Want to send an email later instead of right away? Gmail includes a built-in Schedule send feature that lets you choose the exact date and time your message will be delivered.
Whether you’re emailing clients in another time zone, preparing messages in advance, or want your email to arrive at the perfect moment, scheduling emails in Gmail takes less than 30 seconds.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to schedule an email in Gmail
- How to edit a scheduled email
- How to cancel a scheduled email
- Where are scheduled emails stored?
- Gmail Schedule Send limitations
- Best practices
- How to schedule bulk emails
If you’re using Microsoft Outlook instead, we’ve also written a guide explaining how to schedule an email in Outlook.
- Desktop — click Compose, write your email, click the arrow next to Send, select Schedule send, choose a date and time, then click Schedule send.
- Android — open the Gmail app, compose your email, tap the three-dot menu, select Schedule send, then choose a date and time.
- iPhone — open the Gmail app, compose your email, tap the three-dot menu, select Schedule send, then pick your preferred delivery time.
- Edit a scheduled email — open the Scheduled folder, click the email, select Cancel send, make your changes, then schedule it again.
- Cancel a scheduled email — open the Scheduled folder and click Cancel send.
Gmail Schedule Send at a glance
| Feature | Gmail |
|---|---|
| Available on desktop | ✅ |
| Available on Android | ✅ |
| Available on iPhone & iPad | ✅ |
| Free to use | ✅ |
| Maximum scheduled emails | 100 |
| Maximum scheduling period | 49 years |
| Works if your computer is off | ✅ |
| Works with Google Workspace | ✅ |
How to schedule an email in Gmail
Scheduling an email works the same way whether you use a personal Gmail account or Google Workspace.
The feature is available on:
- Gmail for desktop
- Gmail for Android
- Gmail for iPhone and iPad
It only takes a few clicks.
On desktop
Step 1: Sign in to your Gmail account.
Step 2: Click Compose.
Step 3: Write your email as usual.
Step 4: Click the down arrow next to the Send button.
Step 5: Select Schedule send.
Step 6: Choose one of Gmail’s suggested times or click Pick date & time.
Examples include:
- Tomorrow morning
- Tomorrow afternoon
- Monday morning
You can also choose any custom date and time.
Step 7: Click Schedule send.
That’s it. Gmail will automatically send your email at the scheduled time.
On Android
You can also schedule emails from the Gmail Android app.
Step 1: Open the Gmail app.
Step 2: Tap Compose.
Step 3: Write your email.
Step 4: Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
Step 5: Tap Schedule send.
Step 6: Choose one of Google’s suggested times or tap Pick date & time.
Step 7: Select your preferred delivery date and time, then tap Schedule send.
Your email will remain in the Scheduled folder until Gmail sends it automatically.
On iPhone
The Gmail app for iPhone and iPad also supports scheduled emails.
Step 1: Open the Gmail app.
Step 2: Tap Compose.
Step 3: Write your email, add recipients, and enter your subject line.
Step 4: Tap the three-dot menu.
Step 5: Select Schedule send.
Step 6: Choose one of Gmail’s suggested times or tap Pick date & time.
Your email is now scheduled and will be delivered automatically.
How to edit a scheduled email in Gmail
Need to update a scheduled email before it’s sent? Gmail lets you edit the message, recipients, subject line, or attachments. But first you’ll need to cancel the scheduled send.
Here’s how.
Step 1: Open your Gmail inbox.
Step 2: Click Scheduled in the left sidebar.
Tip: Can’t find the Scheduled folder? Click More in the left sidebar to expand all Gmail folders, or type in:scheduled into the Gmail search bar.
If you’re looking to better organize your inbox, check out our guide on Gmail folders.
Step 3: Open the scheduled email you want to edit.
Step 4: Click Cancel send.
The email returns to your Drafts folder.
Step 5: Edit your email.
You can modify:
- the recipient(s)
- the subject line
- the email body
- attachments
- CC and BCC recipients
- your email signature
Step 6: Once you’re happy with your changes, click the arrow next to Send and select Schedule send.
Step 7: Choose a new delivery time or click Last scheduled time to keep the original schedule.
Your updated email is now scheduled again.
How to cancel a scheduled email in Gmail
Changed your mind? You can cancel a scheduled email anytime before Gmail sends it.
Step 1: Open Gmail.
Step 2: Click Scheduled.
Step 3: Open the email you want to cancel.
Step 4: Click Cancel send.
That’s it. Your email will no longer be scheduled and will automatically move back to your Drafts folder.
From there, you can:
- edit it
- schedule it again
- send it immediately
- delete it by clicking Discard draft
Where are scheduled emails stored in Gmail?
After you schedule an email, Gmail stores it in the Scheduled folder.
From there, you can:
- View all your scheduled emails.
- Edit an email before it’s sent.
- Cancel a scheduled email.
- Change the delivery date and time.
- Delete the draft entirely.
