How to Schedule an Email to Send in Outlook: Windows & Mac

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, 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 steps depend on which Outlook version you use, and classic Outlook may need to stay open for the message to leave on time.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to the mailbox you want to send from. The schedule-send feature may look different in a personal Outlook.com account and a work or school account.
A drafted message, including the recipient and subject. You can schedule a message with or without attachments, but make sure any attached files are ready before you schedule it.
A send date and time, with the correct time zone in mind. Outlook generally uses the time zone set for your account, device, or calendar, depending on the version.
For classic Outlook for Windows, a working internet connection and Outlook running around the scheduled time. Messages using Delay Delivery can remain in the Outbox until Outlook can send them.

Step-by-Step

Identify your Outlook version. The steps differ between the newer Outlook app, Outlook on the web, and classic Outlook for Windows. The newer app is often called new Outlook and has a simplified interface; classic Outlook has the traditional ribbon with tabs such as File, Home, and Options. Outlook on the web is opened in a browser. If you are unsure, check the app name or interface before composing.
Start a new message. Select New mail or New Email, depending on your version. Enter the recipient in the To field, add a subject, and write the email. If you are sending to multiple people, check the To, Cc, and Bcc fields carefully; scheduling does not give you another chance to correct an address after delivery.
Check the message before choosing a time. Confirm the recipient, subject, wording, links, and attachment. Open any attachment from the draft if you need to verify it is the right version. A scheduled message is not delivered immediately, but it can still be sent automatically at the selected time, so treat the final review as you would for an email you are about to send.
In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the Send menu. Select the small arrow or dropdown beside Send. Choose Schedule send. Do not select the main Send button, because that sends the email immediately. If the menu is not visible, widen the compose window or check the options at the top of the message.
Choose a suggested time or enter a custom one. Outlook may show suggested choices, such as later today or tomorrow. Select one if it suits your needs. To specify another time, choose the option for a custom time or date, set the date and time, and confirm the schedule. Check whether the displayed time is appropriate for the recipient, especially when they are in another time zone.
In classic Outlook for Windows, set a delivery time. With the message open, go to Options > Delay Delivery. In the Properties window, find Delivery options, select Do not deliver before, and enter the date and time. Close the Properties window, then select Send. The email will usually sit in the Outbox until the delivery time; it has not been sent just because you clicked Send.
Know what to expect in Outlook for Mac. In supported Outlook for Mac versions, compose the email, select the dropdown beside Send, choose Schedule Send, and select a suggested or custom time. The exact labels can vary with the Outlook update and account. If you do not see the option, update Outlook if possible, check that you are using the newer Outlook experience where available, or use Outlook on the web for that mailbox.
Verify that the message is scheduled. After confirming, look in the folder or message list for the scheduled email. Depending on the Outlook version and account, it may appear in Scheduled or remain in Drafts with a scheduled indicator. In classic Outlook for Windows, look in Outbox. Open the item, if needed, and confirm the recipient and scheduled time before relying on it.
Change or cancel it if plans change. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the scheduled message from its folder and choose the available cancel-schedule option; the message typically returns to Drafts, where you can edit it and schedule again. In classic Outlook, open the item in Outbox before it is sent, change the delivery time in Delay Delivery, or remove the delivery delay and send it manually. If the scheduled time has arrived, Outlook may already have started sending it.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of its dropdown: The main button usually sends immediately. Use the small arrow beside it and confirm that you selected Schedule send. If you accidentally sent the message, scheduling cannot recall it; use Outlook’s recall feature only if your account and the recipient’s mailbox support it, and do not assume recall will work.

Closing classic Outlook and expecting a delayed message to go out: Delay Delivery in classic Outlook for Windows is different from the newer server-based Schedule send option. A delayed message can remain in Outbox if Outlook is closed, offline, or unable to connect at the appointed time. Leave classic Outlook running and connected, or use a version with Schedule send if you need the message to go out while your computer is off.

Choosing the wrong day, time, or time zone: A message intended for 9 a.m. may be scheduled for 9 a.m. in your own time zone, not the recipient’s. Review the confirmation and account settings. Pay particular attention when crossing midnight, changing daylight-saving time, or scheduling messages while travelling.

