantee that an attachment will be available to the recipient if it is only a link to a file they cannot access.
In new Outlook, open the send-time menu. Select the small arrow beside the Send button, not the Send button itself. Choose Schedule send from the menu. If Schedule send is not shown, confirm that you are using new Outlook and that the account supports the feature; otherwise, use classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery option if available.
Choose a date and time in new Outlook. Select one of the suggested send times or choose a custom time if that option appears. Set a date and a time in the future, and check the displayed time zone. Confirm the selection using the Schedule send or Send button shown in the dialog. Outlook accepts the scheduled message and keeps it pending until the chosen time. It is not sent immediately simply because you selected a schedule option.
In classic Outlook for Windows, open Delay Delivery. With the message open in its own compose window, select the Options tab on the ribbon, then select Delay Delivery. In the Properties window, find the Delivery options section and check Do not deliver before. Choose the required date and time in the corresponding boxes. If you do not see the controls, make sure the message window is active and look under the Options tab, rather than the main Outlook window.
Send the delayed message in classic Outlook. Select Close in the Properties window to return to the message. Then select Send. The message is placed in the Outbox until its scheduled delivery time. Selecting Send here does not mean it goes to the recipient immediately; it submits the message with the delay setting. Keep Outlook connected, and for a POP or IMAP account leave Outlook open until the message has gone out.
Confirm that the message is scheduled. In new Outlook, check Drafts for the scheduled message; it remains there until delivery and can be opened to review or change. In classic Outlook, look in Outbox for the delayed message. If it is still in the Outbox after the scheduled time, check Outlook’s connection and the account-specific troubleshooting notes below. Do not schedule a duplicate until you have confirmed whether the original was sent.

Common Mistakes

Choosing Send rather than the arrow beside it: in new Outlook, the main Send button sends immediately. Open its adjacent menu and select Schedule send to choose a future time. If the message has already been sent, scheduling cannot undo delivery.

Using the wrong version’s instructions: Schedule send is the new Outlook workflow; Delay Delivery is the classic Windows workflow. The menus are not interchangeable. In classic Outlook, set the date and time in the Properties window, close that window, and then select Send.

Picking the wrong date, time, or time zone: a date near midnight can be easy to misread, especially when you work with people in other regions. Read the full scheduled date and time in the confirmation before accepting it. Choose a time in the future; a past time or a mistaken calendar day can lead to unexpected delivery timing.

Assuming a scheduled message is already sent: a message in Drafts or Outbox is still pending. It may be edited, canceled, or delayed, but it has not necessarily reached the recipient. Conversely, do not assume a message can be recalled after it has been delivered.

Forgetting that classic Outlook may need to stay running: closing the app, losing connectivity, or putting the computer to sleep can interfere with sending, particularly with POP or IMAP accounts. For a time-sensitive message, leave classic Outlook running and connected or use the account’s supported web app if appropriate.

Tips

Schedule a little ahead of the exact deadline rather than choosing the last possible minute. This leaves time to correct an address or attachment issue before delivery.
Use a subject line that makes sense when the email arrives later. A scheduled message may be read hours or days after you wrote it, so avoid wording such as tomorrow unless the date will still be clear to the recipient.
Keep the message concise and self-contained. If the email refers to a temporary status, changing price, or expiring link, confirm that information will still be accurate at the scheduled time.
For a sensitive or high-priority email, set a reminder to check the scheduled item before it goes out. In new Outlook, open the item from Drafts; in classic Outlook, find it in Outbox. Confirm the recipients and content before the scheduled time.
If you are using a shared mailbox or a delegated account, check which account is selected in the From field and whether you have permission to send from it. A correct schedule does not fix an incorrect sending identity or missing permissions.
Be cautious with recurring or bulk mail. Scheduling an individual message is not the same as setting up a recurring campaign, and sending many similar emails can trigger account limits or spam protections.

Troubleshooting

Schedule send or Delay Delivery is missing. Check whether you are in new Outlook or classic Outlook and use the matching method. In new Outlook, look for the arrow beside Send. In classic Outlook for Windows, open the message compose window and select Options > Delay Delivery. If the command is still missing, update or restart Outlook, verify that the account is connected, and check whether your organization restricts the feature. Some account types and app versions offer different scheduling controls.

The scheduled time has passed, but the message is still pending. In new Outlook, refresh the mailbox and check Drafts and Sent Items. In classic Outlook, check Outbox, confirm Outlook shows it is connected, and make sure Work Offline is not enabled on the Send/Receive tab. For POP or IMAP, keep Outlook open and connected. If the message stays in Outbox, open it and review the delivery setting and time. If the account is managed by an organization, ask its support team whether a policy or service issue is affecting sending.

You need to edit or cancel the message. In new Outlook, open the scheduled item in Drafts and use the available edit or cancel-sending control. If you cancel the schedule, review the message before sending it manually, because it may then send immediately. In classic Outlook, open the item in Outbox before it is sent. You can change the time in Options > Delay Delivery, or clear Do not deliver before to remove the delay, then save or send as appropriate. If the message has already left Outbox and appears in Sent Items, assume it was delivered; recall options are limited and are not guaranteed.

The email arrived at an unexpected time. Compare the scheduled time with the time zone and clock settings on the device or account. Check whether the date crossed midnight and whether the recipient’s location uses a different time zone. For future messages, confirm the time shown in Outlook just before you schedule, and allow a buffer for any account or connection delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook desktop if my computer is off?
In new Outlook, scheduling is generally handled by the connected mailbox service, so the app does not normally need to stay open. With classic Outlook, requirements depend on the account: POP and IMAP accounts typically need Outlook open and connected. For important mail, check the behavior of your account and leave classic Outlook running when in doubt.

Where do I find a scheduled email?
In new Outlook, look in Drafts for the message waiting to be sent. In classic Outlook for Windows, look in Outbox. The exact folder can vary with the app and account, so check both Drafts and Outbox if you cannot find it.

Can I change the send time after scheduling?
Usually, yes, provided the message has not been sent. Open the scheduled item from Drafts in new Outlook or Outbox in classic Outlook, adjust the time, and confirm the change. If the scheduled time has passed, check whether the message has already been sent before editing or creating another copy.

Can I schedule an email in classic Outlook for Mac?
Outlook for Mac has different menus from classic Outlook for Windows, and available scheduling controls can depend on the Outlook version and account. Look for a send-later or schedule option in the menu beside Send. If it is not available, update Outlook or use Outlook on the web or new Outlook if your account supports scheduling.

Will a scheduled email send if Outlook is offline?
New Outlook can generally hand the scheduled message to the mailbox service, but it still requires the account service to be available. Classic Outlook may keep the message in Outbox until it can send, especially with POP or IMAP. Restore the connection and check the pending folder rather than sending a second copy right away.

Does scheduling work for attachments?
Yes, you can attach files before scheduling. Make sure attachments have finished attaching and that the recipient will be able to open them. For cloud links, check sharing permissions and confirm that access will still be valid when the email arrives.

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

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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