Where Is the Outbox in Outlook?

In classic Outlook for Windows, the Outbox is in the folder list on the left, under your email account. Messages wait there until Outlook sends them. The new Outlook for Windows has an Outbox folder too, according to Microsoft’s feature comparison. If your Outbox is empty, your messages have already been sent.

This guide covers classic Outlook and new Outlook for Windows, with a note for Outlook for Mac. It shows where the Outbox is, how to send or delete a stuck message, and how to stop mail from waiting until you press Send/Receive. Steps follow Microsoft Support, checked in October 2026.

Find the Outbox in Classic Outlook

1. Look at the folder pane on the left. If it’s hidden, select View > Folder Pane > Normal. Result: the folder list appears.
2. Expand your email account. Result: its folders, such as Inbox, Drafts and Sent Items, are listed.
3. Select Outbox. Result: any messages waiting to be sent are shown.

The Outbox is a temporary holding spot. Outlook keeps a message there while it connects to your mail server, then moves it to Sent Items once it’s sent.

Find the Outbox in New Outlook

Microsoft’s feature comparison lists the Outbox folder as available in both new Outlook and classic Outlook. MailBoxInsights, which tested the current version, says some secondary folders are hidden by default in new Outlook and Outlook on the web, so you may need to expand Folders in the left pane to see it.

In new Outlook, the Send/Receive tab is replaced by Sync. Microsoft’s sync guide says to select View > Sync or press F9 to send and receive manually.

If Email Is Stuck in the Outbox

These fixes follow Microsoft’s stuck email guide for classic Outlook:

1. On the Send / Receive tab, look at Work Offline. Microsoft says if it’s highlighted blue, you’re disconnected. Select it to go back online. Result: the button turns white.
2. Select Send All. Result: Outlook tries to send everything in the Outbox.
3. If a message still won’t leave, check for a large attachment. Microsoft says this is the most likely cause.

Remove a large attachment from a stuck message

1. Select Send / Receive > Work Offline. Result: Outlook stops trying to send.
2. Open the Outbox and drag the message to Drafts. Result: it’s out of the send queue.
3. Open the message from Drafts and delete the attachment. Result: the message is smaller.
4. Turn Work Offline off again, then send the message.

If an error says Outlook is trying to transmit the message, Microsoft suggests closing Outlook (ending outlook.exe in Task Manager if it won’t close), reopening it and trying again.

Delete a message stuck in the Outbox

Turn on Work Offline, open the Outbox, select the message and press Delete. Then turn Work Offline off.

If Email Only Sends When You Press Send/Receive

Microsoft says this happens when Send immediately when connected is turned off:

1. In classic Outlook, select File > Options. Result: Outlook Options opens.
2. Select Advanced. Result: the advanced settings appear.
3. Under Send and receive, turn on Send immediately when connected and select OK. Result: new messages leave the Outbox right away.

If the option is grayed out, Microsoft says it’s managed by group policy, so contact your administrator.

Outlook for Mac

Microsoft’s Mac Outbox page says you won’t see the Outbox when email is working normally. It appears at the top of the sidebar only when messages are waiting. If mail sits there, check that you’re online with the slider on the Tools tab. Microsoft notes that toggle isn’t in New Outlook for Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Outbox empty?

An empty Outbox means there’s nothing waiting to be sent. Check Sent Items to confirm a message went out.

Why is a scheduled email sitting in the Outbox?

In classic Outlook, a delayed email waits in the Outbox until its send time, and Outlook needs to be open then. See how to schedule an email in Outlook.

Can a large attachment really block my email?

Yes. Microsoft calls a large attachment the most likely cause of a stuck message. Remove or shrink it and send again.

Outlook won’t open at all. What now?

See what to do when Outlook won’t open. If you’ll be away, you can also set an out of office reply. To control the warning about missing attachments, see how to turn off the attachment reminder in Outlook.