Schedule an Email Reminder in Outlook: Step-by-Step

To get a reminder to follow up on an Outlook email, flag the message and set a reminder for it: in classic Outlook for Windows, right-click the email, choose Follow Up > Add Reminder, set the date and time, and select OK. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, flag the message and set a reminder on its linked task in Microsoft To Do. This alerts you to act on an email; it does not schedule the email to be sent later.

Before you start, decide which outcome you need. A follow-up reminder is a notification for you to revisit a message. Scheduled send holds a message you have written and sends it at a chosen time. The steps differ, so this guide covers both, with the follow-up reminder as the main method. Outlook’s labels and available controls can vary slightly by version and account.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and the email message you want to follow up on. If you are reminding yourself to take action on a message you have not received yet, you can instead create a task in To Do or Calendar.
For new Outlook or Outlook on the web, access to Microsoft To Do with the same account. Flagged messages can appear there as tasks, where you can add a reminder.
A date and time for the alert, plus permission for Outlook or To Do to show notifications. On a work or school account, an administrator may restrict connected apps or notifications.

Step-by-Step

Find and open the message you need to revisit. In Outlook, locate the email in your Inbox or another mail folder. You can use the search box to find a sender, subject, or phrase. If you want to follow up on a message you are sending, send it first; then find it in Sent Items and set the reminder on that copy. Keep in mind that a flag and reminder are for your follow-up, not a notice to the recipient.
Check which Outlook version you are using. Classic Outlook for Windows has the traditional desktop ribbon and usually offers an Add Reminder dialog directly on a message. New Outlook for Windows has a more web-like interface, while Outlook on the web runs in a browser. If you are unsure, look for a New Outlook switch in the classic app or compare the interface with your browser version. The next steps depend on the version.
In classic Outlook for Windows, open the reminder controls. In the message list, right-click the email and choose Follow Up > Add Reminder. Depending on your ribbon layout, you can also select the message and look for Follow Up in the Tags group on the Home tab, then choose Add Reminder. If the item is open in its own window, check the message ribbon for the same Follow Up control.
Set the reminder date and time. In the Custom or reminder dialog, make sure Reminder is selected. Choose the date and time when you want Outlook to alert you. The flag’s start and due dates are tracking details; the reminder date and time determine when the pop-up appears. If you only need a visual marker and no alert, leave the reminder option unchecked. Select OK to save the settings.
Confirm the message is flagged. Return to the message list and check that the email has a flag icon. In classic Outlook, a flagged message may also show a due date in the To-Do Bar or Tasks list. If you do not see a flag, reopen the reminder settings and confirm them; a reminder without the intended message selected can be easy to miss. Avoid deleting or moving the message if your workflow depends on finding it in its original folder.
In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, flag the email. Select or right-click the message, then choose Flag or Follow up from the available message actions. The wording and menu placement can differ. This marks the email for follow-up and adds it to the Flagged email list in Microsoft To Do when that feature is available for your account. A flag alone may not create a timed pop-up reminder.
Add a timed reminder to the flagged task. Open To Do from the app launcher or the app bar, using the same Microsoft account as Outlook. Open the Flagged email list and select the task that corresponds to your message. In the task details, choose Remind me or Add reminder, select a date and time, and save. If you want a deadline as well as an alert, set a due date separately; a due date and a reminder are not the same thing.
Use the Mac equivalent where needed. In Outlook for Mac, flag the message using the flag or follow-up control. If your version shows an Add Reminder command in the message’s follow-up menu, choose it and set the alert time. If that command is not available, open Microsoft To Do with the same account, locate the flagged email task, and add the reminder there. The Mac interface and feature availability can differ from classic Outlook for Windows, so do not assume a flag by itself will pop up an alert.
Check notification settings and test your setup. Make sure Outlook or To Do is allowed to send notifications in your operating system and browser. For a new workflow, set a test reminder a few minutes ahead and keep the relevant app open or running. When it appears, confirm that it identifies the right message and that the timing is useful. Then change the reminder to the real follow-up date if needed.

If you meant schedule an email to send later: In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, compose the message, select the arrow beside Send, choose Schedule send, and pick a suggested time or set a custom one. In classic Outlook for Windows, compose the email, open the Options tab, choose Delay Delivery, and under Delivery options set Do not deliver before to the desired date and time; then close the dialog and select Send. The message remains in the Outbox until it is sent, and this feature schedules delivery rather than reminding you to follow up.

