How to Schedule an Email in Gmail (and Edit or Cancel It)

Gmail’s Schedule send feature lets you write an email now and have it delivered later. It is useful when you work across time zones, prepare messages outside business hours, or want a reminder to reach someone at a more appropriate time.

This guide explains how to schedule an email in Gmail on a computer, Android phone, iPhone, or iPad. You will also learn how to find, edit, reschedule, and cancel scheduled messages.

How to schedule an email in Gmail on a computer

1. Open Gmail and select Compose.
2. Add the recipient, subject, and message.
3. Select the small down arrow next to the Send button.
4. Choose Schedule send.
5. Select one of Gmail’s suggested times or choose Pick date & time.
6. Confirm the date and time.

The message moves to the Scheduled folder instead of Sent. Gmail may deliver a scheduled message a few minutes after the selected time, according to Google’s official Gmail guidance.

How to schedule a Gmail message on Android

1. Open the Gmail app.
2. Tap Compose.
3. Write your email and check the recipient.
4. Tap the three-dot More menu at the top right.
5. Tap Schedule send.
6. Choose a suggested option or set a custom date and time.

You can close the app after scheduling the message. Gmail stores the scheduled email in your account, so you do not need to leave the phone or app open until it sends.

How to schedule a Gmail message on iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Gmail app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Compose and prepare the email.
3. Tap the three-dot More menu.
4. Select Schedule send.
5. Choose when you want Gmail to send the message.

These steps apply to the Gmail app. If you use Apple Mail with a Gmail account, the controls may be different because you are using Apple’s app rather than Gmail.

How to view your scheduled emails

On a computer, look in Gmail’s left-hand menu and select Scheduled. If it is hidden, select More to expand the menu.

In the Gmail mobile app, tap the three-line menu and then tap Scheduled. The folder shows messages that are waiting to be sent.

Google currently allows up to 100 scheduled emails at one time. If you reach that limit, send or cancel an existing scheduled message before adding another.

How to edit or reschedule a scheduled Gmail message

Gmail does not provide a direct Edit button while a message remains scheduled. You first cancel the scheduled send, which returns the email to Drafts.

1. Open the Scheduled folder.
2. Select the message you want to change.
3. Choose Cancel send.
4. Open the message from Drafts if it does not open automatically.
5. Edit the recipient, subject, message, or attachments.
6. Use Schedule send again and choose a new time.

Cancel send in this context does not delete the email. It changes the scheduled message back into an editable draft.

How to cancel a scheduled email

1. Go to the Scheduled folder.
2. Open the email.
3. Select Cancel send.

The message will remain in Drafts unless you send it, reschedule it, or delete the draft.

Check the time zone before scheduling

Gmail sends the message according to the time zone shown when you schedule it. This matters when you are travelling or writing to someone in another country.

Before confirming, check both the date and the displayed time zone. If you want an email to arrive at 9:00 a.m. in the recipient’s location, convert that time to the time zone Gmail is using. Also remember that daylight-saving changes can shift the difference between countries during parts of the year.

Why a scheduled Gmail message may not send exactly on time

A message can occasionally be sent a few minutes after the scheduled time. If it remains in Scheduled much longer, try these checks:

• Confirm the scheduled date: A wrong month, year, or AM/PM selection is easy to miss.
• Check your account: Make sure you are viewing the same Google account used to schedule the email.
• Look for an error: Gmail may be unable to send a message if the recipient address or attachment has a problem.
• Refresh Gmail: Reload the browser tab or reopen the mobile app to update the folder.
• Check Google Workspace restrictions: A work or school administrator may control some Gmail features.

If you are also reviewing what mobile apps can access, see our guide to stopping apps from tracking your location on Android and iPhone.

Scheduled send versus Undo Send

These features solve different problems:

• Schedule send holds the email until a future date and time you choose.
• Undo Send gives you a brief cancellation window immediately after you press Send.

On a computer, Gmail lets you set the Undo Send cancellation period to 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds under Settings > See all settings > General. It is a short delay, not a way to recall a message after it has already been delivered. Google documents the distinction in its Send or unsend Gmail messages guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I schedule a Gmail email without keeping my device online?

Yes. Once Gmail confirms that the email is scheduled, your computer or phone does not need to remain switched on or connected at the send time.

Can the recipient tell that an email was scheduled?

Gmail does not add a visible “scheduled” label for the recipient. The message arrives like a regular email.

Can I schedule recurring emails in Gmail?

Gmail’s standard Schedule send feature schedules individual messages, not repeating emails. Be cautious with third-party extensions that request access to your inbox, and review their permissions before installing them.

Where does a cancelled scheduled email go?

It returns to Drafts. You can edit it, send it immediately, schedule it again, or delete it.

Conclusion

To schedule an email in Gmail, prepare the message, open the options beside Send, and choose Schedule send. Use the Scheduled folder to review or cancel it, and remember that cancelling returns the email to Drafts. For messages crossing countries, verify the displayed time zone before you confirm.

Featured photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash.