Mar 19, 2026

How to Schedule an Email in Outlook (Every Version)

Outlook Email Scheduling How-to Microsoft 365 Productivity

Outlook lets you write an email now and have it send later — useful for reaching someone at the right time, respecting time zones, or batching email work without flooding inboxes at odd hours. If you also use Gmail, see how to schedule an email in Gmail. The exact steps depend on which version of Outlook you’re using. Here’s how to do it in each one.

1. Outlook on the Web (Microsoft 365 / Outlook.com)

Go to outlook.office.com and sign in.
Click New mail to compose your message.
Write your email — add recipients, subject, and body as usual.
Instead of clicking Send, click the dropdown arrow next to the Send button.
Select Schedule send.
Outlook suggests two times (typically “Tomorrow morning” and “Tomorrow afternoon”). Pick one, or click Custom time to set an exact date and time.
Click Send.

The email moves to your Drafts folder with a scheduled send tag. You can open it from Drafts to edit the content or cancel the scheduled send before it goes out.

To cancel or edit a scheduled email: Open your Drafts folder, find the email (it will show the scheduled time), open it, and click Cancel send. Edit the email or reschedule it.

2. New Outlook Desktop App (Windows & Mac)

The new Outlook app — the one Microsoft is rolling out to replace the classic version — uses the same interface as Outlook on the web.

Open the new Outlook desktop app.
Click New mail.
Compose your email.
Click the dropdown arrow next to the Send button.
Select Schedule send.
Pick a suggested time or set a Custom time with your preferred date and time.
Click Send.

The scheduled email appears in your Drafts folder until the delivery time. Since the new Outlook app syncs with Microsoft’s servers, the email sends even if you close the app before the scheduled time — unlike classic Outlook.

3. Classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook uses a different mechanism called Delay Delivery. The workflow is less obvious but just as effective.

Open classic Outlook and create a new email (Ctrl+N from the Inbox or Home → New Email).
Compose your message as usual.
In the message window, go to the Options tab in the ribbon.
Click Delay Delivery.
In the Properties dialog that opens, check the box next to Do not deliver before.
Set your desired date and time.
Click Close to return to your message.
Click Send.

The email goes to your Outbox (not Drafts) and stays there until the scheduled time.

Important caveat: In classic Outlook, the email sends from your local Outbox. That means Outlook must be open and connected at the scheduled time for the email to go out. If you close Outlook or lose your internet connection before the delivery time, the email will send the next time Outlook is open and online.

If you’re on a Microsoft 365 account with Exchange Online, you can work around this by using Outlook on the web or the new Outlook app instead — both handle scheduled sends server-side.

To cancel: Open your Outbox folder, double-click the email, go to Options → Delay Delivery, uncheck Do not deliver before, and either send immediately or delete the message.

4. Outlook Mobile App (iOS & Android)

Open the Outlook mobile app.
Tap the compose button to start a new email.
Write your email — add recipients, subject, and body.
Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) near the Send button (on some versions, this is a Send options icon or a long-press on the Send button).
Tap Schedule send.
Choose a suggested time or tap Pick a time to set a custom date and time.
Confirm your selection.

The email is queued on Microsoft’s servers, so it sends at the scheduled time regardless of whether the app is open. You can find and cancel scheduled emails in your Drafts folder.

Quick Reference

Version	Where to find it	Sends if app is closed?	Scheduled emails stored in
Outlook on the web	Dropdown arrow next to Send → Schedule send	Yes (server-side)	Drafts
New Outlook desktop	Dropdown arrow next to Send → Schedule send	Yes (server-side)	Drafts
Classic Outlook (Windows)	Options tab → Delay Delivery	No — Outlook must be running	Outbox
Outlook mobile (iOS/Android)	Three-dot menu → Schedule send	Yes (server-side)	Drafts

When Scheduled Emails Don’t Send

A few common reasons a scheduled email might not go out on time:

Classic Outlook was closed. Since classic Outlook sends from the local Outbox, the email won’t leave until the app is reopened. Switch to Outlook on the web or the new Outlook app if you need reliable server-side scheduling.
The email is stuck in Outbox. This can happen if the email has a large attachment or if there’s a connectivity issue. Open the Outbox, check the email, and resend manually if needed.
Time zone mismatch. Outlook schedules based on the time zone set in your account or system settings. If you recently traveled or changed time zones, double-check that the scheduled time reflects what you intend. You can verify your time zone in Outlook on the web under Settings → General → Language and time.

Scheduling Emails Alongside Your Calendar

Scheduling emails is most useful when you coordinate it with your calendar — sending a follow-up right after a meeting ends, or timing a proposal to land at the start of someone’s workday. If you manage meetings across Outlook and Google Calendar, Carly can help you stay on top of both — handling scheduling, rescheduling, and follow-ups so you can batch your communication without worrying about timing.

More on Outlook: How to share your Outlook calendar · How to color-code Outlook calendar · How to set working hours in Outlook · How to set up recurring meetings · How to schedule a meeting by email · How to schedule an email in Gmail · How to add a signature in Outlook