How to Schedule an Email in Outlook (New and Classic)

Some emails are best written at 10pm when you finally have a clear head, but sent at 9am when your client is at their desk. Outlook can hold the message back for you, which is handy if you're juggling time zones or just don't want to look like you work through the night.

The catch is that Outlook has two quite different methods, depending on whether you're in new Outlook, Outlook on the web or classic Outlook for Windows. Here's what Microsoft's help page says for each, plus the one setting that makes a delayed email quietly fail to leave.

Scheduling a send in new Outlook and Outlook on the web

1. Write your message as normal.
2. Open the dropdown arrow beside the Send button.
3. Choose Schedule send.
4. Pick one of the suggested times, or set a custom date and time.
5. Select Send.

Microsoft says the message waits in your Drafts folder until the delivery time. Outlook on the web uses the same dropdown. One limit to note: according to Microsoft, new Outlook scheduling isn't available for IMAP or POP accounts, so a Gmail or other third-party address connected that way won't offer it.

Delaying delivery in classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook has no Schedule send button. You set a delay in the message options instead:

1. Start a new email and write it.
2. Select the Message Options arrow in the Tags group on the ribbon. If you can't see it, go to the Options tab and choose More commands.
3. Under Delivery options, tick Do not deliver before.
4. Set the date and time you want.
5. Select Close, then select Send.

Microsoft says the email sits in your Outbox until that time arrives. That detail matters more than it sounds.

Why a delayed Outlook email might not go out on time

In classic Outlook, Microsoft says Outlook needs to be online and connected for the delay to work. If you shut the laptop lid or quit the app before the delivery time, the message stays put until Outlook is running again.

So for something important, like a proposal due first thing, I wouldn't rely on a laptop that's asleep in your bag. New Outlook and the web version keep scheduled messages in Drafts instead, which is a different arrangement, but I'd still check the item is where you expect before you log off.

Version	Where you set it	Where it waits
New Outlook	Dropdown beside Send, then Schedule send	Drafts
Outlook on the web	Dropdown beside Send, then Schedule send	Drafts
Classic Outlook	Message Options, then Do not deliver before	Outbox

Sending a scheduled Outlook email now instead

Changed your mind about the wait? Microsoft's page gives separate routes:

• New Outlook: open the scheduled message in Drafts, select Cancel send, then select Send.
• Classic Outlook: open the message from the Outbox, go to Message Options, clear Do not deliver before, select Close, then select Send.

The page explains cancelling but doesn't describe a way to simply move the delivery time, so my advice is to cancel and set a fresh time.

Planning scheduled Outlook emails for client work

Scheduling isn't just about politeness. A reply that lands at the start of someone's morning tends to get seen, while one that arrives at midnight gets buried under everything else. If you send sales emails, my notes on what helps cold emails get answered go into timing and follow-up in more detail.

If you send newsletters, remember that Outlook scheduling is for one-off messages. For a regular mailing, my guide to setting up a newsletter in Outlook explains where Outlook stops being the right tool.

Picking a good time for a scheduled Outlook email

Scheduling only helps if the time is sensible. I like to think about when the reader will be at their inbox, not when it suits me. For a client in another country, that usually means early in their working day, so the message is near the top when they sit down.

• Use the suggested times in the Schedule send menu when you just want 'tomorrow morning'.
• Set a custom time when you're working across time zones and need something precise.
• Avoid scheduling anything sensitive for a time when you won't be around to deal with the reply.
• Reread the message once more before you schedule it, because it will go out exactly as written.

That last point is the one people forget. A scheduled email can't be recalled easily, and if you need to change it you've got to open it and cancel first, so it's better to get it right at the start.

Scheduling a reply or follow-up in Outlook

The same steps work when you're replying to a thread, which is handy for follow-ups. Write your reply, open the Send dropdown (or Message Options in classic Outlook) and set the time. If the person answers in the meantime, open the scheduled reply from Drafts or the Outbox and cancel it, so you don't send a nudge to someone who has already responded.

When the Schedule send option is missing in Outlook

Work through these in order:

1. Check which version you're in. If you can't see Schedule send beside Send, you may be in classic Outlook, so look for Do not deliver before instead.
2. Check the account type. IMAP and POP accounts don't get Schedule send in new Outlook, according to Microsoft.
3. Try Outlook on the web if your account supports it.
4. If your organization manages your Microsoft setup, ask the person who looks after IT whether a policy has changed the options.

Frequently asked questions

How do I schedule an email in Outlook?

In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, write the message, open the dropdown beside Send, choose Schedule send, pick a time and select Send. In classic Outlook, use Message Options and tick Do not deliver before.

Where does a scheduled Outlook email wait?

Microsoft says it waits in Drafts in new Outlook and Outlook on the web, and in the Outbox in classic Outlook.

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

In classic Outlook, yes. Microsoft says Outlook needs to be online and connected for the delay to work.

Why can't I schedule an email in new Outlook?

Microsoft says the feature isn't available for IMAP or POP accounts. Check your account type and whether you're in classic Outlook.

Can I cancel a scheduled email in Outlook?

Yes. In new Outlook, open it in Drafts and select Cancel send. In classic Outlook, open it from the Outbox and clear Do not deliver before.