How to Schedule Send an Email in New Outlook for Later

To schedule an email in New Outlook, compose your message, open the menu beside Send, choose Schedule send, and select a delivery date and time. The message is held until then, which is useful for working ahead or sending during the recipient’s normal hours. You’ll need a supported account and a connection to set up the schedule; menu labels can vary slightly with updates and account type.

What You’ll Need

New Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web, signed in to the mailbox you want to send from. These steps describe New Outlook for Windows.
A supported email account. The feature is generally available with Microsoft 365 work or school accounts and Outlook.com accounts. If you use a connected third-party mailbox and the option is missing, availability may depend on the account and its settings.
The recipient’s address and a planned send time. Consider the recipient’s time zone if they are elsewhere.
An internet connection while composing and scheduling. For a Microsoft-hosted mailbox, Outlook can send the scheduled message even when the app is closed. A connected provider may handle scheduling differently.

Step-by-Step

Open a new message. In New Outlook, select New mail in the upper-left area of the window. You can also open an existing draft if you have already started writing. Check the From address near the top of the compose window if you have more than one mailbox or alias; scheduling will use the selected sender.
Address and write the email. Enter one or more recipients in the To field, and add people to Cc or Bcc if needed. Add a clear subject, then write the body and attach any files. Scheduling does not change who receives the message or what it contains, so review the address, subject, and attachments before moving on.
Open the Send menu. Find the small arrow beside the Send button in the compose window and select it. Choose Schedule send from the menu. Do not select the main Send button by mistake: that sends the email immediately. If you do not see an arrow, check that the compose window is open and look around the Send button for a dropdown control.
Choose a suggested time or set a custom one. Outlook may offer suggested choices such as a later time today or tomorrow. Select a suggestion if it fits. To specify another time, choose the custom date-and-time option, then set the calendar date and time shown in the scheduling panel. The exact wording of the custom option can vary as Outlook’s interface changes.
Check the date, time, and time zone. Confirm that you chose the intended day and a time in the future. Outlook normally displays times according to your device or account settings. If the message is for someone in another time zone, convert the time before scheduling; for instance, 9 a.m. in your time zone may be outside the recipient’s workday. Be especially careful when scheduling near midnight or around a daylight-saving change.
Confirm the schedule. Select the confirmation button in the scheduling panel, often labeled Send or Schedule send. Wait for Outlook to show a confirmation that the message has been scheduled. If the confirmation does not appear, do not assume the message is queued: check the message list or try scheduling again after confirming that the first attempt did not succeed.
Check the scheduled message if you may need to change it. Look in Drafts first; depending on the account and Outlook version, a scheduled item may be shown in another folder or view. Open the message to check its recipient, subject, and scheduled time. If you need to revise it, cancel the scheduled send if that control is available, edit the draft, and schedule it again. Avoid creating a second copy until you know what happened to the first.

For a Microsoft-hosted mailbox, the scheduled message is normally sent by the service at the selected time, so New Outlook does not have to stay open. Still, make sure the schedule was confirmed and the message has not been moved or cancelled. If you are following instructions for Outlook classic instead, note that its delayed-delivery controls are different; these steps use the New Outlook compose window.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of the dropdown. The main button sends immediately. Use the small arrow beside it, then select Schedule send. If you accidentally sent the message, scheduling cannot pull it back; use the available recall or undo options only if your account offers them, and contact the recipient if needed.
Choosing a time in the wrong time zone. A scheduled time is interpreted using the time zone shown by Outlook or your account settings, not necessarily the recipient’s. Check the displayed date and time, and convert it when planning for someone in another region.
Assuming the message is scheduled because the panel closed. Wait for an Outlook confirmation and check the relevant folder or view. A closed panel alone is not proof that the message is queued.
Forgetting the sender account or attachments. If several accounts are connected, verify the From field. Open or check each attachment before scheduling; an email can be sent later with the wrong sender or without a file just as easily as one sent now.
Making a second copy when the first is hard to find. Search by recipient or subject and check Drafts or any scheduled-message view before sending another. Otherwise, both copies could reach the recipient.

