Schedule Email in Outlook: Choose a Send Time on Any Device

Yes. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, compose your message, select the arrow beside Send, choose Schedule send, and pick a time. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Options > More Options > Delay Delivery and set Do not deliver before; the steps differ because Outlook has more than one desktop interface.

How scheduled sending works

Scheduling tells Outlook to hold a message and attempt to send it at a future date and time. It is useful for sending a reminder during business hours, preparing a message before a meeting, or working across time zones without expecting the recipient to read email late at night. It schedules a single message; it does not create a recurring email series.

The timing mechanism depends on the Outlook app and account. New Outlook and Outlook on the web generally handle scheduled messages through the mail service, while classic Outlook may hold a delayed message in the Outbox. This difference matters if you close Outlook, lose your connection, or need to edit the message. A scheduled send is also not a guarantee that the email will appear in the recipient’s inbox at the exact second selected: mail services and networks can take time to process it.

Schedule a message in new Outlook or Outlook on the web

These steps apply to the current Outlook experience in a browser and the new Outlook app for Windows. The labels can vary slightly as Microsoft updates the interface, but the scheduling control is beside the Send button.

Select New mail and write the message. Add the recipients and any attachments you need.
Select the small arrow next to Send, rather than the main Send button.
Choose Schedule send. Select one of the suggested times or choose the option to set a custom time.
Choose the date and time, check the time zone shown by the app, and confirm the schedule.

After confirming, look for the message in the Scheduled folder or the relevant scheduled-message view in your account. The exact location can differ between account types and Outlook versions. If the message is still being edited, do not assume it has been scheduled: confirm the app displayed a scheduling confirmation and that the message appears in its scheduled location.

Schedule a message in classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook for Windows uses a delivery-delay setting in the message window. This is the traditional desktop interface, not the newer Outlook app. Start a new email, fill in its recipients, subject, and content, and then follow these steps:

In the message window, open the Options tab.
In the More Options group, select the dialog box launcher to open the message options.
Under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before.
Set the delivery date and time, close the options window, and select Send.

The message is normally held in the Outbox until its permitted delivery time. That means selecting Send does not necessarily put it immediately into the recipient’s mailbox; it submits the message to Outlook’s delayed-send process. If you want to check it, open the Outbox and look for the message. Avoid editing it while Outlook is trying to send it at the scheduled time.

Schedule email on a Mac or phone

In Outlook for Mac, compose the message and look for the arrow or menu beside Send. Choose Schedule Send or the equivalent scheduling option, select a suggested or custom time, and confirm. The exact control depends on the Outlook for Mac version and account. If it is missing, update Outlook or use Outlook on the web, where the schedule-send control may be available for the same mailbox.

In the Outlook mobile app, compose a message and check the menu near the Send control for Schedule Send or Send later. Choose a suggested time or set a custom one if offered. Mobile app menus change over time, and availability can depend on the account type, so check that the app confirms the scheduled send before leaving the compose screen. If you cannot find the option, use the web or desktop version instead.

Change or cancel a scheduled email

It is usually possible to correct a scheduled message before it is sent, but the method depends on which Outlook feature created it. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the scheduled-message view, select the message, and choose the option to cancel or edit the schedule. Canceling typically returns the message to drafts so you can revise it, choose another time, or send it yourself. Check the message status afterward rather than assuming that closing the window canceled delivery.

In classic Outlook for Windows, open the message in the Outbox before its delivery time. Reopen its delivery options and clear Do not deliver before to remove the delay, or choose a different date and time. You can then send it immediately or leave the new delay in place. If it has already left the Outbox, Outlook may no longer be able to stop it. Deleting a message from Sent Items after delivery does not retract the recipient’s copy.

Time zones, connection, and where the message waits

Check the time zone associated with the account or device before scheduling, especially when traveling or coordinating with someone elsewhere. For example, a 9 a.m. time selected while your calendar is set to a different time zone may not correspond to 9 a.m. where the recipient lives. Outlook may display times according to your current settings, so use the displayed date and time as your reference and verify the device’s time-zone settings if the result looks wrong.

