How to Schedule Emails in Gmail & Outlook

Updated 14 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to schedule emails to be sent later in Gmail and Outlook, so you can write messages when it’s convenient and have them delivered at the perfect time. You’ll learn the exact steps for both desktop and mobile, plus how to avoid common pitfalls.

What You’ll Need

An active Gmail or Outlook account (Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, or the Outlook desktop app)
Access to the email client via web browser or mobile app
A stable internet connection

Step-by-Step

Gmail (Web Browser)

Go to mail.google.com and sign in.
Click the Compose button (pencil icon) in the top-left corner.
Write your email: fill in the recipient, subject, and message body.
Instead of clicking the blue Send button, click the down arrow next to it.
Select Schedule send from the dropdown menu.
Choose one of the suggested times (e.g., tomorrow morning) or click Pick date & time to set a custom date and time.
Click Schedule send to confirm.

Gmail (Mobile App – Android & iOS)

Open the Gmail app and sign in if needed.
Tap the Compose button (pencil icon) at the bottom-right.
Write your email as usual.
Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner.
Select Schedule send.
Pick a suggested time or tap Pick date & time to customize.
Tap Schedule send to confirm.

Outlook (Web Browser – Outlook.com or Microsoft 365)

Go to outlook.com or your work’s Outlook web app and sign in.
Click New message (or New mail).
Compose your email.
Click the down arrow next to the Send button.
Select Schedule send.
Choose a suggested time or click Custom to set your own date and time.
Click Send or Schedule to confirm.

Outlook (Desktop App – Windows & Mac)

Open the Outlook desktop app.
Click New Email (or New Message).
Write your email.
Do not click Send. Instead, click the Delay Delivery option (usually in the Options tab or under the More options menu).
In the dialog that opens, check the box Do not deliver before and set the date and time.
Click Close and then Send. The email will sit in your Outbox until the scheduled time.

Outlook (Mobile App)

Open the Outlook app and sign in.
Tap the New message button (pencil icon).
Compose your email.
Tap the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner.
Select Schedule send.
Choose a suggested time or tap Custom to set your own.
Tap Send to schedule it.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to confirm the schedule: In Gmail, if you close the compose window without clicking “Schedule send,” the email is saved as a draft, not scheduled.
Setting the wrong time zone: Scheduled times are based on your current time zone. If you travel or change time zones, the email may send at an unexpected local time.
Using the wrong “Send” button: In Outlook desktop, clicking Send without setting the delay will send immediately. Make sure you’ve configured the delay first.
Not checking the Outbox: In Outlook, scheduled emails stay in your Outbox. If you see them there, they haven’t been sent yet – don’t resend them.
Assuming it works offline: The email must be sent from a device with internet access. If your computer is off at the scheduled time, the email will be sent when you next open the app.

Tips

Use scheduling to send emails during business hours if you’re working late – it shows professionalism and respects others’ time.
In Gmail, you can view or cancel scheduled emails by going to the Scheduled label in the left sidebar. Click an email to edit or cancel it before it sends.
In Outlook, you can drag a scheduled email from the Outbox to the Drafts folder to edit it later.
If you frequently send at the same time, consider using a template or a third-party tool like Boomerang (for Gmail) for recurring schedules.
Double-check the date – especially if you’re scheduling weeks ahead. A simple typo could send an email on the wrong day.

Troubleshooting

Email didn’t send at the scheduled time. First, check your internet connection. If you were offline, the email will send when you reconnect. In Gmail, check the Scheduled label to confirm it’s still there. In Outlook, check the Outbox – if it’s stuck, try opening and resending it.

Can’t find the schedule option. Make sure you’re using a recent version of the app or browser. Gmail’s schedule feature is available on all platforms, but if you don’t see it, update your app or clear your browser cache. Outlook desktop may require you to look in the Options tab for Delay Delivery.

Scheduled email was sent immediately. This can happen if you clicked the regular Send button instead of the dropdown arrow. In Outlook desktop, if you didn’t set the delay before clicking Send, it goes out right away. Always double-check the button you’re clicking.

Time is wrong. Verify your device’s time zone settings. In Gmail, the schedule uses your device’s time zone. In Outlook web, it uses your account’s time zone settings. Go to Settings to adjust.

Email is stuck in Outbox. In Outlook, this usually means the app hasn’t been opened at the scheduled time. Open Outlook and it should send automatically. If not, try sending it manually by double-clicking and hitting Send again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email to send on a specific date in the future? Yes, both Gmail and Outlook allow you to pick any future date and time, not just the suggested options.

Will the recipient know the email was scheduled? No, the email appears as a normal email with the scheduled send time. There’s no indicator that it was pre-written.

Can I cancel a scheduled email after I’ve scheduled it? Yes. In Gmail, go to the Scheduled label and delete it. In Outlook, find it in the Outbox and delete it before the send time.

Does scheduling work on mobile apps? Yes, both Gmail and Outlook mobile apps support scheduling. The steps are similar to the web version.

What happens if my computer is off at the scheduled time? The email will not be sent until your device is turned on and the app is opened. It will then send automatically (in most cases) or you may need to manually send it.

Is there a limit to how many emails I can schedule? No, there’s no practical limit. You can schedule as many as you need.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.