How to Schedule an Email in Outlook on Any Device Today

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, open the menu beside Send, choose a scheduling option, and set the delivery time. The exact steps depend on whether you use new Outlook, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, or the mobile app; the guide below covers each and explains how to change or cancel a scheduled message.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to the mailbox you want to send from.
A recipient address, subject line, and message ready to send.
A delivery date and time. Check the time zone shown in Outlook, especially if you are scheduling for someone in another region.
For classic Outlook for Windows, keep Outlook open and connected until the message sends. This is the safest approach because desktop delay delivery can depend on the app being online.

Step-by-Step

Choose the Outlook version you are using. New Outlook and Outlook on the web have a scheduling menu beside the Send button. Classic Outlook for Windows uses the Delay Delivery setting in a message’s options. Outlook for Mac and the mobile apps may show a Schedule send option, depending on the version and account. If your screen does not match a step, check the version-specific instructions below rather than choosing an unrelated send setting.
Start a new message. Select New mail in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. In classic Outlook for Windows, select New Email from the Home tab. In Outlook for Mac, choose New Message. On a phone or tablet, tap the compose icon. Enter the recipient in the To field; add Cc or Bcc recipients if needed.
Write and review the email. Add a clear subject and type the message. Attach files before scheduling, and make sure the correct account appears in the From field if you have multiple mailboxes. Check names, addresses, links, attachment names, and the intended tone. Scheduling delays delivery, but it does not proofread the email or confirm that an attachment is the right version.
In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the send menu. Select the small arrow or dropdown beside Send, not the Send button itself. Choose Schedule send. Pick one of the suggested times, or choose an option such as Custom time to set your own date and time. The wording and available choices can vary slightly as Microsoft updates Outlook.
Set the date and time, then confirm. Use the date and time controls to select when Outlook should send the message. Check that the date is correct, including the year, and verify the time zone if Outlook displays one. Select the confirmation button, usually labeled Send or Schedule send. Outlook should move the message into a Scheduled folder or otherwise indicate that it is queued. Do not close the confirmation without checking that the schedule was accepted.
In classic Outlook for Windows, set a delivery time. With the email open in its compose window, select the Options tab, then choose Delay Delivery in the More Options group. In the Properties window, find Delivery options and check Do not deliver before. Enter the desired date and time, then select Close. Back in the message, select Send. The message is held in the Outbox until the delivery time. Keep Outlook open and connected so it can process the message; check the Outbox if you want to verify it is waiting.
On Outlook for Mac, look for Schedule send. Compose the email and open the dropdown beside Send. If Schedule send is available, select it, choose a suggested time or set a custom one, and confirm. If the command is missing, update Outlook and check whether you are using an account and app version that support scheduled sending. As a fallback, use Outlook on the web with the same mailbox if the feature is available there.
In the Outlook mobile app, use the message menu. Compose the email, then tap the three-dot menu or the dropdown near the send control. Select Schedule send if it appears, choose a suggested or custom date and time, and confirm. The location and label can differ between iOS, Android, and app releases. If there is no scheduling option, try updating the app or scheduling the message in Outlook on the web.
Verify the scheduled message. Open the Scheduled folder in new Outlook or Outlook on the web, or inspect the Outbox in classic Outlook for Windows. Confirm the recipient, subject, and scheduled time. If the message is not visible, check Drafts and Outbox before composing another copy; sending a duplicate can confuse recipients.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of the dropdown. In new Outlook, the main Send button sends immediately. Open the adjacent menu and choose Schedule send before selecting a time.
Using the wrong time or date. A morning send can become an evening send if you overlook the selected date or time zone. Review the displayed schedule before confirming, and consider the recipient’s local working hours.
Closing classic Outlook too soon. A delayed message in classic Outlook may remain in the Outbox if the app is closed, offline, or unable to connect. Leave it running and connected when using this method, particularly with non-Exchange accounts.
Assuming schedule means guaranteed delivery. Scheduling tells Outlook when to attempt sending. A mailbox limit, account problem, rejected address, or server outage can still prevent delivery or cause a delay.
Forgetting attachments or sending from the wrong account. Check the From field and open each attachment before scheduling. If you revise the message later, confirm the attachment is still included.
Creating multiple copies while checking. If the message seems missing, look in Scheduled, Outbox, and Drafts first. Do not repeatedly press Send or schedule the same email again until you know whether the original is queued.

