How to Snooze Emails in Outlook (2026 Guide)
Snooze is one of the best-kept productivity features in Outlook — but it only works in some versions. The new Outlook desktop app, Outlook on the web, Outlook for Mac, and Outlook mobile all have native snooze. Classic Outlook for Windows does not — Microsoft has not added snooze to classic Outlook, and classic Outlook is being retired.
Here’s how to snooze emails in each version, plus two workarounds for classic Outlook.
1. New Outlook Desktop & Outlook on the Web
The new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web share the same modern codebase, and snooze works identically in both. Snoozed messages move to a dedicated Snoozed folder and pop back to the top of your inbox — marked unread — at the time you choose.
Snooze from the message list (right-click)
- Open new Outlook or go to outlook.office.com and sign in.
- In your inbox, right-click the message you want to snooze.
- Hover over Snooze.
- Pick a preset time:
- Later today (defaults to a few hours from now)
- Tomorrow (defaults to 8:00 AM)
- This weekend (Saturday morning)
- Next week (Monday at 8:00 AM)
- Or click Pick a date to choose a custom date and time.
The message disappears from your inbox and lands in the Snoozed folder.
Snooze from the toolbar
- Select the message (or open it in the reading pane).
- On the Home tab, click Snooze in the ribbon.
- Pick a preset or Pick a date for a custom time.
View, edit, or unsnooze a message
- In the left folder pane, click Snoozed. (If it’s not visible, click More to expand the folder list.)
- To unsnooze a message, right-click it and choose Unsnooze — it returns to your inbox immediately.
- To change the snooze time, right-click and pick Snooze again, then select a new time.
Note: Snooze is only available for Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com mailboxes in new Outlook. If you’ve connected an IMAP or POP account, the Snooze option won’t appear for messages in that account.
2. Classic Outlook for Windows (Workaround)
Classic Outlook for Windows (the legacy Win32 app shipped with Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 2021) does not have a native snooze feature. There’s no Snooze button in the ribbon and no Snoozed folder. Microsoft has not added snooze to classic Outlook, and classic Outlook is being retired in favor of new Outlook.
If you’re stuck on classic Outlook for now, there are two workarounds that get close.
Workaround 1: Flag with a reminder
Flagging a message with a reminder doesn’t hide the email from your inbox, but it does surface a pop-up at the time you choose — which functionally “resurfaces” the message.
- Right-click the message in your inbox.
- Hover over Follow Up.
- Click Add Reminder.
- In the Custom dialog:
- Check Reminder.
- Set the date and time you want the reminder to fire.
- Optionally change the Flag to label (e.g., “Follow up” or “Review”).
- Click OK.
At the reminder time, a pop-up appears. You can Dismiss, Snooze (the reminder, not the email), or Open Item.
Workaround 2: Rules-based “move and return”
For a cleaner setup that actually removes the email from your inbox and returns it later, combine a Snoozed folder with a scheduled reminder and a rule. This is more setup but behaves much more like real snooze.
Step 1 — Create a Snoozed folder:
- Right-click your Inbox in the folder pane.
- Click New Folder.
- Name it Snoozed and press Enter.
Step 2 — When you want to snooze a message:
- Drag the message from your inbox into the Snoozed folder.
- Open the message in the Snoozed folder.
- Click Follow Up > Add Reminder in the ribbon.
- Set the date and time you want it to resurface, and click OK.
Step 3 — Create a rule to return flagged Snoozed items to the inbox:
- Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts > New Rule.
- Choose Apply rule on messages I receive, then click Next.
- Skip the conditions (click Next, then Yes to apply to all messages).
- Check move it to the specified folder and select Inbox.
- Under Except if, add conditions as needed. Click Finish.
A simpler alternative: just open the Snoozed folder periodically and drag flagged messages back to the inbox when their reminder fires. Not elegant, but it works without rules.
