Save or don't save drafts of unsent messages

By default, every three minutes Microsoft Outlook automatically attempts to save any e-mail message that you create but do not send. In addition, you can save a draft at any time and are prompted to save messages that you attempt to close without sending.

• Save a draft of a message that you want to finish later
• Open a message you previously created and saved, but never sent
• Turn off automatic saving of unsent messages
• Change automatic message saving interval

Save a draft of a message that you want to finish later

To manually save a draft of a message, do one of the following:

• Click Save on the Quick Access Toolbar.

• Click the Microsoft Office Button , and then click Save.

Open a message you previously created and saved, but never sent

• In Mail, in the Navigation Pane, click Drafts, and then double-click the message.

 Tip   To delete any draft, click the message, and then press Delete.

Turn off automatic saving of unsent messages

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the Preferences tab, under E-mail, click E-mail Options.
3. Clear the Automatically save unsent messages check box.

Change automatic message saving interval

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the Preferences tab, under E-mail, click E-mail Options.
3. Under Message handling, click Advanced E-mail Options.
4. Under Save messages, next to AutoSave items every, in the minutes box enter a number between 1 and 99.