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Outlook has two different ways to postpone email: Schedule send lets you choose a specific date and time for one message, while a classic Outlook rule can delay every outgoing message by up to two hours. The steps depend on whether you use new Outlook, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, Outlook.com, or Outlook for Mac.

Schedule one email in new Outlook for Windows

In new Outlook, a scheduled message is stored in Drafts until its delivery time. It is not placed in Outbox.

  1. Compose a new message and add the recipients, subject, and content.
  2. Select the dropdown arrow next to Send.
  3. Select Schedule send.
  4. Choose one of the suggested times, or select Custom time and enter the required date and time.
  5. Select Send.

To change or cancel the scheduled message, open Drafts and open the message. Select the Edit pencil icon, then edit the message or choose the available scheduling option.

Send a scheduled message immediately

  1. Open Drafts.
  2. Open the scheduled message.
  3. Select the Edit pencil icon.
  4. Select Send Now.

New Outlook account limitation

New Outlook does not provide Schedule send for IMAP or POP accounts. This can affect personal accounts that were added using IMAP or POP, including some Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud configurations. The feature is documented for Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, Exchange-based accounts, and supported Outlook versions—not for IMAP or POP accounts.

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Schedule an email in Outlook on the web or Outlook.com

The web version uses the same server-based scheduling workflow as new Outlook. Your browser does not need to remain open after the message is scheduled.

  1. Open Outlook on the web or Outlook.com and select New mail.
  2. Write the message and add at least one recipient.
  3. Select the dropdown arrow next to Send.
  4. Select Schedule send.
  5. Choose a suggested time, or select Custom time.
  6. Set the date and time, then select Send.

The message remains in Drafts until Outlook sends it. It does not sit in Outbox.

Send the message before its scheduled time

  1. Open Drafts.
  2. Open the scheduled message.
  3. Select the Edit pencil icon.
  4. Select Send Now.

Schedule one message in classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook calls this feature delayed delivery. The message is held in Outbox until the specified time, and Outlook must be online and connected for the delivery workflow to work.

  1. Compose an email in classic Outlook.
  2. On the message window’s Ribbon, find the Tags group.
  3. Select the More options arrow in that group. Depending on the Ribbon layout, this may open the message’s properties.
  4. Under Delivery options, select Do not deliver before.
  5. Choose the delivery date and time.
  6. Select Close.
  7. Select Send.

The email appears in Outbox and remains there until the chosen time.

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If the More options control is missing

On the simplified Ribbon, select the Options tab, then select More commands. The command may also be labelled Delay Delivery in the More Options group. The underlying setting is still Do not deliver before in the message’s properties.

Send a delayed message immediately

  1. Open Outbox.
  2. Open the delayed email.
  3. Open the same More options control used to set the delay.
  4. Under Delivery options, clear Do not deliver before.
  5. Select Close.
  6. Select Send.

Classic Outlook account requirement

Microsoft’s detailed delivery-options documentation describes individual delayed delivery as an Exchange-account feature. If the command is missing or does not work for an IMAP or POP account, the account type is likely the reason. Classic Outlook must also remain connected so it can process the delayed message.

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Delay every outgoing email in classic Outlook

Classic Outlook for Windows can apply a delay rule to all messages you send. Unlike individual server-based scheduling, this is a client-side rule: Outlook must remain running for the entire delay period.

The rule supports a delay of 1 to 120 minutes. It cannot schedule a message for an arbitrary date several days in the future.

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  1. In Outlook, select File → Manage Rules & Alerts.
  2. Select New Rule.
  3. Under Start from a Blank Rule, select Apply rule on messages I send.
  4. Select Next.
  5. Choose conditions if you want the delay to apply only to certain messages. To delay every outgoing message, select Next without selecting a condition.
  6. When Outlook asks whether the rule should apply to every message you send, select Yes.
  7. Under Select action(s), select defer delivery by a number of minutes.
  8. In the rule description, select the underlined a number of.
  9. Enter a value from 1 to 120 minutes, then select OK.
  10. Select Next.
  11. Add any exceptions, such as excluding messages sent to a particular recipient or marked as important.
  12. Select Next.
  13. Enter a name under Specify a name for this rule.
  14. Make sure Turn on this rule is selected, then select Finish and OK.

Messages affected by the rule remain in Outbox for the selected number of minutes. If you close Outlook, shut down the computer, or lose the connection during that period, the message may not be delivered until Outlook is running and connected again.

Exclude urgent messages from the delay rule

When creating the rule, use the exceptions page to bypass the delay for messages that match a condition. For example, you can create an exception for messages marked High importance, or for messages sent only to a particular address. This is safer than manually disabling the rule every time an immediate message is needed.

Schedule an email in Outlook for Mac

Current supported Outlook for Mac builds include Outlook for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Outlook 2024 for Mac, and Outlook 2021 for Mac. To check your installed build, select Outlook → About Outlook.