Tips

Write and proofread before setting the time. Scheduling is not a substitute for a final review. Check names, links, figures, tone, and whether the message should include anyone in Cc or Bcc. If the email has sensitive information, confirm that every recipient is appropriate.
Use a specific subject. A descriptive subject makes the message easier to find later in Drafts or a folder view. It also helps distinguish the intended scheduled message from an older draft with a similar recipient.
Schedule for the recipient, not just for yourself. For routine work messages, choose a reasonable local business hour for the recipient. If the message is urgent or time-sensitive, scheduling may not be reliable enough as the only delivery plan; use an appropriate direct channel as well.
Leave a little time for corrections. If a message depends on a report, approval, or attachment that may change, schedule it only after that information is ready. For a message you are composing well in advance, consider choosing a delivery time that leaves time to reopen and check it.
Use Outlook on the web if the desktop layout differs. Sign in to the same mailbox in a browser and look for the dropdown beside Send in a new message. The options are similar, though the precise placement and wording can differ. On Outlook for Mac, check the menu beside Send as well; the layout and labels may differ from the Windows steps above.

Troubleshooting

Schedule send is missing. Confirm that you are using New Outlook rather than Outlook classic, and that you are composing a new message in the intended account. Update or restart New Outlook, then check the arrow beside Send again. If the option is still absent, the connected account or its organization’s settings may not support it. Try Outlook on the web for the same mailbox or ask your Microsoft 365 administrator whether the feature is available.
The message seems to have disappeared. Search Outlook for the recipient or a distinctive phrase in the subject. Check Drafts and any scheduled-message folder or view shown for your account. Folder names and where a scheduled email appears can vary. If you cannot confirm it is queued, avoid sending a duplicate until you have checked Sent Items and, if necessary, contacted your administrator or email provider.
The delivery time looks wrong. Reopen the scheduled message if possible and inspect the selected date and time. Check the time zone in your device and Outlook settings. If the scheduled time has already passed, confirm whether the message was sent by searching Sent Items before attempting to reschedule it. If it remains a draft, select a new future time and confirm the schedule.
The email did not arrive when expected. First check Sent Items to see whether Outlook sent it. Then verify the recipient address and ask the recipient to check junk or spam. A message marked as sent may still be delayed, filtered, or rejected by the recipient’s mail system. For work or school email, an administrator can check delivery status; for a connected third-party account, check that provider’s status and sending limits.
You need to edit or cancel it. Find the scheduled message and open it. If Outlook offers Cancel scheduled send, select it to return the message to a draft state, then make your changes and schedule it again—or send it immediately. If there is no cancellation control, check the account’s web interface or contact the mailbox administrator. Do not assume that deleting a visible draft cancels a message unless Outlook confirms the cancellation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in New Outlook for a specific date and time?

Yes. Use the arrow beside Send, choose Schedule send, and select the custom date-and-time option. Check the displayed time zone before confirming.

Does New Outlook need to be open for the email to send?

For a supported Microsoft-hosted mailbox, the service normally sends a scheduled email even if the app is closed or your computer is off. Connected third-party accounts may behave differently, so check the account’s scheduling options.

Can I change a scheduled email after I set it?

Usually, you can open the scheduled message, cancel its scheduled send, edit the draft, and schedule it again. The available controls and folder location depend on the account and Outlook version.

Where can I find a scheduled email?

Check Drafts first, then look for a scheduled-message folder or view if your account provides one. You can also search by recipient or subject. Outlook may display scheduled messages differently for different mailbox types.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on the web or a Mac?

Outlook on the web and Outlook for Mac may offer similar scheduling controls. Look for the dropdown beside Send, but expect the wording and layout to differ from New Outlook for Windows.

Can I schedule a message that already has an attachment?

Yes. Add the attachment while composing, confirm that it is fully attached and is the correct file, then schedule the message. Outlook will send the message with the attachment if it remains included when the email is sent.

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

More in How-to basics

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

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.