When you switch from Classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, the Snooze feature works differently. In Classic Outlook, Snooze was tied to reminders for appointments and tasks. In new Outlook, Snooze applies to email messages and lets you temporarily hide a message until a specific date and time. This article explains how the new Snooze feature works, how to use it, and what changed from Classic Outlook.
Many users expect Snooze to behave the same way in new Outlook. The feature moved from the reminder window to the message list and reading pane. You can now snooze an email directly without opening a reminder. This article covers the exact steps to snooze emails in new Outlook and how to manage snoozed messages.
You will also learn how to unsnooze a message early and how to adjust the default snooze duration. The goal is to help you adapt quickly to the new Snooze workflow after migrating from Classic Outlook.
Key Takeaways: Snooze in New Outlook vs Classic Outlook
- Right-click an email > Snooze: Temporarily hides the message and returns it to your inbox at a chosen time.
- Snooze duration buttons (Later Today, Tomorrow, This Weekend, Next Week, Pick a Date): Select a preset or custom time for the message to reappear.
- Snoozed folder under Search Folders: Lists all snoozed messages so you can unsnooze or edit the return time.
How Snooze Changed From Classic Outlook to New Outlook
In Classic Outlook, the Snooze button appeared on the reminder window for calendar appointments, meetings, and tasks. When you clicked Snooze, the reminder would reappear after a set interval, such as 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or 1 hour. This feature did not apply to email messages. To temporarily hide an email in Classic Outlook, you had to use a workaround like moving the message to a subfolder or using a third-party add-in.
In new Outlook, the Snooze feature is built directly into the email experience. You can snooze any email from the message list, the reading pane, or the ribbon. The snoozed message is removed from your inbox and stored in a hidden location. At the scheduled time, the message automatically moves back to your inbox and appears at the top of the message list.
The underlying mechanism uses a system folder called Snoozed. This folder is visible only when you expand Search Folders in the folder pane. New Outlook does not support snoozing calendar items or tasks. The feature is exclusive to email messages.
Steps to Snooze an Email in New Outlook
You can snooze an email in three ways: from the message list, from the reading pane, or from the ribbon. All three methods produce the same result.
Snooze From the Message List
- Right-click the email in the message list
A context menu appears with several options. - Select Snooze from the menu
A submenu opens with preset snooze durations. - Choose a duration
Options include Later Today, Tomorrow, This Weekend, Next Week, and Pick a Date. If you select Pick a Date, a date and time picker appears. - Set the exact date and time (if using Pick a Date)
Use the calendar to select a date and the drop-down to choose a time. Click Snooze to confirm.
Snooze From the Reading Pane
- Open the email in the reading pane
Click the email once to select it. The reading pane displays the message content. - Click the Snooze icon in the reading pane toolbar
The icon looks like a clock with a bell. It is located near the Delete and Archive buttons. - Select a snooze duration
The same preset options and Pick a Date appear. Choose the desired time.
Snooze From the Ribbon
- Select the email in the message list
Click the email to highlight it. - Click the Snooze button on the Home tab of the ribbon
The button is in the Respond group. It displays a clock icon. - Choose a snooze duration from the drop-down
Select Later Today, Tomorrow, This Weekend, Next Week, or Pick a Date.
How to View and Unsnooze Emails
Snoozed emails are not deleted. They are moved to a system folder. To see all snoozed messages, follow these steps.
- Open the folder pane on the left side of new Outlook
If the folder pane is hidden, click the left-arrow icon or press Ctrl+Shift+1 to show it. - Scroll down to Search Folders
Search Folders is near the bottom of the folder list, below your mailbox folders. - Expand Search Folders and click Snoozed
The Snoozed folder appears only if you have at least one snoozed message. It lists all snoozed emails along with the scheduled return time. - To unsnooze an email, right-click it and select Snooze > Unsnooze
The message immediately moves back to your inbox. Alternatively, you can drag the email from the Snoozed folder to your inbox.
Adjusting the Default Snooze Duration
New Outlook does not offer a setting to change the default snooze duration for presets like Later Today or Tomorrow. These presets are fixed. Later Today returns the message at 5:00 PM local time. Tomorrow returns the message at 8:00 AM the next day. This Weekend returns the message at 8:00 AM on the following Monday. Next Week returns the message at 8:00 AM on the first workday of the next week.
If you need a custom time, use Pick a Date and set the exact hour and minute. The time picker uses 15-minute increments. You cannot add a custom preset to the list.
Common Issues After Switching From Classic Outlook
Snooze Option Is Missing on Right-Click
If the Snooze option does not appear when you right-click an email, you may be using an unsupported account type. New Outlook requires a Microsoft 365, Exchange Online, Outlook.com, or Gmail account. POP and IMAP accounts may not support Snooze. To check your account type, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings and look at the Type column for each account.
Snoozed Email Does Not Return to Inbox
The snoozed email may still be in the Snoozed folder if the return time has not yet elapsed. Verify the scheduled time by opening the Snoozed folder and checking the Snooze End Time column. If the time has passed, right-click the email and select Snooze > Unsnooze to force it back to your inbox.
If the email still does not appear, close and reopen new Outlook. The snooze engine may need a refresh. You can also restart the Outlook process by right-clicking the Outlook icon in the system tray and selecting Exit, then reopening Outlook.
Snooze Duration Presets Do Not Match My Work Hours
The preset times are fixed and cannot be changed. Later Today always returns the message at 5:00 PM. Tomorrow always returns at 8:00 AM. If you prefer different times, use Pick a Date for every snooze action. This is a known limitation of new Outlook compared to Classic Outlook, where you could set custom reminder intervals.
Snooze in New Outlook vs Classic Outlook: Key Differences
| Item | New Outlook | Classic Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| What can be snoozed | Email messages only | Calendar appointments, meetings, and tasks |
| Where Snooze appears | Right-click menu, reading pane toolbar, ribbon | Reminder window only |
| Custom snooze time | Pick a Date option with date and time picker | Drop-down list of preset intervals (5 min, 15 min, 1 hour, etc) |
| Preset options | Later Today, Tomorrow, This Weekend, Next Week | 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, etc |
| Where snoozed items are stored | Snoozed folder under Search Folders | Reminders are stored in the calendar or task list |
| Unsnooze method | Right-click > Snooze > Unsnooze or drag to inbox | Not applicable; reminders can be dismissed only |
After switching from Classic Outlook, the Snooze feature in new Outlook requires a different workflow. You now snooze emails instead of reminders. Use the right-click menu or the Snooze icon in the reading pane to temporarily hide messages. Check the Snoozed folder under Search Folders to see all pending snoozes. If you need a custom return time, use Pick a Date instead of relying on the fixed presets. For unsupported account types, consider switching to a Microsoft 365 or Exchange Online account to enable the Snooze feature.