How to Schedule an Email in Outlook Across Devices

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, open the menu beside Send, choose Schedule send or Send later, and select a date and time. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. The exact controls vary by Outlook version, but scheduling lets you prepare a message now and have Outlook send it later—useful for working across time zones, sending a reminder at the right moment, or keeping a message out of someone’s inbox overnight.

Before scheduling, check the recipient addresses, the message, and the time zone for the intended send time. Also confirm which Outlook app you use: Microsoft 365 includes the newer Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, Outlook for Mac, and mobile apps, and their scheduling controls are not identical. If a message is time-sensitive, allow a little margin and verify that it appears in the correct scheduled or Outbox folder.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to the Outlook app or website. Some scheduling features or their behavior can depend on the account type and organization settings.
The recipient’s correct email address, plus the subject and message you want to send.
A planned send date and time. Check the time zone shown on your device, particularly if the recipient is in another region.
An internet connection when composing and, for some classic Outlook setups, when the message is due to send. Keep Outlook open if you are unsure how your account handles delayed messages.

Step-by-Step

Open a new message. In Outlook for Windows, select New mail (or New Email in classic Outlook). On the web, go to Outlook.com or your organization’s Outlook site and select New mail. In Outlook for Mac, choose New Email. In the mobile app, tap the compose icon. Add the recipient, subject, and message as you normally would. You can usually add attachments before scheduling, but wait for each attachment to finish uploading.
Review the message before setting its delivery time. Check the To, Cc, and Bcc fields, spelling, links, and attachments. Make sure the subject is useful and that the message is ready to go without another edit. Scheduling is not a substitute for checking recipients: an email sent to the wrong address may be difficult or impossible to recall.
Find the schedule control for your version of Outlook. In new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, select the small arrow next to Send, then choose Schedule send. In Outlook for Mac, use the arrow next to Send and select Schedule Send or Send Later, depending on the version. In Outlook for iOS or Android, open the message’s More options menu (often shown as three dots) and look for Schedule Send. If you use classic Outlook for Windows, follow step 6 instead; it uses a different method.
Choose a suggested time or enter a custom one. Outlook may show suggested delivery times, such as the next morning, as well as an option to pick a custom date and time. Select the custom option if the suggestions do not fit your plan. Set the date and time carefully, and check the time zone used by your Outlook account or device. A time such as 9:00 a.m. may be interpreted in your local time zone, not the recipient’s.
Confirm the scheduled send. Review the date and time in the confirmation prompt, then confirm the schedule. Outlook should close or save the compose window and place the message in a scheduled area, commonly called Scheduled or Drafts, depending on the app and account. Check that the message is listed there with the intended delivery time. Do not assume it was scheduled just because the compose window disappeared.
For classic Outlook for Windows, set a delivery delay. While composing the email, open the Options tab on the ribbon and select Delay Delivery. In the Properties window, under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before. Enter the date and time, then select Close to return to the message. Select Send. The message will typically remain in the Outbox until it is eligible to send. Check the Outbox to confirm it is there.
Check the message’s status and make edits only if needed. In new Outlook, the web app, or Mac, open the scheduled message from its scheduled folder if you need to change it. Depending on the version, you may need to cancel the scheduled send or open the message as a draft before editing. In classic Outlook, open the message in the Outbox. To change the delivery time, reopen Options > Delay Delivery, edit the time, close the dialog, and send again. Keep the message in the appropriate folder after editing so it remains queued.

Outlook’s labels and folder behavior can vary as Microsoft updates its apps and organizations manage accounts. If you do not see the exact wording above, look for a small arrow beside Send, a three-dot options menu, or a delivery option on the message ribbon. In classic Outlook, distinguish the desktop app from the newer Outlook for Windows: the classic app has the ribbon-based Delay Delivery method, while the newer app generally uses Schedule send.

