How to Schedule an Email in Outlook on Desktop and Web

To schedule an email in Outlook, write your message, open the arrow or 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 have.

Schedule a message in new Outlook or Outlook on the web

In new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, scheduling is built into the Send control. It lets you choose when a message should leave without keeping the app open, unlike the older Windows delay-delivery method.

Select New mail and address the message. Add a subject and write the email as usual.
Select the small arrow beside Send. Do not select the main Send button, which sends the message immediately.
Choose Schedule send. Pick one of the suggested times or choose a custom date and time if that option is offered.
Review the delivery time and confirm the schedule. Outlook should show a confirmation that the message is scheduled.

Labels can vary slightly as Microsoft updates Outlook, but the key control is the dropdown beside Send. If you do not see it, check that you are composing a new message in new Outlook or the web version, rather than classic Outlook for Windows. In some layouts the arrow is small, so widen the compose window or look closely beside the Send button.

Schedule an email in classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook uses a feature called Delay Delivery. It sets a rule on that individual message to prevent it from being delivered before the time you specify. The message is sent through Outlook’s Outbox, so this method has an important limitation: Outlook must be running and connected when the scheduled time arrives.

Compose the email and fill in its recipients, subject, and content.
On the message window ribbon, select Options > Delay Delivery.
Under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before, then enter the date and time.
Select Close to return to the message, then select Send.

The message is held in the Outbox until its delivery time. If Outlook is closed, offline, or unable to connect at that moment, delivery may wait until the app reconnects. This is why the cloud-based Schedule send option in new Outlook or Outlook on the web is usually a better choice when you cannot leave your computer on.

Steps on Mac and mobile

In Outlook for Mac, compose the email and use the dropdown beside Send, then choose Schedule Send and select a suggested or custom time. The wording and placement can differ between Outlook versions, but look for the Send dropdown rather than the classic Windows Delay Delivery ribbon command.

In the Outlook app for iOS or Android, start a message and enter the recipients and content. Open the more-options menu (usually the three-dot icon) in the compose screen, choose Schedule Send, and select a suggested time or set one yourself. If that command is missing, update the app and check that you are using an account and app version that support scheduled sending. You can also schedule the message from Outlook on the web.

Across devices, check the date and time shown in the final confirmation before committing. A message scheduled in one Outlook client may be accessible from another, but the exact folder name and controls can differ by version and account type.

Choose the right time and account for time zones

Scheduling is useful for sending a message during someone’s working hours, but it is easy to misread a time when you work across regions. Before confirming, check the date as well as the hour; a time shortly after midnight may fall on the next calendar day. Consider the time zone configured for your Outlook account or device, especially if you are traveling or have recently changed regional settings.

For example, if you draft a project update late Friday and want it to arrive Monday morning, select Monday’s date explicitly and verify the displayed time. Do not assume that a recipient’s time zone is automatically inferred from their address. Outlook schedules the send for a time in your sending environment; it does not promise delivery at a particular local time for every recipient.

Also allow for daylight-saving changes when scheduling well in advance. If a date falls near a clock change, review the scheduled time after confirming and make sure it still matches your intention. For a message with a strict deadline, scheduling a little earlier is safer than relying on an exact last-minute send.

What happens after you schedule an email?

A scheduled message is not the same as a normal message sitting in Drafts: Outlook has a planned delivery time and will send it then, subject to the method and account conditions. With cloud-based scheduling in new Outlook or Outlook on the web, you generally do not need to keep your computer awake or Outlook open. Classic Windows Delay Delivery is the exception because it relies on Outlook processing the Outbox.

Look in the message list for the scheduled message if you want to check its status. Depending on the Outlook version and account, it may appear in Drafts or another scheduled-message view. Open the message to review the recipients, subject, and planned time. If it is not where expected, check the account you used to compose it and search the relevant mail folders.

Scheduling controls when Outlook attempts to send; it cannot guarantee when the email reaches the recipient’s inbox. Internet or service interruptions, recipient mail-server rules, spam filtering, and mailbox issues can affect delivery after the send. For important messages, leave time to confirm that the message was sent and follow up through another channel if necessary.

