Ever found yourself working late to send an important email? Or perhaps you’ve worried about forgetting to send a time-sensitive message? The good news is that the Microsoft Outlook email scheduling feature can help. You can set up everything in just a few clicks, allowing your emails to be delivered exactly when you want them to be. It’s a small step that can bring peace of mind and a big boost to your productivity.

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How to Schedule an Email in Outlook

You can schedule emails through different platforms, including the Outlook web version, a Windows PC, and the Mac App. Sadly, the scheduling feature is currently unavailable for the iPhone/iOS and Android Outlook Apps. However, there are alternatives that we will discuss in this article.

Scheduling an Email in Outlook on the Web Version

Time needed: 10 minutes

Log in to your Account
Navigate to the Outlook website in your browser. Enter your email address and password to log in.
Compose a New Email
Once you have logged in to your Outlook inbox, click on the “New message” button; typically its located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Craft Your Email
Fill in the recipient’s email address, subject line, and write your email content. You can also attach files, add links, or format your text using the tools provided in the compose window.
Access The Drop-Down Menu
Instead of clicking “Send” immediately after composing your email, you’ll want to access more options. To do this, find the drop-down arrow next to the “Send” button.
Select “Send Later”
In the drop-down menu, select the “Send later” option. This will be accompanied by a small window where you can set the date and time for your email to be sent.
Set The Date and Time
Choose the date and time when you want your email to be sent. Remember to consider the time zone of the recipient, especially if you’re communicating internationally.
Confirm Your Schedule
After setting the date and time of your choice, click the “Send” button at the bottom of the window. This will schedule your email.
Verify Your Scheduled Email
Lastly, you can verify your scheduled email by navigating to the “Scheduled” folder in the left sidebar. Here, you can view, edit, or even cancel your scheduled email if needed.

Your email will now be in the Drafts folder until it’s time to send it. If you wish to cancel or send it immediately, find it in the Drafts, select “Cancel Send,” and either delete, reschedule, or send it as usual.

Scheduling an Email in Outlook on a Windows PC

Here’s how you can schedule an email using the Outlook app on a Windows PC:

Open the Outlook app.
Compose your email.
Open the Options tab.
Click on Delay Delivery and check the box for “do not deliver before.”
Set the date and time for sending the email, then click Close.
Click on Send.

The email will be sent at the specified time and will remain in the Outbox until then.

Scheduling an Email in Outlook on the Mac App

Outlook on Mac allows you to schedule your emails. Here’s how to do it:

Open the Outlook app and compose your email.
Click the dropdown arrowhead next to the Send icon in the top-left corner.
Choose Send Later and specify the date and time you want to send the email.
Click on Send.

Your email will stay in the Drafts folder until the scheduled time. Remember to stay connected to the internet for the email to send. If you wish to cancel the email, go to your Drafts folder, select Cancel Send, and the email will remain open for deletion or rescheduling.

Scheduling an Email on iPhone/iOS and Android Apps

Unfortunately, you cannot currently schedule emails using the Outlook app on iPhone or Android. However, third-party apps like Spark or Gmail offer this feature. If you often find yourself needing to schedule emails on the go, these apps might be your solution.

The steps for scheduling emails using Spark or Gmail on iPhone and Android are similar. Both apps allow you to choose among several default options, such as Later Today or Tomorrow, or pick a custom date and time. Once you’re done, the email will be set to send at your chosen time.

Plan Ahead with Email Scheduling

The ability to write your emails and schedule them for later can provide a sense of relief and control over your time. Even though Outlook’s mobile apps don’t support this feature yet, using alternatives like Spark for mobile scheduling is a great workaround.

Email scheduling in Outlook can make your life easier, whether it’s for sending an important business proposal right on time or wishing your friend a happy birthday at midnight.

Mastering Your Time with Email Scheduling in Outlook