Schedule an Email in Outlook for Windows: Send Later

To schedule an email in Outlook for Windows, write your message, choose a future delivery time, and confirm the send. In the new Outlook, use the arrow beside Send and select Schedule send; in classic Outlook, use Options > Delay Delivery. The exact steps depend on which Outlook app you have, so check the interface before you begin.

Scheduling is useful for sending a reminder during business hours, working across time zones, or preparing a message now without delivering it immediately. Before scheduling, confirm the recipient, message, attachment, and time zone. Outlook labels and available options can differ by account type and software updates.

What You’ll Need

Outlook for Windows, either the new Outlook app or classic Outlook. The instructions below cover both.
An email account connected to Outlook and permission to send messages from it.
The recipient’s correct email address, your message, and any files you plan to attach.
A delivery date and time. Check whether the time shown in Outlook matches the time zone you intend to use.

Step-by-Step

Identify your Outlook version. New Outlook has a simplified interface and usually a settings gear; classic Outlook has the traditional ribbon and a File tab. If your app has a New Outlook switch, its position and availability depend on your installation. You can use the instructions for the interface currently open.
Start a message. Select New mail in new Outlook or New Email in classic Outlook. Enter the recipient in the To field. Add people to Cc or Bcc only if needed; check autocomplete suggestions carefully so Outlook does not select a similarly named contact.
Write and review the email. Add a clear subject and compose the body. Attach files using the paperclip or the relevant attachment command, then verify that the attachment appears in the message. Scheduling does not replace proofreading: check names, dates, links, recipients, and any sensitive information before setting the delivery time.
Choose the method for your Outlook version. In new Outlook, select the small arrow beside Send, then select Schedule send. In classic Outlook, open the message’s Options tab, find More Options, and select Delay Delivery. If you do not see the command, make sure the message window is open and not just the reading pane.
Set a delivery time in new Outlook. Choose one of the suggested times if it suits your needs, or select the option to choose a custom time. Set the date and time in the scheduling window, then confirm by selecting Send or Schedule send, as displayed. Read the confirmation before closing the message. The available suggested times can vary by account and version.
Set a delivery time in classic Outlook. In the Properties window, look under Delivery options and check Do not deliver before. Enter the date and time you want. Confirm the time fields carefully, then select Close to return to the message. The scheduling option is not complete until you send the message normally using Send.
Confirm that Outlook accepted the schedule. In new Outlook, look in Drafts or a scheduled-message view if your account provides one; the message should remain there until its delivery time. In classic Outlook, scheduled messages generally wait in the Outbox. If the message is still open as an unsent compose window, or is simply in Drafts in classic Outlook, it may not have been submitted for delayed delivery.
Check the scheduled message if you need to change it. In new Outlook, open the scheduled message from the folder or view where it appears. If the app offers Cancel send, use it to return the message to an editable state, then change the contents or schedule it again. In classic Outlook, open the message in the Outbox before the due time, make the change, and review the delivery option. Menu wording can differ, so confirm that the updated message is still scheduled before you close it.
Allow for the sending method. For classic Outlook, the safest approach is to keep Outlook open, connected to the internet, and able to send through the account when the scheduled time arrives. If the computer is off or Outlook is offline, the message may wait and send after Outlook reconnects. New Outlook’s scheduling is generally handled through the connected mail service, but account support and organization settings can affect availability. For an important message, check the scheduled item and the account’s behavior rather than assuming the app can send while closed.

Common Mistakes

Choosing Send without scheduling. In new Outlook, clicking the main Send button sends immediately; use the arrow beside it to open scheduling. In classic Outlook, setting a time in Delay Delivery is not enough: you must close the Properties window and then select Send.

Using the wrong time or date. A time that looks right may be in a different time zone from the recipient’s. Outlook’s display is based on your account and device settings, and daylight saving changes can affect future dates. Check the date, time, and time zone before confirming, especially for a message scheduled weeks ahead.

Assuming a scheduled message has left the Outbox. In classic Outlook, a delayed message may remain in the Outbox. That is expected; it does not necessarily mean it was sent early or failed. However, an offline state or a closed app can delay sending, so do not treat an Outbox item as delivered.

