Forum Discussion
Suggestion to Improve Outlook Delay Delivery
Dear Microsoft Outlook Team,
I have been using Outlook for a long time and I use the Delayed Delivery feature frequently. Honestly, I think it is one valuable features in Outlook, but it is also one of the features I trust the least.
Many times I have wondered if my message was actually scheduled to be sent later or if it was sent immediately for some reason.
I believe that this uncertainty could be reduced with a few small interface improvements, without changing the way Outlook works.
My suggestion is to add:
- a Confirm Delay button after selecting a delivery date and time,
- a visible status such as Delay: Active/Not Active, so that the user immediately knows that delayed delivery has been successfully activated,
- a Scheduled: field that displays the exact delivery date and time,
- a Deactivate Delay button, which allows users to quickly disable delayed delivery,
I have also created a test image example to better explain the idea and attached them to this message. As an Outlook user, I believe these small improvements would increase user confidence in the delayed delivery feature and help prevent accidental or premature delivery of emails.
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion.
Don't expect any changes to this in Classic Outlook.
However, in New Outlook and Outlook on the Web, this feature has already gotten a massive overhaul.
The feature has been renamed to Scheduled Send and when you use it, it will stay in your Drafts folder until your scheduled time. Within your Drafts folder, you'll see that the message is Scheduled and when you select it, you'll at what date and time it will be sent. From here, you can easily cancel this as well, make changes to the message and/or send it directly.
So basically, all your wishes regarding delayed delivery have been implemented in New Outlook already ;-)
4 Replies
This would be a really useful improvement. Being able to delay delivery for specific recipients, domains, or based on custom rules would make the feature much more practical. Hopefully Microsoft considers adding more flexibility in a future Outlook update.
Gentlemen, thank you for your answers. It's time for me to switch to a new outlook. I hope it won't be too stressful.
Don't expect any changes to this in Classic Outlook.
However, in New Outlook and Outlook on the Web, this feature has already gotten a massive overhaul.
The feature has been renamed to Scheduled Send and when you use it, it will stay in your Drafts folder until your scheduled time. Within your Drafts folder, you'll see that the message is Scheduled and when you select it, you'll at what date and time it will be sent. From here, you can easily cancel this as well, make changes to the message and/or send it directly.
So basically, all your wishes regarding delayed delivery have been implemented in New Outlook already ;-)
Hi DKlai, I completely understand this one; delayed send is useful, but it should feel more trustworthy at the moment you press Send. Until Outlook adds a clearer status, I’d keep an eye on the Outbox or Scheduled area depending on which Outlook client you use, and I’d also submit this through Outlook’s in-app Feedback option because it is exactly the kind of UX improvement the product team can track there.
