Can You Schedule an Email in Outlook? How to Do It

Yes. Outlook can schedule an email to be sent later: in newer Outlook versions, open the menu beside Send and choose Schedule send; in classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery. The exact steps depend on which Outlook app and account you use, but you can usually choose a future date and time, then edit or cancel the message before it is sent.

What Scheduling an Email Does

Scheduling lets you compose a message now and arrange for Outlook to send it at a later time. It is useful when you are working outside a recipient’s normal hours, preparing a reminder in advance, or trying to avoid sending a message in the middle of the night. For example, you could write a project update on Sunday evening and schedule it for Monday morning.

A scheduled message is not the same as a recurring reminder or a follow-up flag. It is a single email with a planned send time. If you need the same message sent repeatedly, you generally need to create separate messages or use a supported automation tool. Scheduling also does not guarantee that a recipient will read the email at that time; it only controls when Outlook attempts to send it.

Outlook has more than one scheduling method because the application includes newer and classic desktop versions, Outlook on the web, and mobile apps. The newer versions have a dedicated Schedule send option. Classic Outlook for Windows uses a delivery-delay setting. Knowing which version you have helps you find the right control and understand where the message waits before sending.

Schedule Send in New Outlook or Outlook on the Web

In new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, the usual method is to compose the email and select a time from the menu beside the Send button. The wording or placement can vary slightly with app updates, but look for a small arrow or drop-down menu next to Send.

Select New mail or New message and enter the recipient, subject, and message.
Select the arrow or menu beside Send, rather than the main Send button.
Choose Schedule send. Pick one of the suggested times or choose a custom date and time if that option is available.
Review the scheduled time and confirm the choice. Outlook will keep the message for delivery at that time.

After scheduling, check the Drafts folder for the message. In supported versions, opening it before the delivery time lets you change the text or recipients, choose a different time, or cancel the schedule. If you cancel, the message returns to an editable state rather than being sent. Folder behavior and labels can differ between Outlook versions, so use the scheduled-message notice or message options shown in your app if the item is not where you expect.

Do not press the main Send button if you mean to schedule the email: that sends it immediately. If you accidentally send it, a short Undo or recall option may appear in some configurations, but neither is a reliable substitute for scheduling ahead of time.

Use Delay Delivery in Classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook for Windows uses a setting called Delay Delivery. It is available from the message window and lets you specify the earliest time the message should be delivered. The message is sent after you select Send, but Outlook holds it until the time you set.

Create a new email and address it as usual.
In the message window, open the Options tab.
Select Delay Delivery.
Under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before, then set the date and time.
Select Close to return to the message, then select Send.

The message normally appears in the Outbox while it is waiting. Open it from there if you need to make a change, and check that the delivery time remains correct before sending again. If the Delay Delivery command is missing, confirm that you are using classic Outlook for Windows and that you have opened a message-composition window; the newer Outlook app has a different Schedule send control.

There is an important account distinction. With a Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 work or school account, delivery can generally be handled by the mail server, so classic Outlook does not normally have to stay open until the scheduled time. With POP or IMAP accounts, Outlook may need to be open and connected for the message to leave the Outbox at the planned time. If you are unsure which account type you have, check your account settings or ask your organization’s support team before relying on an unattended send.

Outlook for Mac and Mobile Apps

Current Outlook for Mac versions include a scheduled-send option for supported accounts. Compose the message, open the menu beside Send, and look for Schedule Send or Schedule send. Choose the suggested time or set a custom one, then confirm. If the option is not visible, check that Outlook is up to date and consider using Outlook on the web, where the scheduling control may be available for the same mailbox. The interface differs from classic Outlook for Windows, so its Delay Delivery tab instructions do not apply directly to Mac.

Outlook for iOS and Android can also offer a schedule-send control. In the compose screen, look in the additional options menu near the Send control; the exact icon and menu wording depend on the app version. Select a suggested time or a custom time, then confirm the schedule. If you cannot find the option, update the app and check whether the account supports it. A mobile app’s menu can change, so avoid assuming that a control shown in a desktop walkthrough will appear in the same place on a phone.

For important messages, verify the result after scheduling. Open the relevant Drafts or scheduled-message area and check the recipient, message body, and time. This is especially helpful when moving between a phone and computer, because the two interfaces may display scheduled messages differently.

Changing or Canceling a Scheduled Message

Scheduling is most useful when it remains easy to correct a mistake. Before the scheduled time, open the message from Drafts or, in classic Outlook, the Outbox. Depending on the Outlook version, you may be able to edit it directly, cancel the schedule, or return it to a draft and then schedule it again. Make sure you save or confirm any changes; simply closing a message window may not apply the change in every version.

