How to Schedule an Email in Outlook (Every Device, 2026)

It is 11:40 at night. You have just finished a proposal for a client in another time zone. You could send it now, but a midnight email looks rushed.

The better move is to schedule it. Your email lands at 9:30 a.m. their time, right when they open their inbox.

Outlook makes this easy, but the steps depend on which version you use. The new Outlook, classic Outlook, Mac, web, and mobile apps all work a little differently.

This guide shows you how to schedule an email in Outlook on every device. You will also learn how to edit or cancel a scheduled email, and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Why Schedule Emails in Outlook?

Scheduling is not just about convenience. It helps you send the right message at the right moment.

Here are the most common business reasons:

• Time zones: Reach international clients during their working hours.
• Better open rates: Land at the top of the inbox when people check email.
• Work-life boundaries: Write late, but avoid sending late-night emails to your team.
• Planned announcements: Line up launch emails, reminders, or updates in advance.
• A safety buffer: Delay sending so you can catch mistakes before the email goes out.

Which Outlook Version Are You Using?

Before you follow any steps, check your version. Microsoft now runs two Windows apps side by side.

The key difference: Schedule send runs on Microsoft’s servers. Delay Delivery in classic Outlook can depend on your computer staying on, as explained below.

How to Schedule an Email in the New Outlook for Windows

The new Outlook uses the same Schedule send feature as Outlook on the web.

1. Click New mail and write your email.
2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Send button.
3. Select Schedule send.
4. Pick a suggested time, or choose Custom time.
5. Set the date and time, then click Send.

Your email now waits in the Drafts folder until its scheduled time.

Important: Microsoft notes this feature does not work with IMAP or POP accounts. If you use a Gmail, Yahoo, or other third-party account connected by IMAP or POP, Schedule send may not appear.

How to Schedule an Email in Outlook on the Web

Outlook on the web works for both personal Outlook.com accounts and work or school Microsoft 365 accounts.

1. Sign in at outlook.com or outlook.office.com.
2. Click New mail and write your message.
3. Click the arrow beside Send.
4. Choose Schedule send.
5. Pick a suggested time or set a custom date and time.
6. Click Send.

Because scheduling happens on Microsoft’s servers, you can close the browser. The email still goes out on time.

How to Use Delay Delivery in Classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook uses a feature called Delay Delivery. It works well, but the setup looks different.

1. Open a new email and write your message.
2. Go to the Options tab in the message window.
3. Click Delay Delivery.
4. In the Properties box, tick Do not deliver before.
5. Choose the date and time.
6. Click Close, then click Send.

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

Does Outlook Need to Stay Open?

This is the most common source of confusion.

• Microsoft 365 or Exchange accounts: The server usually holds the delayed email, so it sends even if Outlook is closed.
• POP or IMAP accounts: Outlook must stay open and online at the scheduled time. If your laptop is closed, the email waits until you reopen Outlook.

If you schedule important emails from a POP or IMAP account, keep the app running or use Outlook on the web instead.

How to Schedule an Email in Outlook for Mac

Outlook for Mac supports scheduling for Microsoft 365, Exchange, and Outlook.com accounts.

1. Click New Email and write your message.
2. Click the arrow next to the Send button.
3. Select Schedule Send.
4. Pick the date and time.
5. Confirm to schedule.

The message is stored in your Drafts folder until it sends.

How to Schedule an Email in the Outlook Mobile App

You can schedule emails from both the iPhone and Android versions of Outlook.

1. Open the Outlook app and tap New mail.
2. Write your email.
3. Tap the arrow or more options next to the Send icon.
4. Select Schedule send.
5. Choose a suggested time or pick a custom date and time.
6. Confirm to schedule.

Button placement can vary slightly between app updates. If you do not see the option, update the app first.

How to Edit or Cancel a Scheduled Email in Outlook

Plans change. A meeting moves, or you spot a typo. Here is how to fix a scheduled email before it sends.

