Schedule an Email in Outlook to Send Later: What to Know

Yes. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, compose your message, open the menu beside Send, choose Schedule send, and select a suggested time or a custom one. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. The exact steps and whether Outlook must stay open depend on which version and account you use.

Schedule an email in new Outlook or Outlook on the web

New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web have a built-in Schedule send option. It lets you choose when a message should be sent without leaving Outlook open on your computer. The feature may be unavailable for some account types or controlled by an organization’s settings.

Select New mail and write your message. Add the recipients and subject, and attach any files you need.
Open the small menu arrow beside Send. In some layouts, the arrow is part of the Send button.
Choose Schedule send.
Select one of the suggested times or choose the option to set a custom time and date.
Confirm the time shown and schedule the message.

Do not assume that clicking the main Send button schedules the email: it sends it immediately. Check the confirmation message or scheduled-message folder after scheduling. Outlook’s folders and labels can vary by version and account, so look in Drafts or a Scheduled folder if you need to find the message before it goes out.

Use Delay Delivery in classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook for Windows uses a different feature, called Delay Delivery. It is a per-message setting: you compose an email, specify the earliest delivery date and time, and then send it into the delivery process. The message may remain in the Outbox while it is waiting.

Start a new email and complete the recipients, subject, and message.
On the message window’s ribbon, select Options > More Options > Delay Delivery. Depending on the ribbon layout, the More Options group may be compact or collapsed.
Under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before, then enter a date and time.
Close the properties window, then select Send.

For classic Outlook, keep the application open and connected to the account until the scheduled time unless you have confirmed that your particular account and setup handle delivery on the server. Behavior can depend on the account type and configuration. If Outlook is closed, offline, or unable to connect, a message waiting in the Outbox may not leave when expected. This is an important difference from cloud-based Schedule send in new Outlook and Outlook on the web.

Scheduling from Outlook for Mac

In supported versions of Outlook for Mac, compose the email and open the menu beside Send, then choose Schedule send and select a time. The message is held until the chosen time, so you do not need to keep the Mac awake simply to make a cloud-scheduled message send. The exact option can vary with the Outlook version and the account you have added.

If you do not see Schedule send, check that Outlook is up to date and that you are using a supported account and interface. A work or school administrator may restrict features. Outlook on the web is a useful alternative if the option is available for your account there. For older Outlook for Mac versions, do not assume that the Windows Delay Delivery instructions or ribbon labels apply; the Mac interface and feature availability differ.

What scheduled sending does

Scheduling holds a message for later delivery; it does not create a reminder to finish writing it, and it does not guarantee that the recipient will read it at that time. A scheduled email can still arrive late because of a connection problem, service interruption, account restriction, or recipient mail system. It also cannot retract a message after it has been delivered.

Cloud scheduling and classic Delay Delivery differ in where the waiting message is handled. With Schedule send in new Outlook or Outlook on the web, the service can send the message at the selected time even when your computer is off. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery may depend on Outlook being open and connected, particularly with non-Exchange accounts. If timing is important, identify your Outlook version before relying on a scheduled message.

The time you choose is meant to reflect the date and time displayed in your Outlook environment. Before confirming, check the date, clock time, and time zone shown on screen—especially when scheduling across time zones or near a daylight-saving change. Do not assume that a time selected on one device will be interpreted as a recipient’s local time.

Edit or cancel a scheduled email

To change a message before it is sent, locate it in the folder used by your version of Outlook—often Drafts or a Scheduled folder in newer Outlook, or Outbox in classic Outlook. Open the message and look for the available option to cancel or edit the scheduled send. You may need to cancel the schedule first, make the change, and schedule it again. Folder names and controls can differ, so verify the message’s status before editing.

In classic Outlook, a message waiting in the Outbox can generally be opened to change its delivery setting or removed before it is sent. If you delete or move a message, confirm that it no longer appears queued for delivery. If a message has already left the Outbox or been delivered, changing or deleting your copy does not remove it from the recipient’s mailbox.

It is wise to check the recipient list and attachments before setting a delay. A message scheduled for later can be easy to forget, particularly if you schedule it several days ahead. If the content may become inaccurate—for example, a meeting time or price—review it again before sending, or choose a schedule closer to the event.

Choose the right method for the situation

For most people using new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or a supported Mac version, Schedule send is the simplest choice: it is easy to find and does not require leaving a desktop app running. Classic Outlook users can use Delay Delivery when they want a built-in option and understand the Outbox and connection requirements.

Use a custom scheduled time for a follow-up, a message intended for normal business hours, or an announcement that should go out at a particular moment.
Use a calendar reminder instead if you are not ready to write the email or expect important details to change. A reminder prompts you to review and send rather than automatically sending an old draft.
Send immediately when the recipient needs the information now. Scheduling is not a substitute for urgent communication.
Check your account and device if you use multiple Outlook versions. A scheduled message created in one interface may not appear in the same place or offer the same controls in another.

A common misconception is that scheduling sends an email from your computer at the chosen instant. With cloud Schedule send, Outlook’s service handles delivery; with classic Delay Delivery, the desktop app and account setup can matter. The distinction affects whether a closed laptop or lost internet connection can delay the email.

Common problems and how to avoid them

Schedule send is missing: Confirm whether you are in classic or new Outlook, update the app if possible, and check whether the account supports the feature. Try Outlook on the web if appropriate, or use Delay Delivery in classic Windows Outlook.
The email sent immediately: You may have selected the main Send button rather than its menu. Check the sent message and use the schedule option before sending next time.
The message did not send on time: In classic Outlook, check the Outbox and confirm Outlook was open and connected. In any version, verify the scheduled time, account status, and any organization restrictions.
The scheduled time looks wrong: Review the date, time, and time zone in the scheduling confirmation. Correct the schedule before the message is released.
You cannot find the message: Search Drafts, Scheduled, and Outbox as applicable. The location depends on the Outlook version and account; a message already sent will be in Sent Items.

For an important announcement, schedule a few minutes early only if there is a reason to do so, and check that the message appears in the expected folder. For a time-sensitive or confidential message, also verify recipients, attachments, and any external-recipient warnings. Scheduling is a convenience, not a replacement for reviewing the message or confirming that the account is functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an Outlook email if my computer is off?
With Schedule send in supported cloud-based Outlook versions, generally yes: the service handles the scheduled delivery. With classic Outlook for Windows Delay Delivery, keep Outlook open and connected unless you know your account configuration supports delivery while it is closed.

Where do I find a scheduled email in Outlook?
Look in Drafts or a Scheduled folder in new Outlook or Outlook on the web, and in Outbox for classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery. The exact folder can vary by version and account.

Can I change the time after scheduling?
Usually, you can reopen the message before it is sent, cancel or adjust its scheduled status, and schedule it again. Find it in the relevant folder and confirm the message has not already been delivered.

Does Outlook schedule send work with Gmail or other accounts?
Availability depends on the Outlook version and how the account is connected. If Schedule send is not offered for that account, use the account’s own webmail scheduling feature if available, or another supported method rather than assuming Outlook will send it later.

Can I schedule a recurring email?
Schedule send is for a particular message, not a recurring mailing. For repeated messages, use a reminder or an approved workflow designed for recurring communication, and review each message before it is sent.

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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