Tip: If you use both classic Outlook and new Outlook against the same mailbox, messages you snooze in new Outlook will disappear from classic Outlook’s inbox view (they’re moved to the server-side Snoozed folder) and reappear at the scheduled time. That’s the least painful fix — snooze from new Outlook or the web, keep classic Outlook open for everything else.
3. Outlook Mobile (iOS and Android)
Outlook mobile calls snooze Schedule, but it works the same way — the message leaves your inbox and returns at a chosen time. The fastest way to snooze on mobile is a swipe gesture.
Set up a swipe-to-snooze gesture
- Open the Outlook mobile app.
- Tap your profile picture in the top left.
- Tap the gear icon (Settings) at the bottom.
- Under Mail, tap Swipe options.
- Tap Swipe left or Swipe right.
- Choose Schedule.
Snooze a message
- In your inbox, swipe the message in the direction you configured.
- Choose a preset time:
- Later Today
- Tomorrow
- This Weekend
- Pick a Date
- Or tap Pick a Date to set a custom date and time.
The message moves to the Snoozed folder and returns to your inbox at the selected time.
Snooze without swiping
- Tap and hold a message to select it.
- Tap the clock icon in the top toolbar.
- Pick a preset or custom time.
View scheduled messages
- Tap your profile picture > tap the folder icon or scroll the folder list.
- Tap Snoozed. Tap a message and select Unsnooze to return it to the inbox now.
4. Outlook for Mac
Native snooze landed in Outlook for Mac with the new Outlook redesign. Make sure you have the New Outlook toggle enabled (top-right of the window) — legacy Outlook for Mac does not have snooze.
Snooze a message
- Open Outlook for Mac.
- In the inbox, select the message you want to snooze.
- Do one of the following:
- Click Snooze in the Home tab of the ribbon.
- Right-click the message and choose Snooze.
- Use the keyboard shortcut (if enabled in Preferences).
- Pick a preset — Later today, Tomorrow, This weekend, Next week — or Custom for a specific date and time.
View and unsnooze
- In the left sidebar, click Snoozed under your account.
- Right-click a message and choose Unsnooze to send it back to the inbox now.
- Or right-click and select Snooze again to reschedule.
Note: Snooze in Outlook for Mac only works with Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, and Exchange accounts. IMAP accounts (including most personal Gmail setups) won’t show the Snooze option.
Quick Reference
| Version | Native Snooze | Snoozed Folder | Custom Time | Works Offline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Outlook Desktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Syncs when online |
| Outlook on the Web | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Classic Outlook for Windows | No (flag + reminder workaround) | No (manual folder) | Yes (via reminder) | Yes |
| Outlook Mobile (iOS/Android) | Yes (called “Schedule”) | Yes (Snoozed) | Yes | Syncs when online |
| Outlook for Mac (New) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Syncs when online |
| Legacy Outlook for Mac | No | No | No | — |
Which Method Should You Use?
- On Microsoft 365 with the new Outlook apps? Use native Snooze. It syncs across the web, desktop, mobile, and Mac, so a message you snooze on your laptop reappears on your phone at the right time.
- Stuck on classic Outlook for Windows? Use the flag-with-reminder workaround for occasional snoozes. If you snooze often, sign into Outlook on the web in a tab and snooze from there — it affects the same mailbox and the messages disappear from classic Outlook’s inbox too.
- Want a real snooze experience on mobile? Set up a swipe gesture once — it turns snoozing into a single thumb motion and is the fastest way to triage your inbox on the go.
- On legacy Outlook for Mac? Upgrade to the new Outlook for Mac. Snooze is one of the features that didn’t get backported, and legacy Outlook for Mac is being phased out.
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More on Outlook: How to archive emails in Outlook · How to create rules in Outlook · How to schedule an email in Outlook · How to delay sending email in Outlook · How to use Quick Steps in Outlook · How to block emails in Outlook · How to create folders in Outlook · How to set out of office in Outlook
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