How to Schedule Emails to Send Later in Outlook

Why Schedule Emails?

Sometimes you write an email at night or on the weekend but do not want to send it until business hours. Scheduling lets you compose now and send later, so your message arrives at the perfect time.

Common reasons to schedule:

• Working late but do not want to disturb colleagues
• Writing emails on weekends for Monday delivery
• Sending to a different time zone at their work hours
• Preparing announcements for a specific date and time
• Giving yourself time to reconsider before sending

Schedule an Email in Outlook Desktop

Windows

• Compose your email as normal
• Click the Options tab in the ribbon
• Click Delay Delivery
• Under "Delivery options", tick Do not deliver before
• Set the date and time you want the email sent
• Click Close
• Click Send

The email moves to your Outbox and waits until the scheduled time.

Important: Outlook must be open and connected to the internet at the scheduled time for the email to send.

Alternative Method

• Compose your email
• Click the small arrow in the bottom right of the Tags group (Options tab)
• Set "Do not deliver before" date and time
• Click Close
• Click Send

Schedule an Email in Outlook Web

• Go to outlook.office.com
• Click New mail to compose your email
• Add recipients, subject, and message
• Click the dropdown arrow next to the Send button
• Select Schedule send
• Choose a suggested time or click Custom time
• Set your preferred date and time
• Click Send

The email is scheduled and will send automatically — no need to keep your browser open.

Schedule an Email in Outlook Mobile

iPhone

• Open the Outlook app
• Compose a new email
• Tap the three dots menu (top right)
• Tap Schedule Send
• Choose from suggested times or tap Pick a time
• Select date and time
• Tap Done

Android

• Open the Outlook app
• Compose your email
• Tap the three dots menu
• Tap Schedule Send
• Set your preferred date and time
• Confirm

View Scheduled Emails

Outlook Desktop

Scheduled emails wait in your Outbox folder until the delivery time.

• Click Outbox in the folder pane
• You will see your scheduled emails with the send time
• Double-click to open and edit if needed

Outlook Web

• Open your Drafts folder
• Scheduled emails appear here with a clock icon
• The scheduled time shows below the subject

Outlook Mobile

Look in your Drafts or Outbox folder for scheduled messages.

Edit a Scheduled Email

Outlook Desktop

• Go to Outbox
• Double-click the scheduled email to open it
• Click Options > Delay Delivery
• Change the date/time or untick the delay option
• Click Close
• Click Send again to save changes

Outlook Web

• Go to Drafts
• Click the scheduled email
• Click Cancel send to edit
• Make your changes
• Reschedule or send immediately

Cancel a Scheduled Email

Outlook Desktop

• Open Outbox
• Right-click the scheduled email
• Select Delete to cancel it completely
• Or open it and change the delivery settings

Outlook Web

• Open Drafts
• Find the scheduled email (look for clock icon)
• Click Cancel send
• Delete the draft or reschedule

Tips for Scheduled Emails

Consider Time Zones

If emailing someone in another time zone, calculate when the email will arrive for them. 9am Monday in Brisbane is Sunday evening in London.

Use for Regular Updates

Write weekly updates or reports when convenient, then schedule them to send at a consistent time each week.

Review Before Sending

Schedule emails for at least 10-15 minutes in the future. This gives you time to catch mistakes and cancel if needed.

Do Not Schedule Too Far Ahead

Information can become outdated. Avoid scheduling emails weeks in advance unless the content will definitely still be relevant.

Check Your Outbox

For Outlook desktop, periodically check your Outbox to ensure scheduled emails have sent. If Outlook was closed, they may still be waiting.

Troubleshooting

Email Did Not Send at Scheduled Time (Desktop)

• Outlook must be running and connected to the internet
• Check if the email is still in your Outbox
• Open and send it manually if needed

Cannot Find Schedule Option

• Update Outlook to the latest version
• In Outlook web, look for the arrow next to the Send button
• In the mobile app, use the three-dots menu

Wrong Time Sent

• Check your computer's time zone settings
• Ensure you selected the correct AM/PM
• Double-check the date (easy to pick wrong day)

Scheduled Email Went to Drafts

In Outlook web, scheduled emails appear in Drafts — this is normal. They will send at the scheduled time automatically.

Need Help?

For Outlook support or email questions, contact helpdesk@netlumait.com.au or call 1300 521 162.