Schedule an Email in Outlook: Step-by-Step

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 message is held until the time you set, so it can arrive during business hours or at a more useful moment without you having to remember to send it manually.

Menu names and available options vary between Outlook versions. The steps below cover new Outlook, Outlook on the web, Outlook for Mac and mobile, as well as classic Outlook for Windows. Before scheduling, check the recipient, message and time zone carefully; the feature does not guarantee a particular delivery minute once the email leaves Outlook.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to the version you use: new Outlook, Outlook on the web, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, or the Outlook mobile app.
The recipient’s correct email address and a completed message, including any attachments.
A date and time to send, taking your account or computer’s time zone into account.
An internet connection when composing and scheduling. For classic Outlook for Windows, keep the desktop app open and connected until the message sends.

Step-by-Step

Open a new message. In Outlook, select New mail or New Email. Enter the recipient in the To field. Add any Cc or Bcc recipients now, rather than relying on a last-minute change. If you are replying or forwarding, make sure the existing conversation and recipients are appropriate for a delayed send.
Write and review the email. Add a clear subject, compose the body, and attach any files using the paperclip or Attach control. Open or verify the attachment if there is any chance you selected the wrong version. Scheduling does not replace the usual review: check names, links, dates, spelling and sensitive information before proceeding.
In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the send menu. Select the small arrow or dropdown beside Send, then choose Schedule send. Depending on the Outlook build, you may see suggested times first and a choice such as Custom time for entering your own. If the menu is not visible, check that the message window is wide enough and that you are using a supported account and current Outlook version.
Choose the date and time. Pick a suggested option or enter the date and time you want. Check whether the date picker is showing the intended day, especially when scheduling close to midnight or across a weekend. Confirm the time zone shown by Outlook or your device. Select Send, Schedule, or the confirmation button displayed to finish. The message should move into a scheduled folder or otherwise show that it is waiting to send.
In classic Outlook for Windows, set a delivery delay. With the message open, select the Options tab on the ribbon, then select Delay Delivery. In the message properties window, under Delivery options, check Do not deliver before. Enter the intended date and time, then select Close. Return to the message and select Send. Outlook places it in the Outbox until the specified time. This is different from the scheduled-message folder used by newer Outlook versions.
In Outlook for Mac, use Schedule Send if available. Compose and review the message, then open the dropdown beside Send and choose Schedule Send or the similarly named send-later option. Select a suggested time or set a custom one, then confirm. The exact menu can vary between new and legacy Outlook for Mac; if you do not see this feature, update Outlook or use Outlook on the web. Do not use the classic Windows Delay Delivery instructions on a Mac.
In the Outlook mobile app, look in the compose menu. Write the message and tap the three-dot menu in the compose window. If Schedule send or Send later appears, tap it, choose a time and confirm. Mobile app features can differ by account and app version. If the option is missing, schedule the message in Outlook on the web or a desktop version instead.
Verify that it is waiting, then make any changes before the deadline. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, look for a Scheduled folder or scheduled-message status. In classic Outlook for Windows, check the Outbox. If you need to change the text or timing, open the pending message and use the available edit, cancel or reschedule controls. In classic Outlook, reopen the Outbox item and adjust its delivery option. Avoid assuming a message is scheduled just because you clicked the dropdown; check its status.

Once the scheduled time arrives, Outlook submits the email for delivery. The recipient’s email provider may take additional time to process it, so scheduling is a send-time tool, not a guarantee that it will appear in the recipient’s inbox at that exact second.

Common Mistakes

Choosing the wrong time zone: Outlook may use the account, device or computer’s regional settings. A time that looks right on one device can be misleading if you travel or work with people in another region. Confirm the displayed zone and the recipient’s local time when it matters.
Clicking Send instead of scheduling: In newer Outlook, the schedule control is usually in the small menu beside the main button. Clicking the main Send button sends the message immediately.
Closing classic Outlook before it sends: Classic Outlook for Windows may keep a delayed message in the Outbox until Outlook is running and connected. It is not the same as a server-side scheduled send.
Editing after the message is already sent: A sent message generally cannot be recalled reliably. Make changes while it is still in Scheduled or Outbox, and confirm it remains pending afterward.
Forgetting that a scheduled email can still be wrong: A time delay does not correct an outdated attachment, an incorrect recipient or an unfinished draft. Review all fields before scheduling.
Assuming every mailbox has identical features: Work or school administrators, account type, Outlook version and platform can affect whether schedule send is available and where the pending message appears.

