Wrote an email tonight but want it to land at 8 a.m. tomorrow? Don’t want to bother a client on a Sunday? Scheduling an email in Outlook solves that. The steps differ slightly depending on your version, so here are both.

1. In the new Outlook and Outlook on the web

This is the easiest way to schedule an email:

1. Write your message as usual.
2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Send button.
3. Select Schedule send.
4. Pick a suggested time or a custom date and time, then confirm.

The message stays in the Drafts folder until the delivery time, then goes out automatically.

2. In classic Outlook (desktop app)

In the classic version, the feature is called Delay Delivery:

1. Write your message.
2. Open the Options tab on the ribbon.
3. Click Delay Delivery.
4. Under “Do not deliver before,” choose the date and time, then close and click Send.

The email waits in the Outbox. Important note: with a non-Exchange account (POP or IMAP), Outlook needs to stay open and connected at the scheduled time for the message to actually send.

3. Editing or canceling a scheduled send

As long as the scheduled time hasn’t passed, open the message in Drafts (or Outbox) to change the time, edit the content, or send it right away.

Frequently asked questions

Does my computer need to stay on?

With a Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com account, sending happens on the server side, so there’s no need to leave your PC running. With a POP or IMAP account in classic Outlook, the app needs to be open at the scheduled time.

Can I schedule recurring emails?

Scheduling is meant for one-time sends. For recurring emails or campaigns, a dedicated tool is a better fit.

Get more out of your Microsoft 365 tools

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