You finish a great email at 11 p.m. You don’t want it landing in someone’s inbox at 11:01.

Outlook can hold it for you. You’ll learn how to schedule any email in under two minutes.

Quick Answer

1. Write your email as usual.
2. Click the arrow next to Send, then select Schedule send.
3. Pick a date and time, then click Send.

Using classic Outlook for Windows? Jump to Method 2 for the Delay Delivery steps.

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First, Which Version of Outlook Are You Using?

Outlook looks a little different on every device. That’s normal, and it’s why the steps change.

Find your version below, then jump to the right method.

Your Version	What You’ll See	Go To
New Outlook / Outlook on the web	A clean, modern layout with no File tab	Method 1 (below)
Classic Outlook for Windows	A ribbon with a File tab in the top left	Method 2
Outlook for Mac and mobile	The Mac app or the Outlook app on your phone	Methods 3 and 4

Not sure which one you have? Look at the top right corner of your Outlook window. If you see a New Outlook toggle switched on, you’re using New Outlook.

No toggle? Check the top left. A File tab means you’re using classic Outlook for Windows.

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Method 1: Schedule Send in New Outlook and Outlook on the Web

This is the quickest method. It takes about 30 seconds.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Outlook and click New mail.
2. Add your recipient, subject line, and message.
3. Click the small arrow next to Send.
4. Select Schedule send.
5. Choose a suggested time, or select Custom time to set your own date and time.
6. Click Send.

That’s it. Outlook now holds your email until the time you picked.

Where to Find Your Scheduled Emails

Open your Drafts folder. Your scheduled message waits there until it’s time to go.

Changed your mind? Open the message from Drafts to edit it or pick a new time.

Pro Tip: Presets vs. Custom Time

The suggested times work well for common sends, like tomorrow morning. They save you a few clicks.

Need exact timing, like 8:00 a.m. Monday? Choose Custom time, and double-check your time zone before you send.

Method 2: Delay Delivery in Classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook uses a feature called Delay Delivery. It works a little differently from the newer Schedule send button.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Outlook and click New Email.
2. Write your message and add your recipient.
3. Click the Options tab.
4. Click Delay Delivery.
5. Under Delivery options, check the box for Do not deliver before.
6. Pick a date and time, then click Close.
7. Click Send.

What Happens After You Click Send

Your email moves to the Outbox folder. It waits there until your chosen time.

Need to check on it? Open the Outbox and look for your message.

⚠️ Heads up: keep Outlook open.
With Delay Delivery, classic Outlook may need to stay open and connected at send time. If you close it or lose your connection, your email could wait until the next time you open the app.

Method 3: Schedule an Email in Outlook for Mac

Mac users get a simple setup. It looks a lot like the web version.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Outlook and click New Email.
2. Write your message and add your recipient.
3. Click the small arrow next to Send.
4. Select Schedule send.
5. Pick a suggested time, or choose a custom date and time.
6. Click Send.

What’s Different on Mac

Your scheduled email waits in your Drafts folder. You can open it there to make changes.

Using an older “legacy” version of Outlook for Mac? Your menu may say Send Later instead of Schedule send.

Method 4: Schedule Send in the Outlook Mobile App

Yes, you can schedule emails from your phone. The steps are nearly the same on iPhone and Android.

iPhone and Android Steps

1. Open the Outlook app and tap New mail.
2. Write your message and add your recipient.
3. Tap the three dots menu.
4. Tap Schedule send.
5. Choose a date and time.
6. Tap Send.

Your scheduled message waits in your Drafts folder until delivery time.

When You Don’t See the Option

Don’t panic if Schedule send is missing. It works best with Microsoft 365 and Exchange accounts, and it can disappear when you connect Gmail or another IMAP account.

Here’s the easy workaround. Open Outlook on the web in your phone’s browser and schedule from there.

Bonus: Delay Every Email Automatically with a Rule

Ever hit Send and instantly spotted a typo? A delay rule gives you a safety net.

Who This Is For

This trick helps anyone who wants a few extra minutes to catch mistakes. It also saves you from sending to the wrong person.

Step-by-Step (Classic Outlook for Windows)

1. Click File, then Manage Rules & Alerts.
2. Click New Rule.
3. Under Start from a blank rule, select Apply rule on messages I send.
4. Click Next. Leave the conditions blank, click Next again, and select Yes when Outlook asks about applying the rule to every message.
5. Check defer delivery by a number of minutes.
6. Click a number of in the description box, type 2 (or any number you like), and click OK.
7. Click Next, then Next again.
8. Name your rule, such as “Oops Buffer,” and click Finish.

From now on, every email waits in your Outbox for those extra minutes. Open the Outbox during that window to edit or delete a message before it goes.

How to Edit, Reschedule, or Cancel a Scheduled Email

Plans change. Your scheduled email can change too.

Change the Send Time

1. Open your Drafts folder (or Outbox if you used Delay Delivery).
2. Open the scheduled message.
3. Pick a new time, then click Send again.

Cancel a Scheduled Message

1. Open your Drafts folder (or Outbox).
2. Select the message.
3. Click Delete to cancel it, or edit it and save it as a regular draft.

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Troubleshooting: Why Didn’t My Scheduled Email Send?

Run through this quick checklist:

• Outlook was closed or offline. Classic Outlook may need to stay open at send time.
• Wrong time zone. Double-check the time zone on your device and in Outlook.
• The message is stuck in the Outbox. Open the Outbox, then click Send/Receive to nudge it along.
• Your account doesn’t support the feature. Gmail and IMAP accounts sometimes lack scheduling options.
• The scheduled time already passed. Open the message and choose a new future time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Outlook without keeping the app open?

It depends on your version and account. New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Microsoft 365 accounts usually handle scheduling on the server, while classic Delay Delivery may need Outlook to stay open.

Is there a limit to how far ahead I can schedule?

Outlook offers wide scheduling windows, but limits can vary by version and account. Check the date picker in your version to see what’s available.

Can I schedule an email from my phone?

Yes, in the Outlook mobile app on many account types. Tap the three dots and choose Schedule send, or use Outlook on the web in your phone’s browser.

What’s the difference between Schedule Send and Delay Delivery?

Schedule send is the newer, simpler option in New Outlook, the web version, and Mac. Delay Delivery is the older feature in classic Outlook for Windows, and it holds your message in the Outbox.

Can I recall or undo a scheduled email?

Yes, as long as it hasn’t sent yet. Open it from Drafts or the Outbox, then edit or delete it.

Quick Recap

Here’s what to remember:

• New Outlook and the web: Click the arrow next to Send, then Schedule send.
• Classic Outlook for Windows: Open Options, then Delay Delivery, and keep Outlook running.
• Mac and mobile: Use Schedule send. Your message waits in Drafts.
• Safety net: Create a rule to hold every email for a couple of minutes.

You’re all set. Write that email tonight and let Outlook send it tomorrow.

Related guides:

• How to Set Up an Out-of-Office Reply in Outlook
• How to Create an Email Signature in Outlook
• How to Recall an Email in Outlook