How to Schedule an Email in Outlook and Send It Later

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, open the menu beside Send, choose Schedule send, and select a delivery time. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > Delay Delivery instead. The exact steps depend on which Outlook app you use, so check whether you have new Outlook, classic Outlook, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac before you begin.

Scheduling lets you prepare a message now and have Outlook send it later—for example, during a recipient’s working day or after you have reviewed a draft. New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac generally hold a scheduled message online until its delivery time. Classic Outlook for Windows handles delay delivery differently, so take extra care if you plan to close the app.

What You’ll Need

An Outlook account and access to the Outlook app or Outlook on the web.
The recipient’s correct email address, plus the subject and message you want to send.
A delivery date and time. Check the time zone shown by your device or Outlook, particularly if the recipient is in another region.
For classic Outlook for Windows, keep Outlook open and connected to the network until the message sends. If you cannot do that, use new Outlook or Outlook on the web if available.

Step-by-Step

Identify your version of Outlook. On Windows, the newer app is called new Outlook; classic Outlook is the traditional desktop program with a File tab in its main window. You can also schedule messages in Outlook on the web by signing in through your browser. On Mac, use Outlook for Mac. If the names or buttons differ from these instructions, check the app’s About or account information before following the matching set of steps.
Start a new message. Select New mail or New Email, depending on your version. Enter the recipient in the To field. If you want to copy someone, add them to Cc or Bcc as appropriate. Enter a subject and write the message. You can add attachments before scheduling; confirm that each file has finished uploading or attaching.
Review the message before setting its time. Verify the recipient, subject, spelling, links, and attachments. If the message refers to a date, make sure that date is correct. A scheduled email is not a substitute for checking its contents: it can be sent automatically while you are away from your inbox.
Schedule in new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web. Select the small arrow or dropdown menu beside Send, rather than clicking the main Send button. Choose Schedule send. Select one of the suggested delivery times or choose a custom time if that option appears. Set the date and time, check the displayed time zone, and confirm with the schedule or send action shown in the window. The message is now scheduled, not sent immediately.
Schedule in classic Outlook for Windows. With the message open, select the Options tab on the message ribbon. Select Delay Delivery. In the Properties window, under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before, then enter the date and time. Close the Properties window and select Send in the message. The message should remain in the Outbox until its scheduled delivery time. Do not move or delete it if you still want it sent.
Schedule in Outlook for Mac. Compose and review your message, then open the dropdown beside Send. Select Schedule Send or Schedule send, depending on the app version. Pick a suggested time or set a custom date and time, then confirm. The menu may be unavailable if the app needs an update or the account does not support the feature; try Outlook on the web for that account if needed.
Confirm that the message is scheduled. In new Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac, look for the scheduled message in the folder or view for scheduled messages; in some versions it appears in Drafts with a scheduled status. In classic Outlook for Windows, check the Outbox. Open the item only if you want to review or change it, and avoid pressing Send unless you mean to send it immediately.
Change or cancel it if your plans change. Open the scheduled item from its folder before the delivery time. Depending on the Outlook version, you can edit the message and reschedule it, or delete it to prevent delivery. In classic Outlook, open the item in Outbox, make the change, and send it again with the delivery time set. If you remove the delay or use Send, it may go out right away, so check the delivery setting before confirming.

Outlook’s wording and folder names can vary slightly with app updates and account type. The key distinction is that the scheduling command is beside Send in new Outlook, web, and Mac, while classic Outlook for Windows uses the Delay Delivery setting on the Options tab.

Common Mistakes

Clicking Send instead of its dropdown. The main button sends the email now. Use the adjacent arrow or menu to choose a later time, and check that Outlook confirms the schedule.
Forgetting classic Outlook’s Outbox behavior. Delay Delivery in classic Outlook places the message in Outbox. If Outlook is closed or disconnected at the scheduled time, delivery may wait until the app reconnects. Keep it open and online if you rely on this method.
Choosing the wrong time zone. A time that looks right on a calendar may be interpreted using your local time zone. Check the displayed date and time, especially when scheduling across daylight-saving changes or for someone abroad.
Assuming a scheduled message can never be changed. It can generally be edited or deleted before it is sent, but the route differs by version. Find the scheduled item first and make changes before the delivery time.
Leaving an attachment out. Scheduling does not guarantee that a file mentioned in the message is attached. Confirm the file name appears in the message before setting the schedule.
Scheduling the wrong recipient or a sensitive message. A delayed message can still be delivered automatically. Check To, Cc, and Bcc carefully, and avoid scheduling confidential information to an address you have not verified.

