How to schedule an email in Outlook (easiest guide)

We’ve all drafted an important email… and then either sent it at the wrong time or forgotten to send it entirely. Or maybe you've been guilty of setting aside an email to respond to at a later time and losing it in the never-ending pile of new messages.

But don't fret, as Outlook has a feature to help solve this exact problem. Known often as "Send Later", Outlook now allows you to schedule emails ahead of time, adding another small feature that quietly changes how you work. Instead of immediately reacting to new emails (or forgetting to altogether), you can plan communication ahead of time and let it send exactly when it needs to.

For busy professionals, managers, marketers, or anyone managing multiple conversations, gaining that little extra bit of control adds up quickly. This guide will walk you through how scheduling works across Outlook on desktop and web, along with all the ways to take your email workflow to the next level with the help of IFTTT.

Why scheduling emails can be a productivity game-changer

At first glance, scheduling emails seems like nothing more than a convenience. In reality, leveraging email scheduling tools can boost your productivity and hand back some control of how your inbox works.

Instead of dealing with messages as they come in, you can batch your communication. That means writing emails when you’re focused, then spacing them out over hours or even days so they land at the right moment. Translation: you’re no longer chained to your inbox in real time.

This becomes especially useful when you’re working across time zones, managing campaigns, or trying to maintain consistent communication without constantly checking your email. You’re essentially separating when you write from when you send, and that gives you a lot more flexibility to bend your inbox towards how you work best.

Where things start to get even more interesting is when you combine this with automation. Let's take a look at how to schedule emails within Outlook and how to use those workflows with IFTTT to build a fully automated email command center.

How Outlook’s “Send Later” feature works

Outlook’s scheduling feature is incredibly simple: you write an email whenever you want, choose a time in the future, and Outlook holds it until then.

On desktop, this shows up as “Delay Delivery.” On web and mobile, it’s labeled “Send later.”

The idea is the same across all versions:

1. You set a future send time
2. The email sits in your Outbox
3. It sends automatically when the time arrives

There’s no coding or setup required; this feature is built directly into the email workflow.

How do you schedule an email in Outlook (desktop, mobile, and web)

Desktop

On the desktop app, scheduling is tucked into the message options. Start by composing your email like normal. Once everything is ready, head to the Options tab and select Delay Delivery.

From there, you’ll see a checkbox labeled “Do not deliver before.” Once you check it, you can set the exact date and time you want the email to be sent. After hitting send, the message stays in your Outbox until that time arrives.

One thing to keep in mind: Outlook desktop typically needs to be running (or connected through Exchange) for the email to go out on schedule.

Web

The web version is a bit more intuitive. After writing your email, click the small arrow next to the Send button. You’ll see an option for Send later, which opens a simple time selector. Pick your date and time, confirm, and Outlook handles the rest. Because this runs through Microsoft’s servers, you don’t need to keep your computer on for it to send.

Mobile

In the Microsoft Outlook app (available on both iOS and Android), the feature is built directly into the compose screen. After writing your email, tap the three-dot menu (or the send options icon, depending on your device). From there, select “Send later.” Then, the steps are exactly the same as desktop and web, making scheduling emails on mobile also incredibly easy.

How to edit or cancel a scheduled email

Scheduling doesn’t lock you in to a certain timeframe permanently. If something changes, you can open your Outbox, click into the scheduled message, and adjust it. You can change the content, update the send time, or remove the delay entirely.

If you decide not to send it at all, just delete it or move it back to drafts. This flexibility is what makes scheduling practical; you can plan ahead without committing to anything concrete.

Taking email automation further with IFTTT

Scheduling inside Outlook is powerful on its own, but it gets more interesting when you connect it to automation tools like IFTTT. With our tool, instead of manually writing and scheduling every email, you can trigger emails based on events. These bits of code are called Applets, and they are community-made and prepackaged so you can get to automating without any programming experience.

With IFTTT, you can connect Outlook or another email provider to over 1000 other apps and services. We're constantly adding more tools to our platform to ensure you can craft your workflow exactly how you want it.

Our platform's simplicity makes it accessible for all skill levels, including absolute beginners. Setting up IFTTT is straightforward:

1. Create a free IFTTT account
2. Connect the apps you already use
3. Browse or build Applets that match your workflow

If you'd like to build and customize your own Applet, our intuitive Applet builder lets you do just that. Once you are used to it, you can include all sorts of work-ins, such as time and date conditions, filter code, and much more to build complex workflows.

For a full guide on getting started with IFTTT and building your first Applet, check out our full walkthrough here. Below are four real-world automation cases with IFTTT you can set up in just a few minutes.

1. Email updates for new RSS items

This is one of the most popular automation workflows for marketers and content creators. Every time a new blog post, news article, or update goes live, an email is automatically sent to you, your team, or your audience.

2. Send follow-up email for new events

If you’re collecting leads, feedback, or inquiries, this is a huge time-saver. Each time someone fills out your form or uploads a file, they automatically receive a confirmation or follow-up message. Whether it’s a client inquiry or a signup form, people get immediate communication without you lifting a finger.

3. Sync email and calendar

This type of automations are perfect for keeping meetings and tasks organized. Instead of relying on setting up your calendar by hand, you can build your week around new incoming emails. This is especially helpful for client calls, deadlines, or prep work that demands accurate deadlines.

4. Draft and send AI content

With IFTTT, you can connect AI tools like ChatGPT to generate email content, then route that directly into your inbox or send it automatically. This is great for outreach, summaries, or recurring updates where structure stays consistent.

FAQ: Scheduling emails in Outlook

Will my email send if my computer is off?

It depends on how you’re using Outlook. On the desktop app, the answer is usually no. Outlook needs to be open and connected (unless you’re using an Exchange server that handles sending).

For web and mobile, emails are sent through Microsoft’s servers, so your device does not need to be on.

Can I schedule emails on mobile (iPhone and Android)?

Yes. The Microsoft Outlook app supports “Send later” on both iOS and Android. The process is similar to the web version: simply compose your email, select the send time, and Outlook handles the rest.

Where do scheduled emails go in Outlook?

Scheduled emails are stored in your Outbox until the send time arrives. Once sent, they automatically move to your Sent Items folder.

Why is my scheduled email not sending?

This is a common challenge when using Outlook's scheduling feature. The most common reasons include:

• - Outlook desktop is not open or connected to the internet
• - The email is still sitting in the Outbox due to sync issues
• - The scheduled time wasn’t properly set

If you’re using Outlook web or mobile, this issue is much less common since sending is handled server-side.

Can I automate email scheduling with other tools?

Yes. Platforms like IFTTT allow you to trigger emails based on events like form submissions, calendar updates, or new content. This turns scheduling into part of a larger automated workflow.

What’s the difference between “Send later” and “Delay Delivery”?

They’re the same feature with different names depending on the platform. Both let you schedule emails to be sent at a specific time.