This article explains how to customize when Outlook sends and receives emails. Instructions apply to Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, and Outlook 2010.

If you want to limit how often you check your email or just want to manage your inbox more efficiently, set Outlook to check for new email every few minutes or every few hours. You can even choose which email accounts you want to check and when you want to check them. When Outlook checks for new email periodically, email for included accounts will also be retrieved immediately after Outlook starts.

Set Outlook to automatically check for and retrieve new messages on a schedule.

Select your Outlook Inbox and go to the Send/Receive tab.