Schedule an Email in Outlook 365: Step-by-Step Guide

To schedule an email in Outlook 365, compose your message, open the arrow next to Send, choose Schedule send, and select a delivery time. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. The exact steps depend on whether you use Outlook on the web, the new Outlook app, classic Outlook for Windows, or Outlook for Mac.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to Outlook on the web or an installed Outlook app. Some scheduling options and labels vary by app version and account type.
A recipient address, subject, and message ready to send. You can schedule a message with attachments, but allow time for large files to upload.
The date, time, and time zone you want the email to use. Outlook generally displays scheduled times using your device or account’s current time-zone settings.
An internet connection while composing and scheduling. For new Outlook and Outlook on the web, the scheduled message is generally handled by the service after you schedule it. Classic Outlook for Windows may need to be open and connected at the scheduled time.

Step-by-Step

Choose the Outlook version you are using. Outlook on the web runs in a browser, and the new Outlook for Windows has a modern interface similar to the web version. Classic Outlook for Windows has the traditional ribbon and includes a separate Delay Delivery setting. On a Mac, use Outlook for Mac; its Schedule Send feature is available in supported, up-to-date versions. If your screen does not match the steps below, check whether you have classic or new Outlook before proceeding.
Start a new message. Select New mail in Outlook on the web or new Outlook. In classic Outlook for Windows, select New Email from the Home tab. In Outlook for Mac, select New Email or New Message, depending on the current layout. Enter the recipient in the To field, add a useful subject, and write the message. If needed, add Cc or Bcc recipients and attach files before scheduling.
Review the message before setting the time. Check spelling, recipient names, the subject, links, and attachments. Confirm that you have selected the intended address if Outlook suggests several similar contacts. Scheduling does not validate the message’s meaning or guarantee that an attachment is the right version. A quick review now can prevent an email from being delivered at an inconvenient time with an avoidable mistake.
Open the scheduling control in Outlook on the web or new Outlook for Windows. Find the small downward arrow beside the Send button; do not click the main Send button. Select Schedule send from the menu. Outlook may offer suggested delivery times as well as an option to choose a custom time. Choose the custom option if you need a specific date and time rather than one of the suggestions.
Choose a date and time, then confirm. In the scheduling window, select the calendar date and enter or choose the delivery time. Check the displayed time zone and make sure the date is not accidentally set to today or the wrong day. Select the button to schedule the message, which may be labelled Send or Schedule send depending on the version. Wait for Outlook’s confirmation before closing the window.
Use Schedule Send in Outlook for Mac. In a supported Outlook for Mac version, compose the message and open the dropdown arrow beside Send. Choose Schedule Send, set the intended date and time, and confirm. If you do not see the option, install available Office updates or use Outlook on the web as an alternative. Avoid assuming that the classic Windows Delay Delivery instructions apply to Mac; the Mac interface and available controls differ by version.
Set a delivery time in classic Outlook for Windows. With the message open, select the Options tab on the ribbon. In the More Options group, choose Delay Delivery. Under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before, then enter the required date and time. Select Close to return to the message and click Send. The message will normally wait in the Outbox until its release time. Keep Outlook running and connected to the network around that time; if it is closed or offline, delivery may be delayed until it reconnects.
Verify that Outlook saved the scheduled message. In Outlook on the web or new Outlook, look in Drafts or the scheduled-message area shown by your version. The message may remain a draft until delivery. In classic Outlook for Windows, check the Outbox. Open the message only if you intend to review or change it, and confirm the scheduled date and time rather than relying on memory. If you cannot find it, check the folder for the account from which you composed it.
Change or cancel it if plans change. In web or new Outlook, open the scheduled message from its folder or Drafts and use the available cancel-schedule or edit controls. You can then revise it and schedule it again, or send it immediately. In classic Outlook, open the message in the Outbox, change or remove the Do not deliver before setting through Options > Delay Delivery, and send it again as appropriate. Make changes before the release time; after the message has been sent, scheduling controls cannot recall it from the recipient’s inbox.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of its arrow. In web and new Outlook, clicking the main button usually sends the message immediately. Use the small dropdown arrow and choose Schedule send before confirming.
Using the wrong instructions for the app. Classic Outlook for Windows uses Delay Delivery and the Outbox. New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and supported Mac versions use a schedule-send menu. If you cannot find a named control, check which app is open rather than repeatedly searching the wrong ribbon.
Picking the wrong date, time, or time zone. A selected time can look correct while the date is wrong, especially around midnight or when scheduling days ahead. Review the complete date and time in the confirmation screen and account for any time-zone difference with the recipient.
Assuming a classic Outlook message sends while the computer is off. A message held in the classic Windows Outbox may not leave on time if Outlook is closed or disconnected. Keep the app open and connected, or use web/new Outlook scheduling if you need the service to handle delivery while your computer is off.
Forgetting that scheduled mail can still be edited. A message waiting to send is not necessarily final. Someone with access to the sending account may be able to edit or cancel it, so avoid leaving sensitive content in a shared mailbox without considering who can access it.

