How to Schedule an Email in Outlook: Your Complete 2025 Guide

Ever found yourself typing an important email at midnight but don’t want to send it until morning? Or maybe you’re working with international clients and need your message to land in their inbox at the perfect time? You’re not alone. Email scheduling is a game-changer that can boost your productivity and improve your professional image.

Here’s the reality: for every $1 spent on email marketing, the average ROI is $36 – that’s a 3600% return on investment. But here’s what most people don’t know – automated emails generate 320% more revenue than manually sent ones. The timing of your email can literally make or break your success.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about scheduling emails in Outlook, from basic steps to advanced strategies that pros use to maximize their results.

How To Schedule Emails in Outlook (Generic Method)

Scheduling an email in Outlook isn’t rocket science, but the process varies slightly depending on which version you’re using. Let’s break it down for each platform.

Outlook Desktop (Windows) – Using Delay Delivery

The classic Outlook desktop app uses a feature called “delay delivery” to hold your emails until the right moment.

Step-by-step process:

1. Compose your email – Click “New Email” and write your message like normal
2. Go to the Options tab – Look for it in the ribbon menu at the top
3. Click “Delay Delivery” – You’ll find this in the “More Options” section
4. Set your delivery time – Check the “Do not deliver before” box and choose your date and time
5. Click Send – Your email moves to the Outbox and waits for the scheduled time

Important note: Your computer and Outlook must be running for the email to send. This is because the email sits in your local Outbox, not on Microsoft’s servers.

Outlook Web App – Using Schedule Send

The web version of Outlook offers a more reliable “schedule send” feature that works even when your computer is off.

Here’s how:

1. Compose your message in Outlook on the web
2. Look for the dropdown arrow next to the Send button
3. Select “Schedule send” from the menu
4. Pick your time – Choose from suggested times or select “Custom time”
5. Confirm and send – Your email goes to the Drafts folder with a scheduled delivery time

Pro tip: This method is server-based, so your email will send automatically regardless of whether your computer is on.

Outlook Mobile App (iOS & Android)

The mobile app makes scheduling emails super convenient when you’re on the go.

Quick steps:

1. Create a new email in the Outlook app
2. Tap the three dots (…) or the schedule icon
3. Select “Schedule Send”
4. Choose your time – Pick from defaults or set a custom time
5. Tap Send – Your email is scheduled and stored in Drafts

Heads up: This feature only works with Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com accounts, not third-party email accounts.

How to Edit Scheduled Emails in Outlook

Changed your mind about that email? No problem. Here’s how to modify or cancel scheduled emails in Outlook.

Finding Your Scheduled Emails

First, you need to know where to look:

• Desktop Outlook (Delay Delivery): Check your Outbox folder
• Web/Mobile Outlook (Schedule Send): Look in your Drafts folder

Editing Content and Delivery Time

For Desktop Users:

1. Open the email from your Outbox
2. Make your changes to the content
3. To change timing: Go to Options > Delay Delivery > adjust the time
4. Click Send to save changes

For Web Users:

1. Find the email in your Drafts folder
2. Open it and make your edits
3. Look for the scheduling banner at the top with an Edit (pencil) icon
4. Click the pencil to change the delivery time
5. Click Send to confirm changes

For Mobile Users:

1. Go to Drafts and tap your scheduled email
2. Tap Edit to modify content or timing
3. Tap Send to save your updates

Canceling or Sending Immediately

To cancel: Simply delete the email from Outbox or Drafts
To send now:

• Desktop: Remove the “Do not deliver before” setting
• Web: Click the Edit icon and select “Send now”
• Mobile: Edit the email and change timing to immediate

Common Problems Users Face on Outlook When Scheduling Emails

Even though email scheduling seems straightforward, several issues can trip you up. Here are the most common problems and their solutions.

The “Outlook Must Be Open” Problem

This is the #1 reason scheduled emails fail to send. Here’s what happens:

When you use “delay delivery” in desktop Outlook, your email sits in the local Outbox. If your computer is off or Outlook is closed when the delivery time comes, nothing happens. Your email just sits there waiting.

The statistics are sobering: Studies show that 44% of professionals have missed important deadlines because their scheduled emails didn’t send when expected.