How to Schedule an Email in Microsoft Outlook for Later

To schedule an email in Microsoft Outlook, write your message, choose a future delivery time, and confirm the schedule. In new Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac, use the arrow beside Send and choose Schedule send. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery. The exact steps depend on which Outlook version you use, so check the instructions below before sending.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to the mailbox you want to send from. Your organization’s settings or account type may affect which scheduling options are available.
The recipient’s email address, plus the subject and message you intend to send.
A delivery date and time in the future. Check which time zone Outlook is using, especially if you or the recipient are in another region.
For classic Outlook for Windows, a working internet connection and Outlook open and connected when the scheduled message is due to send.

Step-by-Step

Identify your Outlook version. New Outlook for Windows has a simplified interface, while classic Outlook has the traditional ribbon tabs such as File, Home, and Options. Outlook on the web runs in a browser, and Outlook for Mac has its own interface. If you are unsure, look for a New Outlook switch in the Windows app or open Outlook through your organization’s Microsoft 365 website. Follow the matching instructions below.
Start a new message. Select New mail in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. In classic Outlook for Windows, select New Email on the Home tab. On a Mac, choose New Email. Enter the recipient, subject, and message, and add any attachments. Scheduling does not replace reviewing the message: check the recipient and attachment before you queue it.
In new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac, open the scheduling menu. Select the small arrow or dropdown beside the Send button, then choose Schedule send or Schedule Send. Do not click the main Send button, because that sends the message immediately. If the schedule option is missing, see Troubleshooting below.
Choose a suggested time or enter a custom one. Outlook may show options such as later today or tomorrow. To choose a different date and time, select the option to choose a custom time, use the date and time controls, and confirm. Make sure the selected time is later than the current time. The labels and suggested times can vary by Outlook version and account.
In classic Outlook for Windows, set a delivery time instead. With the message open, select the Options tab on the ribbon, then select Delay Delivery. In the Properties window, under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before and enter the date and time. Select Close to return to the message, then select Send. The message is placed in the Outbox until Outlook can send it at the specified time.
Confirm that the message is scheduled. In new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac, look for a confirmation message and check the relevant scheduled-message or Drafts area if you want to verify it. The folder or label can differ by version. In classic Outlook for Windows, check the Outbox; a delayed message normally stays there until it is sent. If the message appears in Sent Items right away, check that you did not select Send rather than Schedule send.
Change or cancel the message if your plans change. In new Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac, find the scheduled message and open it. If Outlook offers Cancel send, select it to return the message to an editable state; make your changes and schedule it again, or delete it if you no longer need it. In classic Outlook for Windows, open the message in the Outbox, make changes, and save or close it before the delivery time. You can also delete it from the Outbox to prevent sending. Do not assume a scheduled message can be recalled after it has been delivered.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of the dropdown. In versions with Schedule send, the main Send button sends immediately. Use the small arrow beside it, then select the scheduling command and verify the confirmation. If you already sent it, scheduling cannot undo delivery; you may be able to use Outlook’s recall option in limited situations, but recall is not guaranteed and depends on the recipient’s account and settings.

Choosing the wrong date, time, or time zone. A schedule set for 8:00 a.m. may be interpreted using the time zone configured for your account or device. Check the displayed date carefully, including the year, and consider daylight-saving changes when scheduling far ahead. If you are coordinating across regions, state the relevant time zone in the message when it could prevent confusion.

Assuming a scheduled message is already in Sent Items. A queued message is not the same as a delivered message. Depending on the Outlook version, it may appear in a Scheduled area, Drafts, or the Outbox. Check that location to edit or cancel it, rather than creating a duplicate message because it is not yet in Sent Items.

Closing classic Outlook before delivery. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery relies on the desktop application being open and connected when the send time arrives. If the computer is shut down, Outlook is offline, or the connection drops, the message may remain in the Outbox and send when Outlook reconnects. Do not rely on classic Outlook for a time-critical message if you cannot keep it running.

