How to Schedule an Email in Updated Outlook and Edit It

In updated Outlook, write your message, select the arrow beside Send, choose Schedule send, and set a delivery date and time. The message is held until then, so you can send it at a more useful hour or prepare it before you are ready for it to arrive. Before scheduling, check the recipient, message, time zone, and whether your account supports the feature.

What You’ll Need

An account signed in to updated Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, or a supported Outlook app. The exact labels and available scheduling options can vary with the account type and version.
A drafted email with at least one valid recipient. You can schedule a message to yourself as a quick way to check how it will look when it arrives.
A delivery date and time that make sense for the recipient. Outlook uses the time zone configured for your device or account, so verify that setting if you are coordinating across regions.
An internet connection when you schedule the message. If you are using a work or school account, your organization may manage which Outlook features are available.

Step-by-Step

Open a new message. In updated Outlook for Windows, select New mail near the top left. In Outlook on the web, select New mail or New message, depending on the layout. On a Mac, open a new message in Outlook and use the same Send menu if the updated interface displays it. If you are unsure whether you have updated Outlook for Windows, check for a New Outlook switch in the upper-right area; the interface and scheduling behavior described here refer to the newer experience.
Address the email and add a subject. Enter the recipients in To, and add people in Cc or Bcc if appropriate. Verify each address, especially if Outlook offers similar contact suggestions. A scheduled message can still go to the wrong person if you choose an unintended suggestion. Add a subject that helps the recipient identify the message.
Write and review the message. Add the text and any attachments before setting the schedule. Confirm that attachments have finished uploading and that you attached the correct files. Check links, names, dates, and any details that might become outdated before delivery. Scheduling does not replace a final review; it only delays sending.
Open the Send menu. Select the small downward arrow beside the Send button, rather than selecting the main Send button. In some layouts, the arrow may be shown as a separate control at the right edge of the button. Choose Schedule send from the menu. If you do not see that option, use the troubleshooting section below to check your Outlook version, account, and message window.
Choose a suggested time or set your own. Outlook may offer suggested delivery times, such as later today or tomorrow. Select one if it matches your intention. To choose a specific time, select the option for a custom time or date and time. Labels can vary slightly as Outlook updates, but look for the choice that lets you enter a date and time rather than sending immediately.
Set the date and time carefully. Use the date and time controls in the scheduling dialog. Check whether the date is the intended day, particularly when scheduling close to midnight or near a weekend. If the recipient is in another time zone, convert the intended local delivery time before entering it. Outlook generally interprets the time using the time zone associated with your account or device; do not assume it automatically selects the recipient’s time zone.
Confirm the schedule. Review the proposed delivery time in the dialog, then select Send, Schedule, or the confirmation button shown. The message should close or display a confirmation that it has been scheduled. If Outlook returns you to the draft without confirming, check the message status before closing the window.
Check that the message is queued. Open the Scheduled folder, if it appears in the folder list, and confirm that the message and delivery time are listed. Depending on your account or Outlook build, scheduled items may be shown in a different folder or view. If you do not see a Scheduled folder, check Drafts and search for a distinctive phrase from the subject. Do not schedule the same email again until you have confirmed whether the first copy is queued; otherwise, you could send duplicates.
Edit or cancel it if plans change. Open the scheduled message from the folder or view where it is stored. If Outlook offers Edit, use it to change the text, recipients, attachment, or delivery time, then schedule it again. To stop delivery, open the message and choose Cancel send or the available cancel option. Outlook may return it to Drafts so you can revise it or discard it. Confirm the status afterward; simply deleting a notification or closing the message window may not cancel the scheduled email.

Common Mistakes

Selecting Send instead of the arrow: The main Send button sends immediately. To schedule, open its adjacent menu first and choose Schedule send. If you accidentally send the email, Outlook’s undo-send prompt, when available, is temporary and is not the same as scheduling.

Choosing the wrong day or time zone: A time such as 8:00 may mean morning or evening depending on the control, and a date can change when your local time is near midnight. Read the complete date and time in the confirmation before accepting it. For international recipients, work out the recipient’s local time and account for daylight-saving changes.

Forgetting to check attachments or recipients: A message sent later still uses the recipients and files saved in the draft. Confirm that the attachment is present and that the To, Cc, and Bcc lines are correct before scheduling. Avoid relying on a file link that might expire or lose access before the message arrives.

Assuming a draft is already scheduled: Closing a compose window or saving a draft does not necessarily create a delivery time. Look for the scheduled status and a displayed delivery time. If you only see an ordinary draft, reopen it and complete the schedule-send confirmation.

