Can I write emails now but automatically send them later?

Q Is there any way I can write an email message now but have it sent automatically at a later time or date?

Sean O’Grady

A Yes, this is possible but it does depend on the email program you use. Unfortunately, you didn’t tell us anything at all about your computer or software setup so we lack a starting point.

However, we can tell you that all full versions of Outlook from 2000 onwards had this ability. In Outlook 2007 and 2010, for example, create a new email in the usual way (click New). Now click the diagonal-pointing arrow at the bottom right of the Options group within the Message tab.

In the Message Options dialogue box, click to tick the ‘Do not deliver before’ box then use the two dropdown menu options alongside to set the required delivery date and time, then click Close. Now compose your message and click Send – the message will be sent to the Outbox folder. It will stay there until the scheduled date and time and can be edited or deleted in the meantime.

Microsoft’s various free email programs (Outlook Express, Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail) have a Send Later option on the File menu, but it is nowhere near as flexible. Indeed, using this Send Later option merely places the email in the Outbox folder ready for sending the next time you synchronise your emails – so doesn’t provide what you want.

If you don’t have a commercial version of Outlook, and don’t wish to pay to upgrade, then consider Thunderbird: this is a free email application from the same developers that make the popular Firefox browser. Like Firefox, it can be augmented with any number of add-ons, including ones that will schedule email deliveries. To do the job you want we’d recommend the Send Later 3 add-on to go with it.