Outlook Snooze Email Until Specific Time: How to Configure Per Message

You want to delay the reappearance of an email until a precise time you choose. Outlook’s built-in snooze feature lets you hide a message and bring it back to your inbox at a specific date and time. This article explains how to snooze individual emails for a custom time using the desktop app, web app, and mobile app. You will learn the exact steps for each platform and what to do when the feature behaves unexpectedly.

How the Snooze Feature Works in Outlook

Snoozing an email moves it from your inbox to a hidden folder. The message reappears at the top of your inbox at the time you set. This is not a delayed send or a reminder — the email is physically removed from view and restored later. The feature works on individual messages and does not require rules or add-ins.

The snooze folder is named Snoozed and appears in your folder pane in the classic Outlook desktop app. In new Outlook and Outlook on the web, snoozed messages are stored in the Snoozed folder under the More section. You can view all snoozed items there at any time.

Snooze is available in these Outlook versions:

• Outlook for Microsoft 365 (classic and new versions)
• Outlook on the web (Outlook.com and work/school accounts)
• Outlook for iOS and Android
• Outlook for Mac (limited to preset times; custom time available in version 16.76 and later)

Outlook 2019, 2016, and earlier versions do not include the snooze feature. Users on those versions must use a workaround such as flagging with a reminder or moving the email to a temporary folder.

Steps to Snooze an Email Until a Specific Time

The exact steps differ by Outlook client. Follow the instructions for your version below.

Snooze in Outlook for Windows (Classic Version)

1. Select the email
   Click the email in your inbox to highlight it. You can also open the email in its own window by double-clicking it.
2. Right-click the message
   Right-click the selected email. From the context menu, choose Snooze.
3. Pick a custom time
   In the submenu, click Custom. The Snooze dialog box opens.
4. Set the date and time
   In the Snooze until field, type or select the date and time you want the email to reappear. Use the dropdown arrows to pick a month, day, and year. Enter the hour and minute in the time box.
5. Confirm the snooze
   Click OK. The email moves to the Snoozed folder. It returns to your inbox at the scheduled time.

Snooze in New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the Web

1. Select the email
   Click the email to highlight it in the message list.
2. Open the Snooze menu
   On the Home tab of the ribbon, click the Snooze button. Alternatively, right-click the email and select Snooze.
3. Choose a custom time
   From the dropdown, click Pick a date and time. A date and time picker appears.
4. Enter the exact time
   Select the date and type the time in the format HH:MM AM/PM. Click Snooze.
5. Verify the snoozed email
   The email disappears from the inbox. To see it, expand the More section in the folder pane and click Snoozed.

Snooze in Outlook Mobile App (iOS and Android)

1. Open the email
   Tap the email in your inbox to open it.
2. Access the snooze options
   Tap the clock icon at the top of the screen (iOS) or tap the three-dot menu and select Snooze (Android).
3. Select a custom time
   From the list of preset times, tap Pick a date and time.
4. Set the date and time
   Use the date picker and time wheel to enter your desired snooze time. Tap Save or Done.
5. Check the Snoozed folder
   The email moves to the Snoozed folder. Tap the folder icon and select Snoozed to view all snoozed messages.

Common Snooze Issues and Their Fixes

Email does not reappear at the scheduled time

Outlook must be running for snoozed emails to return. If the app is closed at the scheduled time, the email reappears the next time you open Outlook. To ensure delivery, keep Outlook running in the background. This applies to all Outlook clients.

Snooze option is grayed out or missing

The snooze feature requires a Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com account. If you use an IMAP or POP account, the snooze option may be unavailable. Switch to a supported account type or use a workaround such as flagging the email with a reminder. In classic Outlook, go to File > Account Settings to check your account type.

Snoozed email reappears in the wrong folder

Snoozed emails return to the folder they were in when you snoozed them. If you moved the email to a subfolder before snoozing, it returns to that subfolder. Always snooze from the inbox to ensure the email returns to the inbox.

Cannot set a custom time on Outlook for Mac

Outlook for Mac version 16.75 and earlier only offers preset snooze times. Update Outlook for Mac to version 16.76 or later through the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool. After updating, right-click the email and select Snooze > Custom to set a specific date and time.

Item	Classic Outlook (Windows)	New Outlook / Web / Mobile
Menu access	Right-click > Snooze > Custom	Ribbon Snooze button or right-click > Pick a date and time
Custom time format	Date and time fields with dropdown selectors	Date picker and HH:MM AM/PM text input
Snoozed folder location	Folder pane under the inbox	Folder pane under More
Account requirement	Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com	Microsoft 365 or Outlook.com

Snoozing an email until a specific time is a direct way to manage when you see a message. Use the Custom option in any supported Outlook client to set the exact date and time. If you need to unsnooze an email early, open the Snoozed folder, right-click the message, and select Clear Snooze or move it back to the inbox manually.