Tips

Schedule with a small buffer. If a message needs to arrive by a particular time, do not schedule it for the exact last minute. Sending can be delayed by connectivity, server load, or a recipient’s mail system.
Use a send time that suits the recipient. For routine work messages, a start-of-day delivery may be easier to act on than an evening notification. For different time zones, convert the time before scheduling and check Outlook’s displayed time zone.
Keep the message easy to find. Use a specific subject and search for it if you need to locate it later. The Scheduled folder is the usual place for messages scheduled through new Outlook or the web; classic Outlook commonly holds delayed messages in Outbox.
Make edits before the send time. Reopen the scheduled item, update it, and reschedule if Outlook asks you to choose a time again. After editing, check the scheduled folder or Outbox to confirm the change took effect.
Use a test for an unfamiliar workflow. If scheduling an important message for the first time, send a harmless test to yourself for a few minutes later. This helps you confirm where the message appears and whether your version sends while closed.
Remember that scheduling is not a recall feature. Once Outlook has sent a message, cancelling a queued message is no longer possible through the scheduled-send controls. Message recall is a separate, limited feature and should not be relied on to correct an error.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find Schedule send. First check that you opened the dropdown beside Send rather than the main button. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. On Mac or mobile, update Outlook and check whether the feature is supported for your account. As another option, sign in to Outlook on the web and look for the scheduling menu there.

The scheduled message is not in the folder I expected. New Outlook and Outlook on the web generally show scheduled messages in Scheduled. Classic Outlook for Windows places a delayed message in Outbox. Search by recipient or subject, and check Drafts as well. If you are using a shared mailbox or multiple accounts, confirm that you are looking at the correct mailbox.

The message did not send at the selected time. In classic Outlook, check whether Outlook was open, online, and connected, then inspect the Outbox for a stuck message. Check for an error notice, a full mailbox, an invalid recipient, or an attachment that exceeds a size limit. For new Outlook or web scheduling, check the Scheduled folder and account connection, then retry only after confirming the first message has not already been sent.

I need to change the time or cancel the message. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open Scheduled, select the message, and use the available edit, cancel, or send-now control. The exact controls can vary; cancelling a scheduled send commonly returns the message to drafts for editing. In classic Outlook, open the item in Outbox and change its delivery time through Options > Delay Delivery, or delete it from Outbox to cancel. If the scheduled time has passed and the message has already left the mailbox, these controls will not stop it.

The sent time looks wrong. Reopen the message’s schedule settings and compare the selected time with the mailbox or device time zone. Check the device’s date, time, and time-zone settings too. For a recipient in another country, remember that Outlook schedules according to the time shown for your account, not necessarily the recipient’s local time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for free?
Scheduling is available in supported Outlook apps and accounts, including Outlook on the web and many Microsoft 365 versions. Availability and menu labels can depend on the app version, account type, and organization settings. If you do not see Schedule send, try Outlook on the web or the classic Windows Delay Delivery option.

Will a scheduled Outlook email send if my computer is off?
Messages scheduled in new Outlook or Outlook on the web are generally queued by the service, so your computer does not need to stay on. For classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery feature, keep Outlook open and connected to avoid a message waiting in Outbox. If unsure, test with a message to yourself.

Can I schedule recurring emails in Outlook?
Outlook’s regular Schedule send option schedules one message for one delivery time; it is not a recurring-email tool. For repeating reminders or notices, use an approved automation or calendar workflow if your organization supports one, and check each recipient and date before it runs.

Can I schedule an email from my phone?
Yes, if your Outlook mobile app and account show Schedule send. Compose the email, open the menu beside the send control, and choose a time. If the command is absent, update the app or use Outlook on the web instead.

Can I edit or cancel a scheduled Outlook email?
Usually, yes, as long as it has not been sent. Find it in Scheduled or Outbox, open it, and use the available cancel or edit controls. Depending on the Outlook version, cancelling may return it to Drafts; check the folder afterward and set a new time if needed.

Does Outlook notify me when the scheduled email is sent?
Outlook may show the message in Sent Items after sending, but a separate notification is not guaranteed. Check Sent Items or the message status if you need confirmation. A Sent copy confirms Outlook sent it, not that the recipient opened or read it.

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

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