How to Send an Email at a Specific Time on iPhone (iOS 16)

* This article is from our Tip of the Day newsletter. . *

I tend to feel inspired to respond to emails during inappropriate times, like during a work meeting, which is why I love the option to schedule an email even though I've already written it. Another reason to schedule sending an email is if you promised to remind someone of an event or task and don't want to forget. I'll teach you how to use the new Send Later feature!

Related: Can You Schedule a Text Message on iPhone? Yes!

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Why You’ll Love This Tip

  • Send out emails at a more appropriate time, no matter when you wrote them.
  • Keep your promise to follow up by scheduling an email to send right away before you forget.

How to Schedule an Email with the Send Later Feature

To set an email to Send Later, you’ll need to have iOS 16 installed on your iPhone. Next, you’ll either need to find an email to respond to or write an email from scratch. For this example, I will create a practice email to send to myself, and I suggested testing out this feature by doing this as well. For more great new iOS 16 tips, check out our Tip of the Day newsletter. 

  1. Open the Mail app.

    Open the Mail app.
  2. Create a new email (or find and open an email, then tap reply).

    Create a new email (or find and open and email then tap reply).
  3. Select a recipient, type a subject line, and draft your email. Tap and hold the send button until a drop-down menu appears.

    Tap and hold the send button until a drop-down menu appears.
  4. You’ll see several pre-set delivery times. To send it at a custom delivery time, tap Send Later….

    To send it at a custom delivery time, tap Send Later….
  5. Use the calendar to select a month and date.

    Use the calendar to select a month and date.
  6. Tap the time to select the time and time zone.

    Tap the time to select the time, and time zone.
  7. Tap Done.

    Tap Done.
  8. Once you schedule an email to Send Later, you will see it in a folder called Send Later. To see it, tap Mailboxes.

    Tap Mailboxes.
  9. Next, tap Send Later.

    Next, tap Send Later.
  10. If you open the email, you can tap Edit to change the delivery date and time.

    If you open the email, you can tap Edit to change the delivery date and time.
  11. You can also tap Cancel Send Later. If you do this, you’ll still have to tap the send button to send the email. 

    You can also tap Cancel Send Later.

Pro Tip: In order for your email to Send Later, it will have to be connected to the internet at the time of sending. The recipient will not be aware that the email was scheduled; it will be delivered like a regular email.

Now you know how to schedule sending an email to send at a later time of your choosing using the Mail app! Next, learn how to unsend an email after you’ve already sent it or how to set up a reminder to respond to an email at a more appropriate time.

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Author Details

Olena Kagui's picture

Author Details

Olena Kagui

Olena Kagui is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life. In the last 10 years, she has been published in dozens of publications internationally and won an excellence award. Since joining iPhone Life in 2020, she has written how-to articles as well as complex guides about Apple products, software, and apps. Olena grew up using Macs and exploring all the latest tech. Her Maui home is the epitome of an Apple ecosystem, full of compatible smart gear to boot. Olena’s favorite device is the Apple Watch Ultra because it can survive all her adventures and travels, and even her furbabies.