How to Schedule an Email in Outlook (Send It Later)
Writing emails at 11pm but don't want colleagues thinking you never sleep? Need a message to land first thing on Monday, or during working hours in another time zone? Outlook can hold an email and send it at exactly the time you choose.
New Outlook and Outlook on the web
1. Write your email as normal.
2. Click the down arrow next to the Send button.
3. Choose Schedule send.
4. Pick one of the suggested times, or choose Custom time and set your own date and time.
5. Click Send.
2. Click the down arrow next to the Send button.
3. Choose Schedule send.
4. Pick one of the suggested times, or choose Custom time and set your own date and time.
5. Click Send.
The email waits in your Drafts folder with a note showing when it will go. It's sent from Microsoft's servers, so your computer doesn't need to be on.
Classic Outlook for Windows
Depending on your version, you'll see one of two options.
If you have Schedule Send:
1. Write your email.
2. Click the arrow next to Send and choose Schedule Send.
3. Pick a date and time and click Send.
2. Click the arrow next to Send and choose Schedule Send.
3. Pick a date and time and click Send.
If you don't — use Delay Delivery:
1. Write your email.
2. Go to the Options tab and click Delay Delivery.
3. Tick Do not deliver before and choose a date and time.
4. Click Close, then click Send.
2. Go to the Options tab and click Delay Delivery.
3. Tick Do not deliver before and choose a date and time.
4. Click Close, then click Send.
The email waits in your Outbox until the time you chose.
Important: with a Gmail, iCloud or other IMAP/POP account in classic Outlook, Outlook must be open and online at the scheduled time. If your computer is off, the email sends the next time you open Outlook. Microsoft 365 and Exchange accounts don't have this problem.
Outlook for Mac
1. Write your email.
2. Click the arrow next to Send.
3. Choose Schedule Send, pick a time and click Send.
2. Click the arrow next to Send.
3. Choose Schedule Send, pick a time and click Send.
Outlook on iPhone and Android
1. Write your email.
2. Tap the arrow next to the Send button (or the ⋯ menu, depending on your version).
3. Choose a time, or Choose a time to set your own.
2. Tap the arrow next to the Send button (or the ⋯ menu, depending on your version).
3. Choose a time, or Choose a time to set your own.
Edit or cancel a scheduled email
• New Outlook / web: open Drafts, open the email and click Cancel send (or the pencil icon). You can then edit it and schedule it again, or delete it.
• Classic Outlook: open the Outbox, double-click the email, make changes or go back to Delay Delivery to change the time, then click Send. To cancel, just delete it from the Outbox.
• Classic Outlook: open the Outbox, double-click the email, make changes or go back to Delay Delivery to change the time, then click Send. To cancel, just delete it from the Outbox.
Good times to use scheduled send
• Late-night work — schedule for 9am so you don't set expectations for out-of-hours replies.
• Different time zones — land in someone's inbox at the start of their day.
• Reminders — write the "just checking in" email now, schedule it for next week.
• Birthdays and announcements — prepare in advance, send on the day.
• Different time zones — land in someone's inbox at the start of their day.
• Reminders — write the "just checking in" email now, schedule it for next week.
• Birthdays and announcements — prepare in advance, send on the day.
Wrapping up
In new Outlook, it's the arrow next to Send > Schedule send. In classic Outlook, look for Schedule Send in the same place, or use Options > Delay Delivery. Just remember that classic Outlook with non-Microsoft accounts needs to be running at send time.