Tips

Use a short buffer. If you want an email to arrive early in the workday, schedule it a little after the start rather than at the exact opening minute. That also gives you time to catch a mistake before it sends.
Schedule in the recipient’s working hours. For a colleague in another time zone, calculate their local time and verify the conversion before confirming. Avoid assuming Outlook has automatically selected the recipient’s zone.
Keep the subject and message useful out of context. The recipient may see a notification before reading the full email. A specific subject and a clear first sentence make a scheduled message easier to understand.
Use the right version for reliability. If you want to close your laptop after scheduling, prefer Outlook on the web or a newer Outlook version that shows the message as scheduled. For classic Outlook’s delayed delivery, leave the app open and online until the send time.
Check the pending folder after scheduling. This simple confirmation catches accidental immediate sends, failed scheduling actions and messages that landed in a different folder than expected.

Troubleshooting

The schedule option is missing. Confirm that you are composing a new message and inspect the dropdown beside Send, not just the main button. Update Outlook and restart it if appropriate. If you use a work or school account, an administrator or account limitation may affect availability. Try Outlook on the web; if the feature is still unavailable, use the classic Windows delay option if you have that version.
The message did not send at the selected time. First check whether it is still in Scheduled or the Outbox. Review the time zone, date and internet connection. In classic Outlook for Windows, open the desktop app and make sure it is online; a delayed message can wait in the Outbox if Outlook was closed or disconnected. For a newer Outlook scheduled message, check for an account sign-in issue or an error banner and reconnect before trying again.
The email sent immediately. Check Sent Items to confirm what happened. In the future, choose the menu item explicitly and look for the scheduled status before leaving the message. If it was already delivered, you may be able to send a correction, but recall is not dependable across email systems and recipients.
You need to cancel or change a scheduled email. Open the Scheduled folder or the pending item in the Outbox, then select the available edit or cancel control. In classic Outlook, open the item and clear or change Do not deliver before before sending it again. If the message has already left Outlook, it is no longer a pending scheduled message.
The selected time looks shifted. Check your Windows, Mac or phone time zone and Outlook’s displayed time. If you have traveled or changed regional settings, compare the scheduled time with the local clock on the device you used. Correct the time while the message is still pending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook without keeping my computer on?
Usually, a scheduled message in Outlook on the web or a newer Outlook version is handled by the mail service, so you generally do not need to keep the browser or computer open. Classic Outlook for Windows is different: keep it open and connected until the delayed message sends.

Where do I find an email I scheduled?
New Outlook and Outlook on the web commonly show pending messages in a Scheduled folder. Classic Outlook for Windows holds a delayed message in the Outbox. The folder can vary by account and version, so check the message status if you do not see it immediately.

Can I edit or cancel a scheduled email?
Yes, as long as Outlook has not sent it. Open the message in Scheduled or Outbox, use the edit or cancel option, and confirm the new status. If you change the wording or time, verify that the updated message is still scheduled.

Can Outlook schedule a recurring email?
Schedule send is intended for a single message at a chosen time, not a repeating series. For recurring reminders or routine updates, use an appropriate calendar reminder or an approved organizational workflow rather than assuming one scheduled email will repeat.

Will the email arrive exactly at the time I choose?
The time you choose is when Outlook is set to submit the message. Internet, mail-server processing and the recipient’s provider can affect when it appears in the inbox, so allow a margin for time-sensitive messages.

Can I schedule from Outlook on an iPhone or Android phone?
The Outlook mobile app may offer Schedule send or Send later in the three-dot compose menu, depending on your account and app version. If you do not see it, use Outlook on the web or a supported desktop version.

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

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