How to Schedule Send Email in Outlook: A Step-by-Step Guide

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, open the menu beside Send, choose Schedule send, then pick a date and time. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. The exact controls depend on which Outlook version you use, so follow the matching steps below.

Scheduling holds the message until the time you choose before sending it. It is useful for working across time zones, sending a reminder at the right moment, or writing a message outside someone’s working hours. A scheduled send controls when Outlook sends the message; it cannot guarantee when the recipient’s mail service will deliver it or when they will read it.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to Outlook on the web, new Outlook, classic Outlook for Windows, or a supported version of Outlook for Mac.
The recipient’s correct email address and a drafted message. You can schedule a message with or without attachments.
A date and time to send, taking account of the time zone shown by your device or Outlook.
For classic Outlook with a POP or IMAP account, Outlook must be open and connected to the internet when the scheduled send time arrives. Exchange and Microsoft 365 work or school accounts can generally send through the server while Outlook is closed.

Step-by-Step

Open the version of Outlook you plan to use. These instructions cover Outlook on the web, new Outlook for Windows, and the supported scheduling control in Outlook for Mac, as well as classic Outlook for Windows. New Outlook and Outlook on the web have nearly identical scheduling steps. Classic Outlook uses a delivery-delay setting instead, so do not expect to see the same Schedule send menu in every version. If you are unsure which Windows app you have, check whether there is a New Outlook switch in the upper-right area. The classic app commonly has a File tab.
Start a new message and fill in its contents. Select New mail or New message, add the recipient in the To field, and enter a clear subject. Write the body and attach any files now. Check the recipient carefully, particularly if Outlook suggests several contacts with similar names. Scheduling does not provide another review of the address when the send time arrives.
Open the send-time menu in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. Select the small arrow or dropdown beside the Send button, not the Send button itself. Choose Schedule send. Outlook may offer suggested times as well as an option to choose a custom time. Select the custom option if the suggestions do not match your plan, then set the date and time and confirm the choice. The message is scheduled only after you confirm the selected time; simply opening the menu does not schedule it.
Use the Schedule send control in Outlook for Mac if available. Compose the email, then open the dropdown arrow beside Send and choose Schedule Send. Choose a suggested time or set a custom date and time, then confirm. The exact wording and menu layout can vary with the Outlook for Mac release and account type. If the dropdown does not offer scheduling, update Outlook and check whether the feature is available for your account; you can use Outlook on the web as an alternative if it is.
Set a delayed delivery in classic Outlook for Windows. In the message window, open the Options tab and select Delay Delivery. Under Delivery options, tick Do not deliver before, then enter the date and time. Select Close to return to the message. The setting is attached to that message, so double-check the date and time before you select Send. The message will normally wait in the Outbox until its scheduled release.
Confirm the message is scheduled, then check its status. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, scheduled messages are generally listed in Drafts until they are sent. In classic Outlook, look in Outbox. If you do not see the message in the expected folder, check the other folder and verify that you completed the final confirmation. Do not send a second copy just because the first one is not in Sent Items yet; it may still be waiting for its scheduled time.
Change or cancel it before the send time if plans change. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the scheduled message in Drafts and use Cancel send if that option appears. The message returns to a draft so you can edit it, delete it, or schedule it again. In classic Outlook, open the item in Outbox before it is released, change its delivery setting or remove it, and save your changes. If the message has already left the Outbox or Drafts, it has been sent and cannot be recalled reliably for every recipient or mail system.

Time-zone check: Outlook may display times according to your device or account settings. Before confirming, compare the scheduled time with the local time you intend to use. If you are scheduling for a colleague in another region, state the relevant time zone in your own calendar or notes so you do not mistake their local time for yours.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of its dropdown. In the newer Outlook interfaces, the main button sends immediately. Open the adjacent arrow menu and select the scheduling command before confirming.
Assuming every Outlook version has the same feature. The newer apps use Schedule send, while classic Outlook for Windows uses Delay Delivery. If a set of steps does not match your screen, identify the app before changing settings.
Forgetting the time zone or choosing the wrong date. A message scheduled for early morning can be released on a different calendar day if you misread the displayed time or account zone. Review the date and time in the confirmation step.
Closing classic Outlook with a POP or IMAP account. Unlike server-based scheduling for many Exchange accounts, a classic Outlook message using POP or IMAP may need the app running and online at the release time. Leaving the computer asleep or disconnected can delay it.
Expecting a scheduled message to arrive at an exact minute. Outlook can release it at the chosen time, but network delays, server processing, and the recipient’s mail provider affect delivery afterward.
Editing the wrong copy or sending a duplicate. Check Drafts or Outbox for the original before making another message. A scheduled item may not appear in Sent Items until it has actually been sent.