Tips

Schedule with a buffer. If the message contains a large attachment or you are using classic Outlook, choose a time that leaves room to check the Outbox and connection. Do not schedule a time at the last possible minute for a deadline-critical message.
Use a clear subject line. A concise subject helps you identify the message in Drafts, the scheduled area, or Outbox when you need to revise or cancel it.
Consider the recipient’s working hours. A message sent during the recipient’s daytime may be easier to notice, but take their location and local time into account. If you regularly correspond across regions, verify the time difference before scheduling.
Check attachments before scheduling. Confirm that each file is attached and that the filename makes sense. For a shared cloud link, check its permissions so the recipient can open it when the message arrives.
Use web Outlook as a practical fallback. If a desktop app lacks the scheduling command or behaves differently after an update, sign in to Outlook on the web and schedule from there. This can also help when you do not want to rely on classic Outlook staying open.

Troubleshooting

You cannot find Schedule send. In web or new Outlook, look for the arrow immediately beside the Send button. In classic Outlook for Windows, open the message and check the Options tab for Delay Delivery. On Mac, update Outlook if the scheduling command is absent, or use Outlook on the web. Work or school account policies and app versions can affect which features appear.
The message did not arrive at the selected time. First check Sent Items and the recipient address, then check Drafts or the scheduled-message area to see whether it is still waiting. For classic Outlook, inspect the Outbox and confirm the computer was online with Outlook open. If the message is still queued, reconnect and allow Outlook to synchronize. Also check whether the scheduled time was interpreted in a different time zone.
The scheduled message is not in the folder you expected. Look in the folders for the specific account used in the From field, not just the default mailbox. New Outlook and web layouts can show scheduled messages in Drafts or a dedicated scheduled area, while classic Outlook uses Outbox. Search by subject if necessary.
You need to change the message but cannot edit it. A message may need to be cancelled or reopened before editing. Open it from its current folder and look for an option to cancel the schedule; then revise and schedule it again. In classic Outlook, open the Outbox item and adjust Delay Delivery. If it has already moved to Sent Items, it has been sent, and editing the original will not change the delivered copy.
The app shows an error or does not save the schedule. Check your connection, wait for Outlook to finish syncing, and try again. Confirm that the date and time are valid and in the future. If a work account still rejects the action, contact your Microsoft 365 administrator because organizational settings or service issues may restrict scheduling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook 365 when my computer is off?
Usually, yes, when you schedule through Outlook on the web or the new Outlook service, because the message is handled online after scheduling. For classic Outlook for Windows using Delay Delivery, keep Outlook open and connected at the scheduled time to avoid a delay.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?
It depends on the Outlook version and account. Check Drafts or the scheduled-message area in web and new Outlook, and check Outbox in classic Outlook for Windows. Make sure you are looking under the mailbox that sent the message.

Can I cancel or edit an email after scheduling it?
Yes, as long as it has not been sent. Open the waiting message, cancel its schedule or change its delivery setting, edit it, and schedule it again or send it now. Once delivered, you cannot edit the recipient’s copy by changing the original.

Will Outlook send the message if I close the browser?
For a message successfully scheduled in Outlook on the web, closing the browser generally does not stop the scheduled delivery. This differs from classic Outlook’s client-side Delay Delivery behavior, where being offline or having Outlook closed can hold the message in the Outbox.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?
Scheduling options depend on the Outlook mobile app version and account. Look for a send-later or schedule-send option in the compose screen’s menu. If it is not available, schedule the message in Outlook on the web or a supported desktop version instead.

Does scheduled delivery guarantee the email will reach the inbox at that exact moment?
No. Outlook can release the message at the selected time, but network delays, mail-server processing, recipient filters, or an incorrect address can affect when it arrives or whether it reaches the inbox. For urgent communication, allow extra time and verify delivery through an appropriate channel.

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