To cancel a message, use the control provided for the scheduled item, such as Cancel send or an equivalent option, if shown. In classic Outlook, you can open the Outbox item and remove or edit its delayed-delivery setting before it is sent. If the planned time has already passed and the message has left your mailbox, canceling the schedule is no longer possible. Message recall is a separate feature and has restrictions, particularly when the recipient uses a different mail service, so it should not be treated as a dependable way to retrieve an email.

When changing a scheduled message, review more than the date. Check the To, Cc, and Bcc fields, attachments, and any links. A message prepared days earlier can become outdated, and a correct time does not prevent an accidental recipient or missing attachment.

Time Zones, Delivery Timing, and Reliability

Outlook displays scheduled times according to the date and time settings available to the app and account. Before confirming, read the displayed date and time carefully, especially if you are traveling, scheduling across time zones, or using a work account configured by an administrator. For a message intended for someone in another region, convert the recipient’s local working time before choosing a slot; Outlook does not know whether a particular hour is convenient for that person.

Scheduling controls when Outlook releases a message, not the exact second it will appear in the recipient’s inbox. Mail servers process and route messages, and delivery can be delayed by connectivity, filtering, or the recipient’s service. A scheduled message may also be affected by account policies or service availability. For a deadline-sensitive email, schedule it with a sensible buffer and confirm it has actually been sent afterward.

Also distinguish a send time from a delivery guarantee. A message scheduled for 9:00 a.m. is intended to be sent then, but that does not promise inbox placement at precisely 9:00 or prevent spam filtering. If the email is critical, keep a copy of the content and use an appropriate follow-up method rather than relying solely on a scheduled send.

Common Problems and Practical Checks

No Schedule send option: Check whether you are in classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or the mobile app. Classic Outlook for Windows uses Delay Delivery instead. Updating the app or using Outlook on the web may expose the newer control.
The message did not send: In classic Outlook, check the Outbox and confirm the account type and connection requirements. In other versions, check Drafts or the scheduled-message area and look for a delivery error or changed status.
The time looks wrong: Review the date, selected time, and device or account time-zone settings. Reopen the scheduled item and confirm the intended local send time before relying on it.
You need to edit the email: Open the pending item before its send time. If direct editing is unavailable, cancel the schedule, make the changes in a draft, and schedule it again.
You selected Send by mistake: Look immediately for an Undo option if your Outlook configuration offers one. Undo windows are brief and do not replace the schedule feature.

For a sensitive or high-impact message, send a test to yourself first or schedule it well ahead of the required time. That gives you a chance to inspect formatting, confirm that attachments are included, and verify that the mailbox is behaving as expected.

When Scheduling Is Useful—and When It Is Not

Scheduling is a good fit for routine announcements, reminders, planned updates, and messages written outside normal business hours. It can help you respect a recipient’s workday without having to remember to return later and send the message manually. It is also useful when preparing communications that should go out at a known point, such as a meeting reminder sent the day before.

It is less suitable when a message depends on information that may change before the chosen time, or when a rapid response is essential. In those cases, use a draft or reminder and review the content at send time. Scheduling should not be used to bypass an organization’s retention, approval, or security procedures. Work and school accounts may have policies that affect mail handling, and organizational rules take precedence over convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for free?
Scheduling is a feature in several Outlook apps and services, including Outlook on the web and supported desktop and mobile versions. Whether you can use a particular app or account depends on the account and the version available to you; the scheduling option itself is not a separate paid add-on in the usual supported Outlook experience.

Can I schedule an email in Outlook without keeping my computer on?
It depends on the account and method. With many Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 accounts, the service can handle scheduled delivery. For classic Outlook using POP or IMAP, Outlook may need to remain open and connected. Check your account type if the message must send while your computer is off.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?
In newer Outlook experiences, a scheduled message is commonly kept in Drafts until its send time. In classic Outlook for Windows, a delayed message is generally held in the Outbox. The exact folder or label can vary by app, so check the confirmation shown after you schedule it.

Can I schedule a recurring email?
Outlook’s ordinary Schedule send and Delay Delivery controls schedule one message, not a repeating series. For recurring communications, you can prepare and schedule each message separately or investigate an approved automation option for your account and organization.

Can I change the scheduled time after setting it?
Usually, yes, as long as the message has not been sent. Open it from the appropriate folder, edit or cancel the existing schedule, and choose a new time. Confirm that the message is still pending afterward, since menus differ across Outlook versions.

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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