Forgetting the attachment or recipient review. Scheduling gives a message time to wait, not a chance to correct errors after delivery. Confirm the attachment is actually present and that the To, Cc, and Bcc fields are correct. Avoid scheduling confidential information to a recipient selected only from an ambiguous autocomplete result.

Expecting the same controls in both apps. New Outlook’s Schedule send and classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery are different workflows. Follow the steps for the app you use, and do not assume that a menu from one version will appear in the other.

Tips

Schedule a test message to yourself if you have never used the feature with this account. A low-stakes test helps confirm which folder holds the message and whether the account sends while Outlook is closed.
Use a delivery time that gives you a reasonable margin. If the message must arrive by a particular deadline, schedule it early enough to account for connection problems, account rules, or a service interruption.
For business messages, consider the recipient’s normal working hours and local time zone. A scheduled email can arrive at an inconvenient time even when Outlook sends it exactly as requested.
Keep the computer’s clock and time zone accurate. If you travel or change time-zone settings, recheck any future schedules rather than relying on an old assumption about what a displayed time means.
For a message that must be sent even when your PC is off, prefer a supported scheduling option in the mail service or verify your organization’s setup. Do not rely on classic Outlook’s delayed-delivery queue without confirming its sending requirements.

Troubleshooting

Schedule send or Delay Delivery is missing: Open a new message in its own window and look at the Send arrow or the message’s Options tab. Some account types, organizational policies, and Outlook builds do not expose every scheduling feature. Check for Office updates and ask your administrator if the work account restricts sending options.

The message sent immediately: Check whether you selected the main Send button instead of Schedule send in new Outlook. In classic Outlook, reopen the message’s delivery settings before sending and confirm that Do not deliver before is checked with a future date and time. A message already delivered cannot be recalled reliably; contact the recipient if a correction is needed.

The scheduled email did not go out: In classic Outlook, check that the message is still in the Outbox, Outlook is online, and the account can send mail. Reconnect to the internet, make sure Outlook is not in Work Offline mode, and check whether a send/receive error is shown. If the scheduled time has passed, leave Outlook connected and verify whether it sends; do not create a duplicate until you know the original was not delivered.

You cannot find or edit the message: Search Drafts and, in classic Outlook, the Outbox. Check that you are viewing the same account and mailbox used to compose it. If a new Outlook message offers a cancellation option, cancel the schedule before editing; changing a sent message is not possible. For classic Outlook, open the queued item before its delivery time and inspect its delivery settings after making changes.

The message arrived at an unexpected time: Compare the scheduled time with your Windows time zone and Outlook account settings, including daylight saving time. Also check whether the message was scheduled in a different Outlook app or device. If the time zone appears correct but delivery is still inconsistent, consult your email administrator or service support with the message details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for Windows when my computer is off?
New Outlook scheduling is generally processed by the connected mail service when supported. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery is safest when Outlook is open and online; if the computer is off, the message may not send until Outlook reconnects.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?
In classic Outlook, delayed messages typically stay in the Outbox until they are sent. In new Outlook, look in Drafts or the scheduled-message view available for your account. Folder behavior can vary with the account and app version.

Can I edit or cancel a scheduled email?
Usually, yes, if you act before delivery. In new Outlook, open the scheduled item and use Cancel send if shown, then edit or reschedule it. In classic Outlook, open the message in the Outbox and change its settings before it sends.

Will the recipient know the email was scheduled?
Scheduling itself does not normally add a notice telling the recipient that you prepared the email earlier. The recipient sees the message when it is delivered, subject to their mail service and any message details such as timestamps.

Can I schedule an email from a shared mailbox?
It depends on the mailbox type, account permissions, and Outlook version. If scheduling controls are missing or the message appears under the wrong account, confirm you have permission to send as or on behalf of the shared mailbox and check with your administrator.

Can I schedule a recurring email?
Outlook’s standard message scheduling is for an individual message, not a repeating email series. For recurring reminders, use an approved calendar or workflow feature, or create each email separately and verify its delivery time.

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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