How to Schedule an Email in Outlook

Outlook can hold an email and send it later. How you do it depends on which Outlook you use — the new Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook, or Outlook for Mac — and some versions need a particular kind of account.

Microsoft lists scheduled and delayed sending for Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2016 to 2024, Outlook.com, the new Outlook for Windows, and Outlook on the web for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019.

New Outlook for Windows

1. While writing the message, select the arrow next to Send and choose Schedule send.
2. Pick one of the suggested times, or set a custom time, then select Send.

The message waits in your Drafts folder until it’s sent. To send it straight away instead, open it from Drafts, select Cancel send, then Send. Microsoft notes this feature isn’t available for IMAP or POP accounts.

Don’t see Schedule send? Microsoft says you may not be on the new Outlook for Windows yet — use the classic Outlook steps below.

Classic Outlook for Windows

1. In the message you’re writing, select Options → Delay Delivery.
2. Under Delivery options, tick Do not deliver before and choose the date and time.
3. Select Close, then Send.

Microsoft’s condition: for it to go at the chosen time, classic Outlook must be online and connected to the network.

Outlook for Mac

1. Write your message.
2. On the Send button, select the dropdown arrow, then Schedule send.
3. Enter the date and time and select OK.

The message stays in Drafts until then and is sent even if Outlook isn’t open. To cancel: open it in Drafts, select Cancel Send and confirm. Microsoft says this needs an Exchange account, such as Outlook.com or Microsoft 365, and doesn’t work with IMAP or POP accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo or iCloud.

Using Gmail, Yahoo or iCloud inside Outlook?

Microsoft says scheduling in the new Outlook doesn’t work for IMAP or POP accounts, and that Outlook for Mac’s doesn’t work with IMAP or POP accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo or iCloud. For those addresses, schedule from the provider itself — for a Gmail address, Gmail’s own Schedule send works on the web and in the app.

Outlook on the web and Outlook.com

Microsoft’s help page for scheduling has a separate tab for Outlook on the web — see the source linked below for the current steps.

Sent something too soon? How to recall or undo send in Outlook. Using Gmail as well? Schedule an email in Gmail.