Whether Outlook must remain open is another common source of confusion. With classic Outlook, a delayed message can remain in the local Outbox, and accounts that depend on the desktop app may require Outlook to be running and connected at the scheduled time. Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts can support server-side handling in some configurations, but behavior depends on the account and client. If delivery is important, do not assume a classic Outlook message will send while the computer is off; check its location and, where needed, leave Outlook open and connected.

For server-based scheduling in new Outlook or the web, the service can generally process the send without the compose window staying open. Still, the mailbox needs to remain active and the message must actually be scheduled. A closed laptop is not the only possible cause of a missed send: a wrong date, a disconnected account, an unsent draft, or a service problem can also explain it.

Common problems and practical checks

There is no schedule option. Check that you are using new Outlook or Outlook on the web, and look at the arrow beside Send. Classic Outlook uses Delay Delivery instead. If the option is still absent, the account or app version may not support it; try the web version or update the app.
The message did not send. In classic Outlook, check the Outbox and confirm the app was connected at the scheduled time if the account requires it. In other versions, check the Scheduled folder or message status, the selected date, and whether the message remains a draft.
The time looks wrong. Confirm the device and mailbox time-zone settings, then review the scheduled time shown in Outlook. When scheduling across regions, calculate the recipient’s local time before confirming.
An attachment is missing or incorrect. Open the scheduled message before its send time and verify the attachment is present and finished uploading. A schedule does not protect against attaching an outdated file or choosing the wrong version.
You scheduled the wrong message. Cancel or edit it through the scheduled-message view or, for classic Outlook, its Outbox delivery options. If the message has already been sent, scheduling controls cannot recall it from the recipient’s mailbox.

When scheduling helps—and when it does not

Scheduling is a good fit when the message is ready but the timing matters: a Monday morning follow-up drafted on Friday, a deadline reminder, or a reply prepared outside the recipient’s working hours. It can also help you manage your own routine by writing several messages in one work session and sending them at appropriate times. For a message that depends on a future event, however, make sure its details will still be accurate when it goes out.

Scheduling is not the same as setting a reminder to send later, delaying delivery for every email, or asking Outlook to repeat a message on a timetable. It also does not confirm that the recipient has read the email. If you need a recurring announcement, use an appropriate recurring workflow or calendar event rather than repeatedly scheduling individual messages by hand. If the message is urgent, sending it now and following up through a suitable channel may be more reliable than relying on a future send time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook for free?
Scheduling is an Outlook feature, but what you can use depends on the Outlook app and the type of mailbox connected to it. Outlook on the web, new Outlook, classic Outlook, and mobile versions do not all expose the same controls. Check the account in which you are composing the message and whether its app offers Schedule send or Delay Delivery.

Does Outlook need to be open for a scheduled email to send?
It depends on the method and account. New Outlook and Outlook on the web generally schedule through the mail service. A delayed message in classic Outlook may rely on the desktop app being open and connected, particularly with some non-Exchange accounts. Check whether the message is in Scheduled or the Outbox, and keep classic Outlook open if you are unsure.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?
Some versions of the Outlook mobile app offer Schedule Send or Send later in the compose menu. The option and its location can vary by app version and account. If it is unavailable, schedule the message in Outlook on the web or a desktop version instead.

Can I edit an Outlook email after scheduling it?
Usually, yes, if you cancel the scheduled send before the delivery time and reopen the message. The message may return to Drafts, where you can edit it and schedule it again. For classic Outlook, edit the delayed message in the Outbox and adjust its delivery options. Once sent, it is too late to change the copy already delivered.

Will a scheduled Outlook email send at the exact time I choose?
Outlook uses the time you select as the planned send time, but processing or network delays can mean delivery is not instantaneous. Check the time zone and scheduled status, and allow extra time for messages tied to a deadline. Scheduling is not a guarantee of delivery or of when the recipient reads the email.

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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