  1. Compose a message and add at least one recipient to the To: line.
  2. Select the dropdown arrow on the Send button.
  3. Select Schedule send.
  4. Enter the delivery date and time.
  5. Select OK.

The message is saved in Drafts until delivery. It can be sent even when Outlook is not open on the Mac.

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Cancel or change a scheduled Mac message

  1. Open Drafts.
  2. Open the scheduled message.
  3. Select Cancel Send.
  4. Select Yes.

The message stays open, allowing you to send it immediately or schedule it again.

Schedule send on Mac requires an Exchange account, such as Outlook.com hosted on Microsoft 365 or a supported Exchange Server account. It does not work with IMAP or POP accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud accounts configured using those protocols. Outlook for Mac also does not offer a rule for delaying every outgoing message; scheduling is done per message.

Older Mac versions may call this feature Send Later. In current versions, the command is labelled Schedule send.

Schedule send versus Undo Send

These features solve different problems:

Feature Purpose Typical duration
Schedule send Holds a message until a date and time you choose Minutes, hours, days, or longer, depending on the service
Undo Send Provides a short window to cancel a message immediately after selecting Send Outlook.com documents 5 or 10 seconds

To configure Undo Send in Outlook.com, select Settings → Mail → Compose and reply. Under Undo send, choose the delay and select Save. Undo Send is not a replacement for scheduling an email for tomorrow or next week.

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Does Outlook mobile schedule outgoing email?

Microsoft’s mobile documentation uses Schedule/defer for postponing an incoming message’s appearance in your inbox. It describes swiping an inbox message from left to right, when that swipe action is configured for scheduling, and choosing options such as a few hours, this evening, tomorrow morning, or a custom time.

That documented mobile feature is not the same as the outgoing-message Schedule send command available in new Outlook, Outlook.com, and Outlook on the web. Do not assume that scheduling an inbox message on mobile will schedule a new email for delivery.

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Which Outlook method should you use?

What you want to do Best option Where the message waits
Schedule one email for a specific date and time Schedule send in new Outlook, Outlook.com, or Outlook on the web Drafts
Schedule one email in classic Outlook for Windows Do not deliver before / Delay Delivery Outbox
Delay most or all messages by a short period Classic Outlook client-side rule Outbox
Schedule one email on a Mac Schedule send Drafts
Cancel a message seconds after sending Undo Send Short cancellation window
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Common problems

Schedule send is missing

Check which Outlook interface and account type you are using. New Outlook and Outlook for Mac do not support scheduled sending for IMAP or POP accounts. In classic Outlook, individual delayed delivery is documented for Exchange accounts. Updating Outlook may also be necessary if you are using an older build.

The message is in Drafts instead of Outbox

That is expected in new Outlook, Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac. Those versions use a scheduled draft. Classic Outlook’s local delayed-delivery feature places the message in Outbox.

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The delayed message did not send on time in classic Outlook

Confirm that Outlook was open, online, and connected at the scheduled time. A delay rule is client-side and cannot process messages while Outlook is closed. Also check whether the message is still in Outbox and whether Outlook is in an offline mode.

The message was sent immediately

Verify that you selected Schedule send or set Do not deliver before before selecting Send. Choosing the normal Send button bypasses scheduling. Also check whether the message was sent from a different Outlook account than the one you configured.

FAQ

Where is a scheduled email stored in Outlook?

In new Outlook, Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac, it remains in Drafts until delivery. In classic Outlook for Windows, an email using Do not deliver before remains in Outbox.

Can I schedule an Outlook email without leaving Outlook open?

Server-based Schedule send in new Outlook, Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, and supported Outlook for Mac can send while the desktop app is closed. Classic Outlook delayed delivery and its delay rule require Outlook to remain running and connected.

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Can I schedule an email from an IMAP or POP account?

Microsoft documents Schedule send as unavailable for IMAP and POP accounts in new Outlook and Outlook for Mac. Classic Outlook’s individual Delay Delivery feature is documented for Exchange accounts.

How far ahead can I schedule an Outlook email?

Schedule send lets you select a custom date and time, subject to the service and account. The classic Outlook rule that delays every message has a fixed maximum of 120 minutes, or two hours.

How do I cancel a scheduled email in Outlook?

In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, open the message from Drafts and select the Edit pencil icon, then change the schedule or use Send Now. On Mac, open the message in Drafts and select Cancel Send. In classic Outlook, open the message in Outbox, clear Do not deliver before, and send it.

Is Outlook Undo Send the same as Schedule send?

No. Schedule send holds a message until a chosen date and time. Undo Send only delays final delivery briefly so you can cancel a message; Outlook.com documents 5- or 10-second options.

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The Bottom Line

For a one-time future delivery, use Schedule send and look in Drafts afterward. In classic Outlook for Windows, use Do not deliver before if you have an Exchange account; the message will remain in Outbox. To delay every outgoing message, create a classic Outlook rule, but remember that it supports only 1–120 minutes and requires Outlook to keep running.

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