Assuming a scheduled message can be edited from any folder: A scheduled email is not always stored in the same place across Outlook versions. Check Scheduled, Drafts, or Outbox rather than searching only Sent Items. Sent Items usually shows a message after it has actually been sent.

Leaving a placeholder or unfinished attachment: Outlook will not know that you meant to add a missing file or replace a draft phrase. Make a final content check before scheduling and, if you edit the message afterward, verify that it is still scheduled for the intended time.

Tips

Use scheduled sending to match the recipient’s workday, avoid sending late at night, or prepare a message while the details are fresh. For a time-sensitive email, allow a small buffer for connection or service delays rather than scheduling it for the exact minute it must be read. Scheduling controls when Outlook attempts to send; it cannot guarantee when the recipient’s device will display or notify them about it.

For recurring reminders or a series of messages, create each message separately and verify each scheduled time. Outlook’s schedule-send command is for an individual email; it is not a recurring-send rule. If you often need all outgoing messages held briefly, classic Outlook has separate delivery rules, but those affect more messages and should not be confused with scheduling one email.

When you schedule in classic Outlook, keep the app open and check that it remains connected, particularly if the computer may sleep or lose network access. For new Outlook or Outlook on the web, confirm the item appears in the scheduled-message location before closing the app. Save a copy of important wording elsewhere if you are still revising it, and avoid scheduling confidential information to a recipient until you have rechecked the address.

Troubleshooting

Schedule send is missing: First check the arrow beside Send rather than the main button. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery. If you are using Outlook for Mac, the web, or a work account, the command may differ by version or account configuration. Try Outlook on the web, update the app if an update is available, and check with your organization’s Microsoft 365 administrator if a work policy appears to restrict the feature.

The email did not go out at the selected time: Check the folder where scheduled messages are stored. In classic Outlook for Windows, look in Outbox and check the connection status at the bottom of the window; reconnect to the internet and keep Outlook open. For a newer Outlook or web-scheduled message, check whether it is still in Scheduled or Drafts, and verify its displayed send time and time zone. A service delay or connectivity issue can also postpone delivery.

You cannot find the message to edit or cancel: Search the mailbox for a distinctive phrase from the subject, then check Drafts, Scheduled, and Outbox. Do not search only Sent Items, because a message waiting to send may not appear there yet. If it has already moved to Sent Items, it has probably been sent and cannot be unsent reliably; contact the recipient promptly if a correction is needed.

The message went immediately: Check whether you pressed the main Send button or whether the scheduled time was set in the past. Review the confirmation step before scheduling another message. If the message is already delivered, Outlook’s recall option has strict account and recipient requirements, so a follow-up correction is often the practical choice.

The time changed unexpectedly: Review the time zone and clock settings on your device and in your Outlook account. For a meeting or deadline involving people in different regions, state the time zone in the email itself, for example, 10 a.m. Eastern Time, and choose the corresponding time in the scheduling dialog.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook on the web?

Yes. Compose a message, use the dropdown beside Send, select Schedule send, and choose a suggested or custom time. Check the scheduled-message location afterward, since its name and placement can vary by account.

Does Outlook have to be open for a scheduled email to send?

It depends on the method. A message scheduled with the newer Schedule send feature or Outlook on the web is generally handled by the mail service, so the app does not need to stay open. For Delay Delivery in classic Outlook for Windows, keep Outlook running and connected so it can send the message from Outbox.

Can I edit an email after scheduling it?

Usually, yes, if it has not been sent. Open the scheduled item, cancel its schedule if required, make the changes, and schedule it again. In classic Outlook, open the delayed message in Outbox and update its delivery setting before the send time.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?

Scheduling availability and menu labels can vary by Outlook mobile app version and account. Open a draft and check the menu beside or near Send for a scheduling option. If it is not available, schedule the message using Outlook on the web or a supported desktop version.

Where does Outlook keep scheduled emails?

It varies: new Outlook or Outlook on the web may show them in Scheduled or Drafts, while classic Outlook for Windows holds a Delay Delivery message in Outbox. Check those locations before assuming the message disappeared.

Can I cancel a scheduled email after the time has passed?

Only if it has not actually been sent. If it remains in a scheduled folder or Outbox, open it and cancel or change the delivery setting. If it is already in Sent Items, cancellation is not dependable; send a correction or contact the recipient.

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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