How to Schedule an Email in Gmail: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to schedule an email in Gmail so it sends automatically at a future time. You can write an email now, choose a specific date and time, and Gmail will deliver it for you—perfect for after-hours messages or time-sensitive reminders. No extra tools or browser extensions are needed; the feature is built into Gmail on both desktop and mobile.

What You’ll Need

• A Gmail account (free or Google Workspace)
• Access to Gmail on the web (mail.google.com) or the Gmail app on Android or iOS
• A stable internet connection to set the schedule (the email will send even if your device is off at the scheduled time)

Step-by-Step

On Desktop (Web Browser)

1. Open Gmail in your browser and sign in if needed.
2. Click the Compose button (pencil icon) in the top-left corner.
3. Write your email as usual: add recipients, a subject, and your message.
4. Instead of clicking the Send button, click the arrow next to Send (a small downward arrow or caret) in the bottom-left of the compose window.
5. From the dropdown menu, select Schedule send.
6. A pop-up will appear with suggested times (e.g., “Tomorrow morning,� “Monday morning�) and a Pick date & time option. Click that to set a custom schedule.
7. Choose the date and time you want the email to go out. You can pick any future date, and the time is in your local timezone (Gmail uses the timezone set in your account settings).
8. Click Schedule send to confirm.
9. A confirmation banner will appear at the bottom, and your email will be stored in the “Scheduled� folder.

On Mobile (Gmail App for Android or iOS)

1. Open the Gmail app on your phone or tablet.
2. Tap the Compose button (usually a “+� or pencil icon) in the bottom-right corner.
3. Write your email.
4. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the compose screen.
5. Select Schedule send from the menu.
6. Choose one of the suggested times or tap Pick date & time to set a custom schedule.
7. Set the date and time, then tap Schedule send.
8. The email will appear in your “Scheduled� folder (accessible via the left sidebar menu).

Common Mistakes

• Clicking “Send� instead of the arrow – On desktop, the schedule option is hidden behind the small arrow next to the Send button. Clicking Send immediately sends the email.
• Choosing the wrong timezone – Gmail uses your account’s timezone setting. If you travel or are in a different timezone than your recipient, double-check the timezone in your Gmail settings to avoid sending at an unexpected time.
• Forgetting to attach a file – You can add attachments before scheduling, but if you forget, you’ll need to cancel the scheduled email and reschedule with the attachment.
• Setting a time in the past – Gmail will not allow you to schedule for a past time; the picker will default to a future date. If you accidentally pick a past time, it will send immediately or give an error.
• Not checking the “Scheduled� folder – Scheduled emails are not stored in “Drafts� or “Sent.� If you can’t find a scheduled email, look in the “Scheduled� folder on the left sidebar.

Tips

• Use suggested times for quick scheduling – Gmail offers “Tomorrow morning� (e.g., 8:00 AM) or “Monday morning� (next Monday at 8:00 AM) as one-click options. These are convenient for common cases.
• Schedule for the recipient’s timezone – If your recipient is in a different timezone, calculate the time difference and schedule accordingly. For example, if you’re in New York (EST) and they’re in London (GMT), schedule 5 hours earlier than their local morning.
• Cancel or edit a scheduled email – You can change the time or content of a scheduled email before it sends. Go to the “Scheduled� folder, open the email, and you’ll see options to “Cancel send� or “Edit� (the latter lets you modify the message and reschedule).
• Schedule in advance for holidays or deadlines – Use the feature to send birthday wishes, meeting reminders, or follow-ups at a precise time, even if you won’t be near your computer.
• Keep your device online at the scheduled time – While Gmail will send the email even if your device is off (it’s stored on Google’s servers), if you’re using a work account with certain policies, it may only send when you’re online. For personal Gmail, it’s safe to close your laptop.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the “Schedule send� option. Make sure you’re using the updated Gmail interface. The feature is available on all current versions of Gmail, but if you’re on an older browser or the basic HTML view, it may not appear. Try updating your browser, or switch to the standard view (click “Standard view� in the footer).

My scheduled email didn’t send at the right time. Check that your device’s timezone is correct in Gmail settings (click the gear icon → “See all settings� → “General� → “Timezone�). Also verify that you selected the correct date and time in the picker—it’s easy to accidentally choose AM instead of PM.

I want to cancel a scheduled email, but I can’t find it. Go to the left sidebar and click “Scheduled.� If you don’t see it, click “More� at the bottom of the sidebar to reveal hidden folders. If you still can’t find it, check if the email has already sent—once sent, it moves to “Sent.�

The email sent immediately instead of at the scheduled time. This can happen if you clicked the main “Send� button instead of the arrow, or if you set a schedule time that was already in the past. Unfortunately, there’s no undo after it’s sent, but you can send a follow-up email.

I scheduled an email, but I can’t edit it. Open the email from the “Scheduled� folder. You’ll see a banner at the top with options: “Cancel send� and “Edit.� Click “Edit� to modify the message and reschedule. If you don’t see these options, try refreshing the page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule an email to repeat (e.g., every week)?

No, Gmail’s schedule send is a one-time feature. You can only schedule an email once; it will not repeat. For recurring emails, you’d need to use a third-party service or set a reminder to reschedule manually.

What happens if I close my computer after scheduling?

Your email is stored on Google’s servers, so it will send even if your device is off. You don’t need to keep your computer or phone on at the scheduled time.

Can I schedule an email for a specific timezone other than my own?

Gmail uses your account’s timezone. To send in a different timezone, you must manually calculate the time difference and schedule accordingly. There’s no built-in option to select a recipient’s timezone.

Is there a limit to how many emails I can schedule?

No, there’s no official limit on the number of scheduled emails. However, Google may have sending limits for your account (e.g., 500 emails per day for free accounts), and scheduled emails count toward those limits.

Can I schedule an email on the Gmail mobile app?

Yes, the Gmail app for Android and iOS supports schedule send. The steps are similar to desktop, but you access the option via the three-dot menu in the compose screen.

How do I delete a scheduled email?

Go to the “Scheduled� folder, open the email, and click “Cancel send.� This will move the email to “Drafts� (or delete it, depending on your view). You can then delete it permanently from Drafts.

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