If you don’t see the Scheduled folder, try searching Gmail using this search operator: in:scheduled
If no emails appear, you don’t currently have any scheduled messages on that account.
Gmail Schedule Send limitations
Gmail’s built-in scheduling feature works well for everyday emails, but it does have a few limitations.
| Limitation | Gmail |
|---|---|
| Maximum scheduled emails | 100 |
| Maximum scheduling period | 49 years |
| Bulk email scheduling | ❌ |
| Recurring scheduled emails | ❌ |
| Automatic follow-up emails | ❌ |
| Edit without canceling first | ❌ |
| Personalized mail merge | ❌ |
For most users, these limits won’t be an issue. But if you’re scheduling newsletters, sales campaigns, or outreach emails, you’ll likely need a dedicated email tool.
Best practices for scheduling emails
Scheduling emails is convenient, but timing matters. Here are a few simple tips to get the best results.
1. Schedule emails during your recipient’s working hours
A message sent at 2:00 AM is much more likely to be ignored than one arriving at 9:00 AM. If your recipients are in another country, remember to account for the time difference before scheduling.
2. Double-check your timezone
Gmail schedules emails using the timezone of the device you’re using when you create the schedule. If you’re traveling or working remotely, verify that the delivery time matches your recipient’s local time.
3. Review your attachments
It’s surprisingly easy to schedule an important email and forget the attachment. Before clicking Schedule send, make sure you’ve included:
- attachments
- links
- recipients
- CC/BCC
- subject line
4. Don’t schedule emails too far in advance
Although Gmail lets you schedule emails up to 49 years in advance, it’s usually better to schedule important emails only a few days or weeks ahead. Business priorities can change, and you may need to update the content before it’s sent.
5. Use scheduling to improve open rates
Scheduling isn’t just about convenience. It can also help your emails get opened.
For example, you can:
- send emails at the beginning of the workday
- reach recipients in their local timezone
- avoid sending emails late at night or during weekends
- prepare campaigns in advance without staying online
While timing isn’t the only factor that affects engagement, sending emails when recipients are most likely to check their inbox can improve your chances of getting a response.
How to schedule bulk emails in Gmail
Gmail’s Schedule send feature is perfect for individual emails, but it isn’t designed for sending campaigns to hundreds or thousands of recipients. Gmail only lets you schedule up to 100 individual emails at once. It also doesn’t include features such as:
- Mail merge personalization
- Email analytics
- Open and click tracking
- Automatic follow-ups
- Campaign management
If you need to schedule a newsletter, sales outreach campaign, or personalized emails at scale, you’ll need a dedicated mail merge tool.
Mailmeteor lets you schedule bulk emails directly from Gmail and Google Sheets.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Open Mailmeteor.
Step 2: Click New campaign.
Step 3: Write your email and personalize it with your recipient data.
Step 4: Click Schedule send.
Step 5: Choose the date and time you want your campaign to start, then click Apply.
And voilà. Your email campaign is now scheduled.
Unlike Gmail’s native scheduling feature, Mailmeteor sends emails gradually. This helps protect your sender reputation and reduces the risk of your emails being flagged as spam.
FAQs
How far in advance can you schedule an email in Gmail?
Gmail lets you schedule emails up to 49 years in advance. While this is technically possible, most users schedule emails hours, days, or weeks ahead.
Can I schedule emails in Gmail for free?
Yes. Gmail’s Schedule send feature is completely free and available to all Gmail users. You don’t need a Google Workspace subscription or any third-party extension.
Does Gmail schedule send work if my computer is off?
Yes. Once you schedule an email, Gmail stores it on Google’s servers. Your computer, phone, or Gmail app does not need to stay open for the email to be sent.
Can recipients see that an email was scheduled?
No. Recipients receive the email normally. Gmail does not indicate that the message was written or scheduled in advance.
Can I schedule recurring emails in Gmail?
No. Gmail’s built-in Schedule send feature only lets you schedule a message once. If you need recurring emails, you can use tools such as Google Calendar reminders, Gmail templates, or automation tools.
Can I edit a scheduled email in Gmail?
Yes, but you need to cancel the scheduled send first. Open the Scheduled folder, select the email, click Cancel send, edit your message, then schedule it again.
Why can’t I find my scheduled emails in Gmail?
Scheduled emails are stored in the Scheduled folder.
If you don’t see this folder:
- Click More in Gmail’s left sidebar.
- Look for Scheduled.
- Or search Gmail for: in:scheduled
Can I schedule emails with attachments in Gmail?
Yes. You can schedule emails with attachments the same way as regular messages. However, make sure the attachment has finished uploading before clicking Schedule send.
Can I schedule emails from Gmail on my phone?
Yes. The Gmail app for Android and iPhone supports scheduled emails. Open the app, compose your email, tap the three-dot menu, select Schedule send, and choose a delivery time.
What is the difference between Gmail Schedule Send and a mail merge tool?
Gmail Schedule Send is designed for sending individual emails later. A mail merge tool is designed for sending personalized emails to many recipients at once.