Tips

Use a specific subject line. A useful subject makes the message easier to recognize when it is waiting in Drafts or Outbox and helps the recipient understand it later.
Schedule a little before a deadline. If a message must be received by a particular time, allow for mail-system delays rather than setting Outlook to send at the last possible minute.
Review attachments before scheduling. Confirm that each file is attached, opens correctly, and is the version you intend to share. Outlook will not remind you to check the contents when the email is released.
Use a reminder for messages that need another review. If the wording or facts may change, keep the message as an ordinary draft and set a calendar reminder to review it. Scheduling is best for messages that are ready to go.
Check the scheduled folder after changing accounts or devices. A message scheduled in one Outlook experience may be easiest to find in that account’s Drafts or Outbox. Confirm the account name as well as the folder if you use several mailboxes.
Be cautious with sensitive information. Scheduling does not add extra security or retract a message once it is delivered. Verify recipients, attachments, and permissions before the scheduled time.

Troubleshooting

There is no Schedule send option. Check whether you are in classic Outlook for Windows; use Options > Delay Delivery there. In new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Mac, make sure you opened the arrow beside Send rather than clicking Send. If the command is still missing, update the app, check that you are signed in to the intended account, or try Outlook on the web. Feature availability can vary by account and app release.

The message sent immediately. If it is in Sent Items, it was likely sent using the main Send button or the delay was not applied before sending. Check that the message was not simply a different copy. For a future message, reopen the compose window, set the schedule or delivery delay, and verify the confirmation before finishing. A message already sent cannot be made unsent in a dependable way.

The message did not send at the expected time. In classic Outlook, check Outbox and confirm Outlook is connected. For POP or IMAP, keep Outlook open and online; if it was offline or the computer was asleep, reconnect and see whether the message is still queued. Also check that the date and time were set correctly. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, look in Drafts for a scheduled message and check the account’s connection and status.

You cannot find or edit the scheduled message. Check both Drafts and Outbox, and make sure you are viewing the same mailbox used to compose it. Search for a distinctive word from the subject if needed. If the message is not present in either location, check Sent Items to see whether it was already released. Do not create a replacement until you have ruled out that it has already been sent.

The send time looks wrong. Review the device’s time zone and Outlook’s regional settings, then compare the scheduled time with the intended local time. If needed, cancel the schedule, correct the time, and schedule it again. For a classic Outlook message, open its delivery options and verify the Do not deliver before value before saving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook on the web?
Yes. Compose the message, open the dropdown beside Send, select Schedule send, choose a time, and confirm. Check Drafts afterward to see the scheduled item.

Can I schedule an email in classic Outlook for Windows?
Yes. In the message window, choose Options > Delay Delivery, select Do not deliver before, enter the date and time, close the dialog, then send the message. It waits in Outbox until release.

Can I edit a scheduled Outlook email?
Usually, yes, as long as it has not been sent. Open the scheduled item from Drafts or Outbox, cancel or adjust its schedule, edit the content, and confirm the revised send time. The available controls depend on the Outlook version.

Can I cancel a scheduled email after it has been sent?
Not reliably. You can cancel or delete a message while it is still waiting in Drafts or Outbox, but once it has been delivered to the recipient’s mail system, recall options are limited and may not work for external recipients.

Does Outlook need to stay open for a scheduled email?
For new Outlook and web scheduling, the service handles the scheduled send. In classic Outlook, Exchange or Microsoft 365 accounts can generally send through the server with Outlook closed, while POP or IMAP accounts may require Outlook to remain open and connected.

Will the recipient know the email was scheduled?
Outlook does not normally add a special scheduled-send notice to the message. The recipient sees it as a regular email, though the time they receive it can differ slightly from the scheduled release time because of mail-system processing.

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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