Common Mistakes

Choosing the wrong time zone. Outlook may display scheduled times according to your account or device settings. If you are scheduling for someone overseas, calculate their local time and check whether daylight saving time applies on that date.
Closing classic Outlook without checking delivery behavior. A classic Outlook delayed message can sit in the Outbox. Whether it sends while the app is closed depends on the account and setup. For reliability, keep Outlook running and connected near the send time unless you know your organization’s Exchange configuration handles delivery server-side.
Leaving the message in Drafts or the Outbox by mistake. A message that is merely saved as a draft has not necessarily been scheduled. Confirm the scheduled time or the delivery-delay setting, and look in the folder where that Outlook version stores queued messages.
Editing a message without preserving its schedule. Opening a scheduled message can cancel or change its queued status in some versions. After editing, confirm the new send time and check that the message is scheduled again.
Assuming a scheduled email can be recalled after sending. Scheduling gives you a chance to change or cancel the message before delivery. Once Outlook has sent it, cancellation is not generally guaranteed; recall features are limited and depend on the recipient’s system.
Scheduling before an attachment finishes uploading. Large files or a slow connection can interfere with composing. Confirm the attachment is present and opens correctly before you schedule the message.

Tips

Schedule a test message. If you have not used the feature in your current Outlook app, send a short test to yourself for a few minutes later. This confirms where the message appears and how your account handles delivery.
Leave a small buffer before a deadline. Choose a time slightly ahead of the latest acceptable delivery time. Network problems, account restrictions, or a device that is offline can affect delivery, especially with a client-side delay.
Use a clear subject and review recipients twice. A scheduled message may leave your attention for hours. A final check before setting the time helps avoid sending an unfinished note or an accidental reply-all.
Use a calendar reminder if the message requires a last-minute update. A scheduled email will send the saved content, not a future version you intend to revise. If details may change, set a reminder to review the draft before it goes out.
Check organizational policies. Work or school administrators can limit email features, sending times, external recipients, or retention. If the control is missing or the message does not leave the queue, your organization’s settings may be involved.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find Schedule send. First check whether you are using classic Outlook for Windows. If so, use Options > Delay Delivery rather than looking for the newer schedule button. In other versions, open the arrow beside Send or the message’s three-dot menu. Update or restart Outlook if the control should be available but is missing. A work or school administrator may also have disabled a feature.

The message is still waiting after its scheduled time. Open the Scheduled, Drafts, or Outbox folder and inspect the message status. Confirm that the date, time, and time zone are correct. In classic Outlook, check that the app is online and connected; if appropriate, leave it open and connected. In any version, check for a sign-in prompt, a full mailbox, an invalid recipient, or a connection problem. If Outlook reports an error, resolve it and reschedule the message rather than assuming it will retry automatically.

I need to change or cancel the email. Find the queued message before its send time. In newer Outlook, the web app, or Mac, open the scheduled message and choose the available edit or cancel option; some versions return it to Drafts for editing. In classic Outlook for Windows, open it from the Outbox and change or remove the Do not deliver before setting through Options > Delay Delivery. Confirm that the message is no longer queued at the old time, then schedule it again if needed.

The message sent at an unexpected time. Check your device and Outlook time-zone settings, including daylight saving time, and compare them with the time displayed when you scheduled the message. If it is a work account, ask your administrator whether server rules or organization settings affect delivery. For a future message, choose a custom time and verify the displayed date and time in the final confirmation before you confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for free?
Scheduling is available in many Outlook apps and account types, including Outlook on the web and Microsoft 365 Outlook. The exact option can vary by app version, account, or organization policy. If you do not see it, check whether you are using classic Outlook for Windows, which uses Delay Delivery.

Can I turn off my computer after scheduling an email?
With newer Outlook, Outlook on the web, and many Exchange-based setups, delivery may be handled by the service. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery can depend on Outlook being open and connected, depending on the account configuration. If delivery is important, keep classic Outlook running or confirm the behavior with your IT administrator.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?
New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Mac commonly show scheduled messages in a Scheduled folder or a related area. Classic Outlook for Windows typically holds a delayed message in the Outbox. Folder names and locations may differ by app and account.

Can I schedule a reply or a message with attachments?
Yes. You can generally schedule a reply or a new message, and you can add attachments before scheduling. Make sure the attachment has finished uploading and that the message is in the scheduled queue afterward.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?
In current Outlook mobile apps, compose the message, open More options (often the three-dot menu), and look for Schedule Send. Availability and labels can vary by app version and account. If the option is absent, update the app or schedule the message from Outlook on the web or desktop.

Can I change the scheduled time after setting it?
Usually, yes, as long as the message has not been sent. Open it from the scheduled folder or, in classic Outlook, the Outbox; edit the message or delivery time, then confirm it is queued again. The exact edit and cancel controls depend on your Outlook version.

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

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