Common Mistakes

Assuming a flag always creates an alert. In some Outlook versions, flagging only marks the message. In new Outlook and the web version, add a timed reminder to its To Do task if you need a notification.
Setting a due date but no reminder time. A due date helps organize work, but it may not trigger a pop-up. Check that the task has an actual reminder date and time.
Confusing a personal follow-up with a recipient reminder. A message flag or reminder normally applies to your mailbox. It does not tell the other person to reply. To ask for a reply, say so in the email or use a separate agreed process.
Choosing the wrong message. Make sure the reminder is attached to the correct email, particularly when a conversation contains multiple replies or copies in Sent Items.
Expecting scheduled send to create a follow-up alert. Scheduled send queues the outgoing message. It does not remind you to check for a response later; flag the sent copy or create a separate task after sending.
Forgetting that a flag can be cleared. Marking a flagged message complete or removing its flag may also remove it from a flagged-task list. Do not clear the flag until you have finished the follow-up or captured the task another way.

Tips

Choose a realistic follow-up interval. For a routine request, you might set a reminder for two or three business days after sending. For a deadline-sensitive issue, choose a time before the deadline, leaving room to act. These are planning examples, not automatic Outlook rules.
Make the message easy to recognize. Use a clear subject and, if helpful, add a brief note to the task describing the next action, such as “Check whether the vendor sent the revised quote.” A task title that only says “Email” is less useful when the alert arrives.
Use reminders sparingly. Too many alerts can become background noise. Flag emails that need a specific future action, and archive or complete reminders once that action is finished.
Keep due dates and alert times purposeful. Set a due date for when the work should be completed and a reminder for when you need to begin or check it. For a simple follow-up, these can be the same day; for a larger task, set the alert earlier.
Know where the message lives. A reminder is easier to act on when you can open its linked email. If you move a message between accounts or folders, verify the link still opens the intended item, especially when using a shared mailbox or a work account.
Use a calendar event for time that must be protected. An email reminder is suitable for a prompt to check a message. If the follow-up requires a meeting, call, or uninterrupted work block, create a Calendar event or task as well.

Troubleshooting

No reminder appeared: First confirm that you set a reminder time, rather than only adding a flag or due date. In classic Outlook, reopen Follow Up > Add Reminder on the message and verify the checkbox and time. In new Outlook or the web version, check the linked task in To Do. Then review operating-system notification permissions, Focus or Do Not Disturb settings, and any browser notification permission. A reminder may also appear inside Outlook without a sound if sounds are disabled.

The email is missing from Flagged email in To Do: Confirm that Outlook and To Do are signed in to the same account, and that the message was flagged rather than categorized. Give the list a moment to sync, then refresh or reopen To Do. Some account types, connected experiences, or organizational policies may not support the integration. If it remains unavailable, create a normal To Do task with the message subject and a link or enough details to find the email.

The reminder is at the wrong time: Edit the reminder on the email or task and check both the selected date and time zone. Work and personal accounts can use different regional or time-zone settings. If the date is correct but the alert shifts, check the time zone set in Outlook, Windows or macOS, and your account settings. Save the change and confirm the updated time in the task details.

The message was sent immediately instead of being scheduled: Check the Sent Items folder. If the message is already there, scheduled send was not applied. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, use the arrow beside Send and select Schedule send before sending. In classic Outlook, set Do not deliver before in Options > Delay Delivery before you select Send. If a scheduled message is waiting in the Outbox, Outlook may need to be connected to send it, depending on the version and account setup.

You cannot find Add Reminder or Schedule send: Check whether you are using classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook for Mac, or a browser; the commands are not identical. Update Outlook if an expected command is missing, inspect the message’s right-click menu and ribbon, and check with your organization’s administrator if the feature is controlled by policy. As a fallback, create a To Do task or Calendar event with the email subject and a direct reference to the message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Outlook remind me to reply to an email?
Yes. Flag the email and set a timed reminder using the classic Outlook reminder dialog or the linked flagged-email task in To Do. The alert is for you; it does not remind the sender or recipient.

Does flagging an email automatically set a reminder?
Not necessarily. A flag marks the message for follow-up, but the behavior varies by Outlook version. Add a reminder time explicitly, especially in new Outlook or Outlook on the web, where you may need to set it in To Do.

Can I set a reminder for an email I already sent?
Yes. Find the message in Sent Items and flag it, then set the reminder. This is a practical way to prompt yourself to check whether someone has replied.

Will the other person see my Outlook reminder?
No. A personal flag or reminder is not normally sent to the recipient. If you want the recipient to respond by a certain date, include that request in the email itself.

What is the difference between Schedule send and a follow-up reminder?
Schedule send delays delivery of a message you have written. A follow-up reminder alerts you later to revisit an email or task. You can use both for the same conversation, but they must be set separately.

Can I set an Outlook email reminder on my phone?
Mobile Outlook can flag messages, and a flagged email may sync to To Do. The exact reminder controls depend on your app and account. If you cannot add a timed reminder in Outlook mobile, open the linked task in the Microsoft To Do app and set it there.

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