Change or cancel a scheduled message

To revise a message before it goes out, open the scheduled item from the folder or view where Outlook placed it. Depending on the client, you may be able to edit it directly or need to cancel the scheduled send, reopen the message, make changes, and schedule it again. If you change the delivery time, verify the new date and time before saving or confirming.

To stop the email from being sent, open it before its scheduled time and choose the available cancel or discard action. If the client does not offer a direct cancel control, open the message and remove its scheduled delivery setting or move it back to a draft, then verify that it is no longer scheduled. In classic Outlook, locate the message in the Outbox and open its delivery options; removing the delay or deleting the message prevents the pending send.

Act promptly: once Outlook has sent the message, cancelling the schedule is no longer possible. A recall feature, where available, is not a dependable substitute for cancelling beforehand; it has conditions and may not remove a message from every recipient’s inbox. If the scheduled time is close, check the status carefully rather than assuming that closing the compose window cancelled it.

Common scheduling problems and fixes

There is no arrow beside Send: Confirm which Outlook version you are using. New Outlook and the web app offer Schedule send; classic Windows Outlook uses Options > Delay Delivery. In a narrow window, the arrow may be difficult to see.
The classic message did not send on time: Check whether Outlook was open and online at the scheduled time. A message delayed through classic Outlook may remain in the Outbox until Outlook can process it.
The message appears to have disappeared: Check Drafts, the Outbox, and any scheduled-message view in the same account. Search by subject, and make sure you are not looking at a different mailbox.
The displayed time seems wrong: Review your device and Outlook time-zone settings, the selected date, and daylight-saving changes. Reopen the message and confirm its planned delivery time.
You cannot edit or cancel it: The available controls depend on the Outlook client and account. Open the scheduled item itself and look for a cancel, edit, or discard action; if it is a classic Outbox message, adjust its Delay Delivery settings there.

When troubleshooting, distinguish a message that is still waiting from one that has already been sent. The Outbox commonly indicates a pending message in classic Outlook, while cloud-scheduled messages may be listed elsewhere. Folder names and behavior can vary, so check the message status rather than relying on one folder location alone.

When scheduling helps—and when it does not

Scheduling is useful when you want to respect another person’s work hours, prepare a message outside your own workday, or coordinate a planned announcement. It can also help you avoid sending an unfinished thought immediately: write the message, schedule it a short time ahead, and review it once more before the send time if you may need to make changes.

It is not a substitute for a reminder or a guarantee of inbox placement. If you need to remember to follow up later, create a calendar reminder or task rather than scheduling an email to yourself and assuming you will notice it. For time-sensitive or urgent information, send it when it is ready and use an appropriate direct channel; scheduled delivery adds a delay by design.

Before scheduling a large announcement or a message with sensitive details, double-check the recipient list, attachments, and any copied addresses. A scheduled message can still go to the wrong people if its recipients are wrong. If you are unsure about the content, save it as a draft instead of scheduling it, then return to it when you are ready to send.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook if my computer is off?
With cloud-based Schedule send in new Outlook or Outlook on the web, your computer generally does not need to remain on. Classic Outlook for Windows Delay Delivery depends on Outlook being open and connected to process the Outbox at the scheduled time.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?
The location varies by Outlook version and account. Check Drafts or a scheduled-message view for cloud-scheduled messages, and check the Outbox for a message delayed in classic Outlook for Windows.

Can I schedule an email from Outlook on my phone?
Yes, where supported in the Outlook mobile app. Compose a message, open the three-dot options menu, select Schedule Send, and choose a time. If the option is unavailable, update the app or use Outlook on the web.

Can I edit a scheduled email after setting it?
Usually you can open it before the delivery time and edit or cancel it, but the exact controls depend on the client. If direct editing is unavailable, cancel the scheduled send, make changes, and schedule the message again.

Will Outlook send the message at the recipient’s local time?
Do not assume that it will. Check the time zone shown in your Outlook environment and select the intended date and time. Outlook cannot guarantee that every recipient will receive the email at the same local hour.

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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