How to Postpone Sending Emails in Outlook Easily
You can Delay Email Sending in Outlook by using features like Delay Delivery, Schedule Send, or Undo Send. Outlook has these tools on many devices. But not every account lets you schedule emails. Check which versions let you hold or plan your emails:
You can pick a time for your message to send. You can stop a message right after you send it. You can also use rules to delay all emails. These choices give you more control. They help you not make mistakes.
Key Takeaways
Outlook has different ways to delay sending emails. These include Delay Delivery, Schedule Send, and Undo Send. These tools help you choose when your emails are sent.
You can set a time for one email to send later. This works on Windows, Mac, or the web. It helps you avoid mistakes and send emails at a good time.
You can make a rule in Classic Outlook for Windows. This rule delays all emails you send. It gives you more time to fix errors before emails leave your Outbox.
You can change or stop scheduled emails before they send. Just find them in your Drafts or Outbox folders. This lets you stay in control of your emails.
Keep Outlook open on your computer for delayed emails to send on time. If you use Outlook on the web, the server sends your emails. You can close your browser then.
Delay Email Sending in Outlook
Outlook gives you several ways to control when your emails go out. You can Delay Email Sending for just one message, use the Schedule Send feature, or even stop a message right after you hit send. Each tool works a bit differently, so let’s break down how you can use them on Windows, Mac, and the web.
Delay a Single Email
Sometimes, you want to Delay Email Sending for just one email. Maybe you need to send a message at the perfect time, or you want to avoid mistakes. Here are some common reasons people use this feature:
You forget to attach a file.
You write an email when you feel upset and want to wait before sending it.
You want your message to arrive during business hours in another time zone.
You plan a marketing email for a specific time.
You can Delay Email Sending for a single email by following these steps:
On Windows (Classic Outlook and New Outlook)
Open Outlook and start a new email.
Write your message.
Go to the Options tab at the top.
Click Delay Delivery in the More Options group.
In the pop-up window, check Do not deliver before and pick your date and time.
Click Close, then send your email as usual.
Your email will stay in the Outbox until the time you chose.
On Mac
Open Outlook and create a new message.
Write your email.
Click the Send Later button (it looks like a clock) next to the Send button.
Choose the date and time you want.
Click Send Later. Your email will wait in the Drafts folder until it’s time to send.
On the Web (Outlook.com or Outlook on the web)
Start a new email.
Write your message.
Select the arrow next to the Send button.
Click Send later.
Pick your date and time, then click Send.
Your email will stay in the Drafts folder until it’s sent.
Tip: If you need to cancel a delayed email, just delete it from the Outbox (Windows) or Drafts (Mac and web) before the scheduled time.
Schedule Send Feature
The Schedule Send feature makes it easy to Delay Email Sending without extra steps. You just pick a time, and Outlook handles the rest. This is great for planning emails ahead or working with people in different time zones.
On Windows and Mac, look for the Send Later or Delay Delivery option when you write a new email.
On the web, use the Send later button next to Send.
This feature helps you manage projects, send reminders, or make sure your emails arrive at the best time. You don’t have to worry about forgetting to send something important.
Undo Send Option
Sometimes, you hit Send and realize you made a mistake. Outlook gives you a way to stop the email before it goes out, but it works differently than Gmail.
Outlook on the web has an Undo Send feature. Here’s how you set it up:
Go to Settings > Mail > Compose and reply.
Find the Undo send section.
Save your settings.
Now, after you send an email, you’ll see an Undo option for a few seconds. Click it to stop the email from sending.
Note: Undo Send only works on Outlook.com or Outlook on the web. Outlook for Windows and Mac do not have this feature. Instead, you can set up a rule to Delay Email Sending by up to 120 minutes. This acts like a longer Undo Send window, but it’s not as simple as Gmail’s 30-second Undo button.
If you want a longer window to stop emails, use the Delay Delivery rule on Windows. This gives you more time to catch mistakes, but remember, it’s not available everywhere.
What’s the Difference?
Delay Delivery lets you pick a future time for one email to go out. You find it under the Options tab in Windows.
Schedule Send is a quick way to set a send time on Mac and web.
Undo Send gives you a short window to stop an email after you hit Send, but only on the web.
Each tool helps you Delay Email Sending in a different way. Pick the one that fits your needs best!
Delay All Emails with Rules
Sometimes, you want every email you send to wait a few minutes before leaving your Outbox. Maybe you want extra time to catch mistakes or add forgotten attachments. Outlook lets you set up a rule to Delay Email Sending for all your outgoing messages. This is super helpful if you often find yourself wishing for an “undo” button!
Set Up Delay Rule
You can create a rule in Classic Outlook for Windows to Delay Email Sending for every email. Here’s how you do it:
Open Outlook and go to the File tab.
Click Manage Rules & Alerts.
Choose New Rule.
Select Apply rule on messages I send under "Start from a blank rule" and hit Next.
Leave all conditions unchecked to apply the rule to every email. Confirm if Outlook asks.
Pick the action defer delivery by a number of minutes.
Click the underlined text to set how many minutes you want to delay (up to 120 minutes).
Click OK, then Next.
