So, what does snooze actually do?
It temporarily hides emails and brings them back at a time you choose, acting like a personal reminder to handle them later. This can keep your inbox neat and reduce distractions.
What Happens When You Snooze an Email in Outlook?
When you snooze an email in Outlook, it is automatically moved to the Snoozed folder. It will disappear from your inbox until the date and time you selected.
Once that time comes, Outlook moves it back to your inbox as an unread message with a small reminder icon, making it easy to spot and handle.
Using this feature can help you move closer to Inbox Zero, but snoozing alone won’t solve the bigger problem of a constantly filling inbox.
That’s where Clean Email can take your email management to the next level.
Clean Email goes beyond snoozing with:
- Pause Subscriptions – Temporarily stop receiving newsletters and marketing emails without unsubscribing.
- Screener for Unknown Senders – Hold new senders for your approval before they ever reach your inbox.
- Auto Clean Rules – Automatically archive, delete, or sort messages from certain senders or categories.
- Smart Folders – Automatically categorize social notifications, promotions, and updates outside your main inbox so you can focus on what matters.
While snoozing delays emails, Clean Email prevents clutter before it reaches you. It’s the difference between constantly hiding emails and actually taking control of your inbox. → Try it for Free
How to Enable the Snooze Feature in Outlook
In modern versions of Outlook, including New Outlook, Outlook on the Web, and Outlook Mobile, the Snooze feature is built in and does not require manual activation. If your account supports it, the option is available by default, for example, via the right-click menu on a message.
However, there are a few scenarios in which the Snooze option may not be visible:
1. Unsupported Account Type
Snooze relies on server-side email syncing. If your account is configured as POP or IMAP without such syncing, Outlook cannot use Snooze because it needs to temporarily move the message to a hidden “Snoozed” folder and return it at the scheduled time. In these cases, the option simply does not appear.
2. Older Outlook Versions
The “classic” desktop versions of Outlook 2016 or 2019 do not include Snooze in the native interface, even for supported accounts. The feature is accessible only in Outlook on the Web or in the New Outlook interface.
3. Corporate or Administrator Restrictions
In some organizational environments, administrators may remove or disable the Snooze action through mailbox policies, which will prevent it from appearing in the interface.
How to Snooze Emails in Outlook
Snoozing works a little differently on each platform, but it’s simple once you know where to look.
Snooze Emails in Outlook On the Web (Outlook 365 / Office 365)
- Go to https://outlook.live.com/ and log in.
- Open your inbox and right-click the email you want to snooze.
- Click Snooze, then set a specific date and time for it to return.
Snooze Emails in Outlook Mobile App (Android & iOS)
- Open the Outlook app and go to your inbox.
- Open the email you want to snooze.
- Tap the three horizontal dots on the bottom, then choose Snooze, and pick a time.
This is useful if you want to snooze emails on the go and have them return when you’re back at your desk.
Snooze Emails in Outlook On Windows Desktop
💡 Note: The Snooze feature is available only in the New Outlook for Windows. The classic desktop versions (such as Outlook 2016 or 2019) do not support Snooze in their native interface.
- Open the New Outlook for Windows app and go to your Inbox.
- Select the email you want to postpone.
- Click Snooze in the Home tab and choose your preferred time.
Snooze Emails in Outlook On Mac Desktop
- Open the Outlook app on your Mac and go to your Inbox.
- Select the email you want to snooze. From there, you can snooze it in three different ways:
- Click Snooze at the top of the email.
- Hover over the email in the email list and select Snooze from quick actions.
- Right-click the email and select Snooze.
- Choose the appropriate time to receive the snoozed email.
How to Undo or Unsnooze Emails in Outlook
If you snoozed the wrong message, you can unsnooze emails in Outlook easily:
- Open the Snoozed folder (on web, desktop, or mobile).
- Move the email back to Inbox.
The email will immediately reappear and will no longer be delayed.
How to View Snoozed Reminders in Outlook
To check which emails you’ve snoozed:
- Open your account on web, desktop, or mobile.
- View your folder list.
- Select Snoozed to see all delayed messages.
Regularly reviewing this folder helps prevent missed replies.
How to Add Snooze to Quick Actions in Outlook
Add Snooze to Quick Actions on the Web
If you cannot see Snooze in the quick actions, you can customize the ribbon by clicking the three horizontal dots on the top right → Customize.
There, check the box next to Snooze to add it to the quick actions.
After adding the Snooze action to your quick actions in the ribbon, simply click the clock icon with the drop-down arrow above your email and pick a return time such as Later today, Tomorrow, This weekend, Next week, or Choose a date to set a custom time when the email should return to your inbox.
Add Snooze to Quick Actions on Mac Desktop
To use the Snooze feature in your Outlook desktop app for Mac conveniently, you can add it to quick actions:
- Click Outlook in the top left and choose Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Select Reading under the Email section.
- In the Quick Actions section below, check the box next to Snooze.
💡 Hint: You can also click the three dots in the toolbar and select Customize Toolbar… to add Snooze to quick actions, just like in the web version of Outlook.
With snooze enabled, managing your inbox on any platform becomes much easier.
Troubleshooting Common Outlook Snooze Issues
Even though snoozing is straightforward, problems like “Outlook snooze email is not working” can happen. Here’s how to fix them:
- Snoozed emails not reappearing in Outlook
- Check the Snoozed folder first—emails may still be there.
- Refresh Outlook or restart the app if syncing is delayed.
- Snooze option not visible
- Customize your Outlook ribbon on the desktop to add Snooze.
- On web or mobile, use the three-dot menu for more options.
- Multiple emails not snoozing together
- Select all the emails first, then snooze them as a group.
- Outlook desktop app snooze email not working
- Update your app to the latest version.
- If using Office 365 / Outlook 365, make sure your account is synced.
- Snoozed folder missing in Outlook
- It appears automatically when you snooze your first email.
- If missing, log out and back in, or restart the app.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're dealing with a busy inbox or just trying to stay on top of things, the Outlook snooze email feature is a great tool for managing messages on your schedule. And if you're serious about prioritizing emails at work, combining snooze with tools like Clean Email can help you reduce distractions, stay focused, and keep your inbox organized long-term.
Outlook Snooze Email Feature – FAQs
Can you snooze emails in Outlook?
Yes, Outlook supports snoozing on the web, desktop (New Outlook for Windows & Mac), and mobile apps.
Does Outlook have a snooze feature on Mac?
Yes. In Outlook for Mac, you can use the Snooze feature on emails to temporarily remove them from your inbox and have them reappear at a chosen time.
How do I find snoozed emails in Outlook?
Check the Snoozed folder, available on web, desktop, and mobile.
How do I unsnooze an email in Outlook?
Move it from the Snoozed folder back to Inbox.
What does it mean to snooze an email in Outlook?
It temporarily hides an email and brings it back at the chosen time, helping you focus on priority messages.
Why is my Outlook snooze email not working?
This may happen due to sync delays, missing updates, or using an old desktop version. Check the Snoozed folder and update your app.
Does Outlook 365 have a snooze option?
Yes, Outlook 365 offers the Snooze feature on the web, in the New Outlook for Windows and Mac, and in mobile apps, but it is not available in the classic desktop versions.