Tips

Give yourself a buffer. Schedule a message a few minutes after the time you expect to finish it, rather than at the exact minute you are still editing. This leaves time to catch a mistake.
Use the recipient’s working hours as a guide. For a routine work email, a weekday morning may be easier to notice than a late-night delivery. Consider the recipient’s time zone and normal schedule rather than assuming yours is the same.
Make the subject useful. A clear subject helps the recipient recognize the message when it arrives. If a deadline or action is involved, state it plainly in the message too.
Keep classic Outlook simple. If you use Delay Delivery, leave the computer connected and Outlook running through the scheduled time. If that is impractical, schedule through new Outlook or the web where the service can hold the message online.
Check your scheduled folder after a change. Once you edit or cancel a message, confirm that the updated version is still scheduled—or that it has disappeared if you canceled it. This avoids relying on an action that did not save.
Do not use scheduling as a reminder system. If the email depends on information you do not yet have, save a draft or set a separate reminder to review it. A scheduled message can go out even if circumstances change.

Troubleshooting

I cannot find Schedule send. Check that you opened the menu beside Send, rather than the main button. In classic Outlook for Windows, look under Options > Delay Delivery; it is not the same command as Schedule send. If the option is missing in new Outlook or Mac, update the app if possible, check whether your account is supported, or sign in to Outlook on the web and look for the same menu there.

The message sent immediately. It may have been sent using the main Send button, or the schedule may not have been confirmed. Check Sent Items to see whether it was delivered. If it has already left your mailbox, scheduling cannot pull it back reliably; contact the recipient if you need to correct or clarify it. For the next message, verify the scheduled status before closing the compose window.

A classic Outlook message is still in Outbox. Confirm Outlook is open, connected, and not in Work Offline mode. Check that the computer has internet access and that Outlook is not waiting for a password or sign-in. If the scheduled time has passed, the item may send after the connection is restored. Open it to confirm the delivery setting if it remains stuck, but do not click Send unless immediate delivery is intended.

The time appears incorrect. Check the time zone and clock settings on your device, then compare the scheduled time shown in Outlook. Daylight-saving changes and travel can make a local time less obvious. Edit the schedule before delivery if the time is wrong, and verify the updated time in the scheduled folder or Outbox.

I cannot edit or cancel the scheduled item. Locate it in the scheduled-message view, Drafts, or Outbox, depending on your version. If the message is already being sent or has moved to Sent Items, it may be too late to stop. If it is still queued, open it and look for an edit, reschedule, or delete option. Avoid making a second copy until you know whether the first one will still be delivered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook on the web?
Yes. Compose the message, open the dropdown beside Send, choose Schedule send, set a suggested or custom time, and confirm. Check the scheduled message view or Drafts afterward to verify its status.

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for free?
Scheduling is available in many Outlook accounts and app versions, including Outlook on the web, but the options can depend on the account and current app. If you do not see the command, try the web version or check that your app is up to date.

Will Outlook send a scheduled email if my computer is off?
New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and supported Outlook for Mac scheduling generally hold the message online, so the computer does not need to remain on. Classic Outlook for Windows Delay Delivery relies on the Outbox and may wait until Outlook is open and connected. For that version, leave the app running to be safe.

Can I schedule a recurring email?
Schedule send is for an individual message, not a repeating series. You can create separate scheduled messages, but review each one carefully. If you need a recurring automated message, check your organization’s approved tools and policies rather than assuming Outlook’s schedule command will repeat it.

Can I change a scheduled email after setting it?
Usually, yes, as long as it has not been sent. Find the item in the scheduled view, Drafts, or Outbox, open it, make your edits, and save or schedule it again. Confirm the new time and status before leaving Outlook.

Does Outlook send the message at exactly the selected minute?
The selected time is the intended delivery time, but network or service delays can affect when a recipient actually receives it. For a strict deadline, schedule with a reasonable buffer and do not rely on a last-minute send as proof of receipt.

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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