Apple's Mail app can hold an email and send it automatically at a time you pick — great for firing off a message first thing in the morning without staying up, or timing a note to land during business hours. The feature is called Send Later, and it's built right into Mail. Here's exactly how to use it.
What you need
Scheduled sending requires macOS Ventura (13) or later — it also works in macOS Sonoma, Sequoia, and macOS Tahoe. If you don't see the option described below, your Mac is likely on an older macOS. There's no setting to turn on; the option lives next to the Send button.
How to schedule an email in Mail on Mac
- Write your email. Open Mail, click the Compose button (the pencil-and-paper icon), and finish your message — including any recipients and attachments — as you normally would.
- Click the arrow next to Send. Instead of clicking the Send button (the paper-airplane icon at the top of the window), click the small downward arrow (⌄) directly to the right of it.
- Pick a time. A short menu appears with options like Send Now, Send 9:00 PM Tonight, Send 8:00 AM Tomorrow, and Send Later…. Choose one of the presets, or click Send Later… to set your own.
- Set a custom date and time. If you chose Send Later…, a small window with a calendar and clock appears. Type the date and time, or use the calendar and clock controls, then click Schedule.
That's it — the message leaves your Outbox and waits in a new Send Later mailbox until its send time.
Where scheduled emails go — and how to edit or cancel
Scheduled messages collect in a Send Later mailbox that appears in the Mail sidebar. The first time you schedule anything, that mailbox can take a few minutes to show up.
- To edit: Open the Send Later mailbox, double-click the message, make your changes, and re-schedule it.
- To reschedule: Open the message and click Edit near the scheduled-time banner to pick a new date/time.
- To cancel: Simply delete the message from the Send Later mailbox — it won't be sent.
Important: your Mac has to be able to send it
Send Later is handled by your Mac, not by iCloud's servers, so a few conditions must be true at the scheduled moment:
- Your Mac must be powered on and connected to the internet.
- The Mail app should be open (or your Mac awake) around the send time.
- Scheduled mail can send while your Mac is asleep only if it's plugged into power.
If your MacBook is shut down or offline when the time arrives, the email waits and goes out the next time your Mac is on and online.
Scheduling from iPhone syncs too
If you use the same iCloud account, an email you schedule on your iPhone's Mail app shows up in the Send Later mailbox on your Mac (and vice-versa), so you can start a scheduled message on one device and tweak it on another.
Quick tips
- Use Spotlight to jump into Mail fast, then compose and schedule in seconds.
- Speed up composing with Mac keyboard shortcuts — ⌘N for a new message, ⇧⌘D to send.
- Draft on your phone and finish on your desktop with Handoff.
Frequently asked questions
Does the email still send if my Mac is off?
No. Send Later relies on your Mac being on and online at the scheduled time. If it's off, the message sends the next time your Mac is awake and connected.
Which macOS added scheduled email?
macOS Ventura (13) introduced Send Later in Apple Mail. It remains in every macOS since, including Tahoe.
Can I change a scheduled email after setting it?
Yes. Open the Send Later mailbox, edit the message, and re-schedule — or delete it to cancel entirely.
How many emails can I schedule?
There's no practical limit; every pending message sits in the Send Later mailbox with its own send time.
Getting more out of your Mac's built-in apps is one of the easiest ways to make an older machine feel new again. If you're shopping for a reliable Mac that runs the latest macOS, browse our Apple clearance deals on refurbished MacBooks and iMacs — each one is tested and warrantied. Or explore more Mac how-to guides.