New Outlook, Web, and Mac

1. Open the Drafts folder.
2. Find the scheduled email. It usually shows its scheduled send time.
3. Open it and select Cancel send.
4. The email returns to a normal draft. Edit it as needed.
5. Click Send to send now, or use Schedule send again to pick a new time.

To stop the email completely, simply delete it from Drafts.

Classic Outlook

1. Open the Outbox folder.
2. Open the delayed email.
3. Go to Options > Delay Delivery to change the time, or untick Do not deliver before.
4. Click Send again to save your changes.

To cancel it entirely, delete the email from the Outbox.

Mobile App

Open the Drafts folder in the app. Tap the scheduled email to edit or reschedule it, or delete it to cancel.

How to Delay All Outgoing Emails in Classic Outlook

Want a safety window on every email you send? Classic Outlook lets you create a rule that holds all messages for a few minutes.

1. Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts.
2. Click New Rule.
3. Choose Apply rule on messages I send, then click Next.
4. Leave conditions blank to apply it to all emails. Confirm when prompted.
5. Select defer delivery by a number of minutes.
6. Click a number of and set the delay (up to 120 minutes).
7. Name the rule and click Finish.

Now every email sits in your Outbox for the set time. If you notice a mistake, you can open it and fix it before it sends.

In the new Outlook and Outlook on the web, the closest option is Undo send. You can find it under Settings > Mail > Compose and reply. It lets you set a short cancellation window of a few seconds.

Troubleshooting: Why Can’t I Schedule an Email in Outlook?

If the option is missing or your email did not send, check these common causes.

Best Practices for Scheduling Business Emails

Scheduling is only useful when the timing is right. Follow these tips to get the most from it.

• Schedule for the recipient’s time zone, not yours. A 9 a.m. send in India lands at night in New York.
• Avoid exact round times for bulk updates. Sending at 9:07 instead of 9:00 feels less automated.
• Double-check attachments. A scheduled email with a missing file cannot be fixed after it sends.
• Re-read before the send time. Details can change between writing and sending.
• Use scheduling with follow-up reminders. Pair scheduled emails with a reminder so no reply slips through.

Real-World Example: Scheduling Client Updates Across Time Zones

Consider a digital marketing consultant in Ahmedabad managing clients in the US, UK, and Australia. Reports are usually finished in the evening, India time.

Instead of sending at random hours, they schedule each report for 9:30 a.m. in the client’s local time:

• Sydney client: Scheduled for the next morning, Sydney time.
• London client: Scheduled for the following morning, UK time.
• New York client: Scheduled for the following morning, Eastern time.

Each report reaches the client at the start of their working day. It stays near the top of their inbox, and clients reply faster. The consultant also avoids sending emails at 2 a.m. their local time.

Conclusion: Send at the Right Time, Every Time

Knowing how to schedule an email in Outlook is a small skill with a big payoff. It helps you respect time zones, protect your working hours, and land at the top of the inbox.

Use Schedule send in the new Outlook, on the web, on Mac, and on mobile. Use Delay Delivery in classic Outlook, and remember when the app must stay open.

Once you build the habit, your emails will arrive when people are ready to read them.

FAQs

How do I schedule an email in the new Outlook?

Write your email, click the arrow next to Send, choose Schedule send, and pick a date and time.

Does Outlook need to be open to send a scheduled email?

Not for Schedule send or Microsoft 365 accounts. With POP or IMAP accounts in classic Outlook, keep Outlook open.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?

In the new Outlook, web, Mac, and mobile, they wait in Drafts. In classic Outlook, delayed emails sit in the Outbox.

How do I cancel a scheduled email in Outlook?

Open the email from Drafts and select Cancel send. In classic Outlook, delete it or change its time from the Outbox.

Can I schedule an email in the Outlook mobile app?

Yes. Tap the arrow or options next to Send, choose Schedule send, then select your date and time.