Add any exceptions if you want.
Name your rule and make sure Turn on this rule is checked.
Click Finish.
Note: This rule only works in Classic Outlook for Windows. You can’t use it in the New Outlook, Mac, or web versions. There, you can only schedule emails one at a time.
Adjust or Remove Rule
You might want to change or remove your delay rule later. Here’s what you do:
Go back to Manage Rules & Alerts.
Find your delay rule in the list.
To change the delay time, double-click the rule and edit the number of minutes.
To turn off the rule, uncheck it.
To delete it, select the rule and click Delete.
If you close Outlook while emails are waiting in the Outbox, they won’t send until you open Outlook again. Always keep Outlook open if you want your delayed emails to go out on time.
This rule gives you a safety net for every message. You get more control and peace of mind with Delay Email Sending.
Edit or Cancel Scheduled Emails
Sometimes, you need to change or stop a scheduled email before it goes out. Outlook gives you tools to edit or cancel these messages, so you stay in control. Let’s look at how you can do both.
Edit Scheduled Email
You might want to fix a typo, update details, or send your email sooner. Here are the most common reasons people edit scheduled emails and how you can do it on different Outlook platforms:
Tip: When you edit a scheduled email on your phone, Outlook cancels the original schedule. You need to set a new time if you still want to delay it.
On desktop or web, find your scheduled email in the Drafts or Outbox folder. Open it, make your changes, and save. If you want to send it right away, look for the "Send Now" or similar option.
Cancel Scheduled Email
You may decide not to send a scheduled email at all. Here’s how you can cancel it:
Open the Drafts or Outbox folder, depending on your Outlook version.
Find the scheduled email you want to cancel.
Delete the email from the folder.
If you already sent the email and want to recall it, Outlook lets you try to pull it back:
Go to the Sent Items folder.
Select the email.
Open the Actions menu and choose "Recall This Message."
Pick if you want to delete unread copies or replace the message.
Confirm and wait for Outlook to try the recall.
Note: Recall only works if the recipient has not opened the email. Some email systems do not support recall, so it may not always work.
On mobile, tap "Cancel" in the schedule section to stop the email. If you edit the message, Outlook cancels the schedule automatically.
Outlook makes it easy to fix mistakes or change your mind before your email goes out. Just remember, features can look different on each device. Always double-check your folders to find your scheduled messages.
Troubleshooting Delayed Emails
Outlook Must Stay Open
Sometimes, delayed emails do not send when you want. If you use Outlook on your computer, you must keep it open. Scheduled emails wait in the Outbox folder on your computer. If you close Outlook or turn off your computer, emails will not send. They will wait until you open Outlook again. This can be annoying if you think your email will send while you are gone.
If you use Outlook on the web or your company uses server-side delivery, the server sends delayed emails for you. You can close your browser or turn off your computer. The server will still send your email at the right time. Here is a simple table to compare:
Tip: If you want emails to send on time without keeping Outlook open, use Outlook on the web.
Server-Side vs. Client-Side Delay
You might not know if Outlook uses client-side or server-side delay. If you use Cached Exchange Mode or POP/IMAP accounts, emails stay on your computer. You must keep Outlook open for delayed emails to send. If you use Online Mode or Outlook on the web, the server sends your emails. You can switch to Online Mode in your account settings. Move any scheduled emails from Outbox to Drafts before you switch. Then resend them after you restart Outlook.
Fixing Common Issues
Delayed emails can get stuck for many reasons. Here is a table with common problems and how to fix them:
If your emails still get stuck, try these steps: 1. Turn off add-ins by going to File > Options > Add-ins and unchecking them. 2. Start Outlook in Safe Mode to see if add-ins are the problem. 3. Update Outlook to the newest version. 4. Make a new Outlook profile if you think your profile is broken.
🛠️ If you still have trouble, ask your IT admin for help or use message trace tools.
Most delayed email problems can be fixed with these steps. Be patient, and your emails will send again!
You have several ways to Delay Email Sending in Outlook. Try scheduling your next email or set up a rule to give yourself extra time to catch mistakes. Make sure you check your Outlook settings and know if your emails send from your computer or the server. Want to boost your productivity? Explore features like snooze, pin, and advanced search. These tools help you stay organized and work smarter every day.
Tip: Delaying emails can help you avoid errors and send messages at the perfect time.
FAQ
How do I know if my Outlook supports scheduling emails?
Check for the "Delay Delivery" or "Send Later" button when you write a new email. If you see it, your Outlook version supports scheduling. You can also look in the Options tab or next to the Send button.
Can I schedule recurring emails in Outlook?
Outlook does not let you schedule recurring emails directly. You need to create each scheduled email one at a time. If you want to send the same message often, copy and schedule it each time.
Why did my delayed email not send at the scheduled time?
Make sure Outlook stays open on your computer. If you close Outlook, delayed emails wait in the Outbox. On the web, the server sends your email even if you close your browser.
Can I delay emails on my phone using the Outlook app?
You can use "Send Later" on the Outlook mobile app for some accounts. Tap the clock icon before sending. If you do not see this option, your account may not support it yet.
What is the maximum delay time I can set for emails?
