How to Schedule an Email in Outlook: Step-by-Step Guide

You’ve just finished crafting an email that needs to land at the perfect moment—maybe first thing tomorrow or during a client’s time zone. Outlook’s Schedule send feature can handle that, but its availability and exact steps vary across versions.

Supported Outlook versions: Microsoft 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, Web, Mac, Mobile ·
Official documentation: Microsoft Support ·
Common third-party add-in: Boomerang for Outlook

Six key facts about Schedule send, from the feature name to the maximum advance window:

How do I schedule an email to send in Outlook?

The steps vary slightly between the desktop client and the web version, but the core process is the same: write your message, open the Send dropdown, and pick a time.

Steps for Outlook Desktop (Windows)

1. Compose a new email or reply to an existing one.
2. Above the message window, locate the Send button. Click the small dropdown arrow to its right (The Software Pro).
3. Select Schedule send from the menu. A panel appears with suggested times (e.g., tonight, tomorrow morning) and a Custom time option (Microsoft Support).
4. Pick a date and time, then click Send. The message moves to your Drafts folder and stays there until the scheduled moment (Saleshandy).

Steps for Outlook on the Web

1. Sign in to Outlook on the web (outlook.com or your organization’s webmail).
2. Click New message and compose your email.
3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Send button and choose Schedule send (Saleshandy).
4. Select a preset time or set a custom date/time, then click Send.

The implication: the web version mirrors the desktop experience almost exactly, so learning one covers the other.

Why don’t I have the schedule send option in Outlook?

Missing Schedule send is one of the most common frustrations, with many users searching for solutions when the dropdown simply isn’t there.

Check your Outlook version and account type

• Schedule send is only available in Outlook 2016 or later and requires a Microsoft 365 subscription (or one-time purchase of those versions). It is not present in free Outlook.com accounts or very old versions (Saleshandy).
• If you are using classic Outlook (non-subscription), you may only see the Delay Delivery option under Options (YouTube tutorial).

How to enable the schedule send feature if missing

• Make sure you are using the “New Outlook” toggle if available (Windows: Settings > General > New Outlook). The new interface consistently shows the Schedule send dropdown (Saleshandy).
• If the dropdown arrow next to Send is still absent, try restarting Outlook or repairing the Office installation (The Software Pro).

Workaround using the delay delivery rule

1. Open a new message, go to the Options tab, and click Delay Delivery (YouTube tutorial).
2. Check the Do not deliver before box and set the desired date and time (YouTube tutorial).
3. Click Close, then send the email normally. It will stay in your Outbox until the specified time.

What this means: if Schedule send is absent, Delay Delivery is the most reliable built-in fallback, though it requires a few extra clicks.

How to schedule an email in Outlook 365?

Microsoft 365 subscribers get the most consistent Schedule send experience across devices. The steps are virtually identical on desktop, web, and mobile.

Steps for Outlook 365 Desktop

1. Follow the same Windows steps listed above (dropdown > Schedule send).
2. You can schedule up to 30 days in advance (Microsoft Support).

Steps for Outlook 365 on the web

• Same as Outlook on the web (see above).

Steps for Outlook 365 mobile app

1. Open the Outlook app on iOS or Android and compose a message.
2. Tap and hold the Send button (or tap the clock icon on some updates) to reveal Schedule send (Boomerang).
3. Pick a suggested time or tap Custom to set your own date and time, then tap Send.

The pattern: Microsoft 365 users have a unified experience; the only real difference is the gesture (click vs. hold) on mobile.

How to set a 30-second delay on Outlook emails?

A short delay gives you a safety net to catch mistakes before a message leaves your Outbox. Outlook offers built-in options and third-party add-ins for this.

Using the default delay option

• In the Schedule send dropdown, one of the preset options is often “30 seconds”. Just select it and the message will be sent after that short wait (The Software Pro).

Creating a rule for a fixed delay before sending

1. Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts > New Rule.
2. Choose “Apply rule on messages I send” and set “Delay delivery by a number of minutes”. Specify 0.5 for 30 seconds (Saleshandy).
3. This rule will apply to every outgoing message automatically.

Third-party add-ins for custom delays

• Boomerang for Outlook offers a dedicated 30-second delay button and additional scheduling features (Boomerang).
• Other add-ins like Saleshandy also provide delayed send options with analytics.

The trade-off: using a rule keeps the delay always-on, but if you want the delay only once, the built-in 30-second preset is quicker.

How to schedule an email in Outlook when replying?

You can schedule a reply just like a new message—the option appears in the same compose window.

Scheduling a reply using the same compose window

• When replying to an email, the email compose window opens. Click the dropdown arrow next to Send and select Schedule send (Microsoft Support).
• All the same time options are available: presets or custom date/time.

Does the Schedule send option appear during reply?

• Yes—it is identical to the new message interface. If you don’t see the dropdown, make sure the reply compose window is expanded (not in the inline reading pane) (Saleshandy).

Workaround for missing menu item

• If the dropdown is still absent in a reply, open the message in a new window (click the pop-out icon) and the Schedule send option will reappear (The Software Pro).

Why this matters: you can now time your replies to arrive during convenient hours without forgetting to send them manually.

Perspectives from users and documentation

In Outlook on the web and New Outlook, users can compose a message, open the arrow next to Send, choose ‘Schedule send’, pick a suggested time or custom date and time, then click Send.

— Microsoft Support, official documentation (source)

Users should always complete the message before choosing Schedule send.

— The Software Pro, Microsoft Office training resource (source)

In classic Outlook, the path for delayed sending is typically New Email -> Options -> Delay Delivery.

— YouTube tutorial, technology educator (source)

For Microsoft 365 subscribers, the scheduling tool is robust—but for anyone stuck on an older version or with a missing dropdown, the workarounds are straightforward. The decision is whether you need the convenience of Schedule send (which requires a modern Outlook) or you’re willing to use Delay Delivery for full control.

For those who need a deeper walkthrough across all Outlook versions, the complete platform guide covers every platform in detail.

Frequently asked questions

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Summary: making the right choice for your workflow

For most Outlook users, the built-in Schedule send feature works reliably across the latest versions, but the fragmentation between New Outlook, Classic Outlook, and mobile means you need to know which version you’re using. If the dropdown is missing, Delay Delivery is a solid fallback. Third-party add-ins like Boomerang add convenience and analytics. For anyone managing multiple time zones or client communications, the ability to schedule an email before leaving the office is no longer a luxury—users with modern Outlook or third-party tools gain a real workflow advantage.