# How Can I Change the Time Stamp on Outgoing Emails? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 28, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018 "2005-11-28T04:58:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/1 "2005-11-28T04:58:11Z")
Is there any way to change the outgoing time stamp for emails? I was supposed to send an email out earlier tonight, but I lost track of time and completely forgot. In other words, I need my email to look like it was sent out this afternoon rather than midnight. DC ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/2 "2005-11-28T05:03:51Z")
You can change your system time temporarily, but this will only show up in the SMTP timestamp. If the recipient actually looks at the email header, it will show the actual time it was received by the mailserver. You cannot change this time. ---
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/3 "2005-11-28T05:07:41Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > You can change your system time temporarily, but this will only show up in the SMTP timestamp. If the recipient actually looks at the email header, it will show the actual time it was received by the mailserver. You cannot change this time. Thanks, **Q.E.D**. I thought the situation was hopeless, but I had to try. I’m kinda lost with your lingo. Could you please explain to me what the SMTP timestamp is vs the time that would show up in the header? Thanks. DC ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/4 "2005-11-28T05:13:58Z")
It’s just the time that appears at the top of an email along with the Subject and From fields, as in the following example: > [@](#): > > From : Me \<[me@fromurl.com](mailto:me@fromurl.com)\> > Sent : Sunday, November 27, 2005 6:59 PM > To : \<[me@tourl.com](mailto:me@tourl.com)\> > Subject : timestamp test This is put there in the SMTP packets sent out by your mail client. I should mention this will only show your system time if you use a local client, like Outlook. If you use a webmail client, like Hotmail, it will use their server time, instead. In any case, the actual received time will be included in the header, if the recipient cares to look. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/5 "2005-11-28T06:21:01Z")
Yes, but then you can say “I sent it at X:XX, something must have been wrong with the server or something that it was delayed for several hours”. I’ve seen it happen, and never questioned it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/6 "2005-11-28T09:21:48Z")
You could say that, but it’s not at all certain anyone would believe you; you’re far more likely to prevail if you say _less_, for example “Dunno what went wrong, but I _definitely_ sent it before the deadline”. But that would of course be lying, so I couldn’t possibly recommend it - in fact you’re probably just digging a deeper hole by attempting to fake the time stamp. If this is about submission of homework or some such, it’s also likely to be a trick that the recipient has seen before. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/7 "2005-11-28T09:24:47Z")
BTW, if you use Outlook (not Outlook Express), it’s possible to, say, right-click on some document, click _Send To\>Mail Recipient_, compose a message to go with the attachment and click _Send_, only to have the message _not go anywhere_ - if the main Outlook application isn’t loaded at the time, the message will just sit in the outbox until such time as Outlook is launched. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/8 "2005-11-28T10:29:15Z")
one classic problem with my old mac is that the time functions keeps getting reset to 1904 (internal battery flat). If I dont notice it and change it, people may receive my emails, but depending on how their email reader is set up may not see it as it goes to the bottom of their inbox instead of the top ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/9 "2005-11-28T10:46:04Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > If this is about submission of homework or some such, it’s also likely to be a trick that the recipient has seen before. And is why most people who accept emails to a deadline specify when the email is to **arrive** in their mailbox. When you sent it doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![mint\_my\_own](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mint\_my\_own](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mint_my_own)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2005, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-change-the-time-stamp-on-outgoing-emails/333018/10 "2005-11-29T15:44:18Z")
> [@Roderick Femm](#): > > Yes, but then you can say “I sent it at X:XX, something must have been wrong with the server or something that it was delayed for several hours”. I’ve seen it happen, and never questioned it. Check your settings. Options/ Mail Delivery / check the “Send messages immediately” I have no idea why, but this defaults to “No, just let them pile up for a while until mail is next retrieved.” I guess this is from the olden days when each email would have meant a dialed-out phone call on your home line.