There are many reasons why you might want to unsend an email. You might notice a typo, forget to attach a file, or simply regret sending the email in the first place. Thankfully, Microsoft Outlook lets you unsend – or recall – an email. Here’s how to unsend Outlook mail.
Can You Unsend All Outlook Emails?
You can only unsend mail in Outlook if you and the recipient have email accounts in the same organization. You can’t unsend emails to @gmail.com, @hotmail.com, or any other web-based email service.
The “Recall Message” button appears after you hit “Send.” You can click on it whenever – there’s no time limit. However, you can unsend read emails. So, you shouldn’t wait too long.
You also can’t unsend Outlook messages protected by Azure Information Protection. The additional security measures prevent it.
How to Unsend Outlook Mail in the New Outlook and Outlook for Mac
The new version of Outlook and Outlook for Mac make it easy to unsend an email. Here’s what to do.
Step 1: Go to “Sent Items” on the left.
Step 2: Double-click the email you want to unsend. This opens it in a new window.
Step 3: Click on “Recall Message” at the top.
Step 4: Select “OK.”
A report will soon arrive to your inbox. The link inside will tell you if the recall has been successful. The recall will fail if the recipient has already read – or previewed – the email.
How to Unsend Outlook Mail in the Classic Outlook
The classic Outlook has a few extra steps to unsend an email. However, the process is still simple.
Step 1: Open the “Sent Items” folder in the left pane.
Step 2: Double-click the email you want to unsend.
Step 3: Go to the “Message” tab at the top.
Step 4: Click on “Actions.”
Step 5: Select “Recall This Message” from the dropdown menu.
Step 6: Choose “Delete unread copies of this message.”
Step 7: Click “OK.”
If you have the Simplified Ribbon, Step 4 will be different. Here’s what you should do instead.
Step 4: Go to the three-dot button on the far right corner.
Step 5: Hover over “Actions” in the dropdown menu.
Now, you’ll see “Recall This Message.” From there, you can complete Steps 6 and 7.
Some 30 seconds later, you’ll receive a “Message Recall Report.” You should view the report to confirm your email has been unsent. Unfortunately, the recall can also fail. It usually happens if the recipient has already read the email. Even previewing the email marks it as read.
How to Unsend Outlook Mail in Outlook.com
Outlook.com is a web-based email service. It’s just like Gmail or Hotmail. This means it won’t let you unsend emails. Once you hit “Send,” the email is no longer in your control. However, you can delay sending the email five to 10 seconds. This gives you enough time to undo sending the email.
Step 1: Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner of your window to open “Settings.”
Step 2: Go to the “Mail” tab.
Step 3: Select “Compose and reply” from the list of options.
Step 4: Go to “Undo send” and choose how long Outlook.com should wait to send your message.
Step 5: Press “Save.”
Now, whenever you send an email, you’ll see an “Undo” button. It will be there for only a few seconds, so make sure to act quickly if you want to unsend your email.
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