Forgetting a file or using the wrong account. A scheduled message can still go out with a missing attachment or from the wrong mailbox. Before scheduling, confirm the From address, check each recipient, and make sure the attachments are present and finished uploading.

Tips

Schedule important messages a few minutes after the time you are composing them, not for the next minute. This gives you time to catch a mistake and reduces the chance of missing the selected time while finishing the message.
Use a specific subject and include enough context in the body that the recipient can understand the email without needing a follow-up. Scheduling only controls when it is sent; it does not improve or check the message content.
For messages that need to send while your computer is off, prefer the Schedule send feature in new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac when available. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery has a different dependency because the desktop app must be connected at send time.
After scheduling, keep the message in its scheduled location until you are sure it has been sent. If you edit it, confirm the new schedule rather than assuming the previous delivery time still applies.
For a recurring reminder or a message that should go out on several dates, do not assume Schedule send repeats it. It schedules one message. Create separate messages or use an appropriate approved workflow for recurring communications.

Troubleshooting

Schedule send is not visible. First check that you selected the dropdown beside Send, rather than the Send button itself. If it is still missing, your Outlook version, account type, or organization’s policies may not support the feature. Update Outlook if updates are available, try Outlook on the web with the same account, or ask your Microsoft 365 administrator whether the feature is enabled. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead.

The message did not send at the chosen time. In classic Outlook, open Outlook and check that it is online and connected; then inspect the Outbox for the delayed message. A connection problem or a closed application can keep it queued. In other Outlook versions, check the scheduled-message area and confirm the selected date and time. If the message is still scheduled, open it and choose a new time or send it immediately if that is what you intend.

The message seems to have disappeared. Search the mailbox for a distinctive part of the subject, then check Drafts, Scheduled, Outbox, and Sent Items. Folder names and behavior can differ across versions and account types. If it is in Sent Items, it may already have been sent; check the sent time before composing another copy.

You cannot edit or cancel it. The message may be too close to its send time or may already have gone out. Open the item from the folder where Outlook stored it and look for the cancel or edit command. In classic Outlook, try opening it from the Outbox before it sends. If it is already delivered, contact the recipient promptly with a correction rather than relying on recall.

The message went out at an unexpected hour. Review the time zone settings on your computer and Microsoft 365 account, and check the scheduled time shown on the message. If you work across time zones, reschedule using the intended local time and verify the date before confirming. For a critical message, use a test email to confirm how your account presents scheduled times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for free?

Scheduling is available in many Outlook versions and account setups, including Outlook on the web and Microsoft 365 Outlook. Availability can depend on the app, account type, and organization settings. If you cannot find Schedule send, try the web version or check with your administrator.

Can I close Outlook after scheduling an email?

Usually, yes, for a message scheduled through Schedule send in new Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac, because the service handles the scheduled delivery. For classic Outlook for Windows using Delay Delivery, keep Outlook open and connected at the scheduled time; otherwise the message may wait in the Outbox.

Where does Outlook keep scheduled emails?

The location varies. New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac may show scheduled messages in a Scheduled area or Drafts, depending on the version and account. Classic Outlook for Windows keeps a delayed message in the Outbox until it is sent. Search by subject if you cannot find it.

Can I edit a scheduled email?

Yes, as long as it has not been sent. Find and open the scheduled message, cancel its current schedule if Outlook requires that, make your edits, and schedule it again. In classic Outlook, edit the message in the Outbox before its delivery time and confirm the delivery setting is still correct.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?

Some Outlook mobile versions and accounts offer a schedule option in the compose screen’s Send menu, but the interface and availability can change. Look for a dropdown or menu beside Send. If you do not see it, schedule the message using Outlook on the web or a supported desktop version instead.

Will a scheduled email send if my computer is off?

A message scheduled with the server-based Schedule send feature generally does not require your computer to stay on. A message set with Delay Delivery in classic Outlook for Windows does require Outlook to be running and connected when it is due. If that is not possible, use a supported Schedule send option instead.

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.