Scheduling a duplicate: A slow connection or delayed screen update can make it unclear whether Outlook accepted the action. Check Scheduled, Drafts, or search before trying again. One queued message is enough; creating another copy can result in multiple deliveries.

Tips

Use a realistic delivery window. Choose a time when the recipient is likely to be able to read the email, rather than assuming that sending at the start of their workday guarantees it will be seen first.
Give yourself a review buffer. If the email includes a deadline, announcement, or attachment, schedule it early enough that you can check it again before delivery. Do not use a scheduled email as the only reminder for a time-critical task.
Make the subject easy to recognize. This helps you find the item in Scheduled or Drafts if you later need to edit or cancel it. A specific subject is more useful than a generic label such as Update.
Test the workflow with a low-stakes message. If scheduling is new to you, send a test to your own account for a few minutes later. Confirm that it appears in the expected folder and arrives when intended. Avoid using a sensitive message for a first test.
Distinguish updated Outlook from classic Outlook. Classic Outlook for Windows has a separate Options > Delay Delivery workflow with a Do not deliver before setting. That is not the same menu path as Schedule send in updated Outlook, and its behavior can depend on your mail system and whether Outlook remains running and connected. Follow the instructions for the interface you actually see.
Keep the app current. Microsoft changes Outlook’s layout over time. If a button is missing, install available Office or Outlook updates and check the web version as a comparison. Your work or school administrator may also restrict features.

Troubleshooting

Schedule send is missing. First, confirm that you opened the arrow beside Send in a new-message compose window; looking at the main ribbon or selecting Send will not show the scheduling menu. Check that you are using updated Outlook rather than classic Outlook, and try Outlook on the web with the same account. If the option is still unavailable, the account type, organization policy, or current app build may not support it. Check for updates or ask your Microsoft 365 administrator about account restrictions.

The message does not appear in Scheduled. Look in Drafts and search by subject or a distinctive word in the message. Folder names and storage behavior can differ by account and Outlook version. Check for an on-screen confirmation and inspect whether the email still has a scheduled delivery time. If it remains an ordinary draft, open it and schedule it again. If Outlook shows it as scheduled, do not create another copy just because the folder is not visible.

The email arrived at an unexpected time. Compare the actual delivery time with the date and time you selected, then check the time zone and daylight-saving settings on the device or account. If the time was entered in a different time zone than expected, update the setting where appropriate and schedule a corrected message. For an important future send, use a test message to verify how Outlook interprets the time on your account.

You cannot change or cancel the message. Find it in Scheduled or the folder where Outlook stored it, open the item, and look for an edit or cancel action. If the scheduled time has already passed, the message may have been sent and can no longer be canceled through the scheduled-message controls. If the item is a draft, edit or delete that draft as needed. For a managed work account, contact your administrator if the message is stuck or the controls are unavailable.

Outlook is offline or shows a sync problem. Reconnect to the internet and allow the app time to synchronize. Check the message status before retrying, because the schedule action may already have reached the mail service even if the screen did not refresh. If you are using classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery rather than updated Outlook’s Schedule send, keep Outlook open and connected unless your organization confirms that its mail server handles the delayed message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook on the web?
Yes. Compose a message, open the arrow beside Send, choose Schedule send, and select a suggested or custom delivery time. The exact labels may vary slightly with the web interface and account.

Does Outlook need to stay open until the email sends?
For scheduled messages in updated Outlook or Outlook on the web, the delivery is generally managed by the connected mail service, so the app does not need to remain open. Classic Outlook’s Delay Delivery is a different feature and can depend on Outlook staying open and connected; check your organization’s setup.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on a Mac?
Outlook for Mac may provide a Schedule Send option in the Send menu, depending on its version and account. If you do not see it, update Outlook or use Outlook on the web. The classic Windows Delay Delivery path is not the same Mac workflow.

Can I change a scheduled email after setting it?
Usually, yes, as long as it has not been delivered. Open it from the Scheduled folder or the location where it is stored, edit the draft, and confirm the new schedule. Check that Outlook shows the revised time afterward.

Can I schedule a message with an attachment?
Yes. Attach the file before scheduling and confirm it is fully attached. If you use a cloud link, check that recipients will have access when the email arrives; permissions can change between scheduling and delivery.

Can I cancel a scheduled email?
Open the scheduled item and choose the available cancel-send option before its delivery time. Outlook may return it to Drafts. Verify the item is no longer scheduled, especially if the delivery time is close.

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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