How to Schedule an Email in Gmail and Outlook in Australia

There is always an email you want to send, just not right now. A message to a colleague that should land at 9am on Monday, a birthday note that needs to arrive on the day, or a reply you finished at midnight that should not wake anyone up. Both Gmail and Outlook let you schedule an email to send later, and it takes less than a minute to set up.

This guide covers schedule send in Gmail and Outlook on the web and on your phone, how to change or cancel a scheduled email, and the details that catch people out, such as time zones.

Schedule an Email in Gmail on the Web

Gmail on a computer is the easiest place to schedule an email.

Open Gmail in your browser and click Compose. Write the message as usual, then click the small down arrow next to Send and choose Schedule send. Gmail offers suggested times such as tomorrow morning or Monday morning, or you can click Pick date and time to choose your own.

The time you choose uses the time zone set in your Google account, which for most Australians is local time. Double-check the date and time before you confirm.

Once you confirm, the email moves to the Scheduled folder. Gmail sends it automatically at the chosen time, and you do not need to keep Gmail open or your computer on.

Schedule an Email in the Gmail App

The Gmail app on iPhone and Android works the same way, with the menu in a slightly different spot.

Open the Gmail app and tap Compose. Write your email, then tap the three dots in the top right and choose Schedule send. You will see the same suggested times, plus the option to pick a date and time of your own.

The Gmail app uses your phone's time zone, so check your phone shows the correct local time before scheduling anything important, especially after travelling.

To review scheduled emails, tap the three-line menu and choose Scheduled.

Change or Cancel a Scheduled Email in Gmail

A scheduled email is not locked in. You can edit it or stop it any time before it sends.

Open the Scheduled folder, click the email, then click Cancel send. The message returns to Drafts, where you can edit it, schedule it again, send it now, or delete it. The app works the same way.

If you spot a typo, a wrong attachment, or the wrong recipient, cancel the send, fix the draft, and schedule it again. The recipient never sees the cancelled version.

Gmail allows up to 100 scheduled emails at a time, so clear out old ones if you schedule a lot.

Schedule an Email in Outlook on the Web

Outlook on the web has the same feature, under a slightly different name.

Open Outlook in your browser and click New mail. Write your message, then click the small down arrow next to Send and choose Schedule send. Pick a suggested time or choose Custom time, then confirm. The email waits in your Drafts folder until the scheduled time.

Outlook uses the time zone in your mailbox settings. A 9am send in Sydney is 8am in Brisbane and 6am in Perth during daylight saving, so check the time zone shown next to the time picker.

Schedule an Email in the Outlook App

On iPhone and Android, the Outlook app hides the option behind a long press.

Write your email in the Outlook app, then press and hold Send instead of tapping it. Choose a suggested time or set a custom one, then confirm.

To change or cancel it, open the Drafts folder and find the scheduled message. The wording varies slightly between iPhone and Android, but the option is in Drafts in both.

Schedule an Email in Classic Outlook on Windows

If you use the classic Outlook app on a Windows computer, the feature works differently and has one catch.

Open a new email, click the Options tab, then click Delay Delivery. Tick Do not deliver before, choose the date and time, click Close, then send as usual. The message sits in your Outbox until then.

The catch: classic Outlook must be open and online at the scheduled time. If your computer is off, the email waits until you next open the app. The web and mobile versions send from Microsoft's servers, so they do not have this problem.

When Scheduling Helps, and When It Does Not

Scheduling works best for messages tied to a specific moment: a birthday, a job application on the morning a role opens, a reminder that should arrive just before a meeting, or a reply to someone in another time zone that should land during their working hours.

It is less useful for anything that might change before the send time. If a price, a date, or a decision could shift, wait until you are sure. An email with outdated information is worse than one that arrives late.

Keep scheduled emails short and double-check the recipient list. Add attachments before you schedule, since adding one later means cancelling and starting again. And if you schedule something for early morning, write it the night before, then read it once more in the Scheduled or Drafts folder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email in Gmail and Outlook for free?

Yes. Schedule send is included in the free versions of Gmail and Outlook, on the web and in the mobile apps. You do not need a paid plan or a business account to use it.

What happens to a scheduled email if my phone is off?

Nothing. The email lives on Google's or Microsoft's servers, so it sends on time even if your phone is off or in aeroplane mode. The only exception is classic Outlook on Windows, which needs the app open at the send time.

Can I schedule an email to send at a different time zone?

Yes, but you do the conversion yourself. Both use the time zone on your account or device, so for a 9am arrival in Perth from Sydney, schedule it for 6am Sydney time during daylight saving.