Create a poll for scheduling a meeting in Outlook

Overview

Scheduling Poll looks through the attendees' schedules (if available) and suggests a list of suitable meeting times. Factors used to determine the best options include how many attendees are free, how many required vs. optional attendees are free, whether conflicted attendees have tentative or busy commitments on their calendar.

Classic Outlook

  1. Open a new calendar item or email message in classic Outlook for Windows, then add invitees on the To line.

  2. Select the body of the message. On the Message tab (in Mail) or the Meeting tab (in Calendar), select New Scheduling Poll. (The poll panel opens on the right side.)

  3. Select a duration and a date for the meeting.

    Outlook will then suggest meeting times and show how many invitees are or are not available for each suggested start time. (Select the  Downward-pointing double-chevron symbol. double chevron to expand the item and see exactly who is or isn't available.)

  4. Click each suggested time that you want to include in the poll.

  5. At the bottom of the panel, select Next.

  6. Add a location and/or turn on the Teams meeting option. You can also select Manage poll settings to expand that section and adjust any settings as needed.

  7. When you're done, select Create poll. The information is added to your draft message. When you're ready, select Send.

New Outlook

  1. Open a new calendar item or email message in new Outlook for Windows, then add invitees on the To line.

  2. Select the body of the message. On the Insert tab (in Mail) or the Event tab (in Calendar), select  The Scheduling Poll icon. Scheduling poll. (The poll panel opens on the right side.)

  3. Select a duration and a date for the meeting.

    Outlook will then suggest meeting times and show how many invitees are or are not available for each suggested start time. (Select the  Downward-pointing double-chevron symbol. double chevron to expand the item and see exactly who is or isn't available.)

  4. Click each suggested time that you want to include in the poll.

  5. At the bottom of the panel, select Next.

  6. Add a location and/or turn on the Teams meeting option. You can also select Manage poll settings to expand that section and adjust any settings as needed.

  7. When you're done, select Create poll. The information is added to your draft message. When you're ready, select Send.

For additional details, see Create a Scheduling Poll.

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