Ever sent an email and immediately wished you could have it back? We’ve all been there. Whether it was sent to the wrong person or had a glaring typo, that moment of panic is a universal feeling. Thankfully, if you’re an Outlook user onWindowsor Mac, there’s a trick to fix it: the email recall feature.
This guide will show you how to pull back that message before it’s too late, and even how to stop yourself from making the same mistake in the future.
How to recall an email in Outlook
You’ll need the desktop Outlook client to recall email messages. That isn’t too bad considering it’s one of thebest email clients.
With the latest version, open up the client and selectHometo get started.
Step 1:Using the menu on the left side, selectSent itemsto see your sent emails.
Step 2:Find the Outlook message you want to recall and double-click it. This will open the email in a new window.
Step 3:Ensure you have theMessagetab selected in the email window. Select theThree dotson the right side of the toolbar, hover overActions,and then selectRecall this message.If you’re using a newer version of Outlook, you’ll see theRecall Messageoption directly on the toolbar after opening theSent Itemspane and double-clicking your message.
Step 4:If you don’t see the three dots, instead selectMovefrom the tool bar, then chooseActionsandRecall this message.
Step 5:A pop-up window appears on your screen. Here, you have two options:Delete unread copies of this messageorDelete unread copies and replace with a new message. You’ll also see an option to have Outlook notify you if the process succeeds or fails. Select your option(s) and click theOKbutton to continue. If you deleted the message, congratulations! If you want to replace it, continue on.
Step 6:If you choose to create a replacement, Outlook opens a second screen so you can revise the message. As you compose your new email, Outlook recalls your old message and displays a notification (if you selected that option). Just click theSendbutton when you’re done with the revised message.
Note:If you send a recall message, it doesn’t exactly make your old email disappear. to have the original message disappear, the recipient may need to open the recall message first. This is why you should type a word likeURGENTor a phrase in the recall message’s title so that it’s opened before the first incorrect email.
Microsoft also states that, in some cases, the recipient may be notified when recalled messages are deleted from their inbox. So, bear in mind that even when recalling an email, the recipient may still know that a botched or offensive message had been sent to them even if they can’t view it.
Adding an email delay to Outlook
Outlook allows you to delay your emails so they don’t send immediately. If you’re constantly replying to emails, sending private data back and forth, or are just prone to slip-ups, you might want to start delaying or even scheduling your emails in Outlook. you’re able to easily set this up for all your Outlook emails by following these simple instructions:
Step 1:SelectFilein the upper-left corner of Outlook.
Step 2:Scroll down a bit and clickManage rules & alerts.
Step 3:TheRules and alertswindow will pop up on your screen. From here, select theNew ruleoption.
Step 4:Another pop-up window will appear. Here, clickApply rule on messages I send. You’ll notice that this is listed underneathStart from a blank rule. Hit theNextbutton to continue.
Step 5:Don’t worry about anything else on the conditions list and clickNextto continue. After this, a confirmation screen will appear. SelectYesto confirm.
Step 6:Select theDefer delivery by a number of minutesoption. Choose theA number oflink. You’ll see a pop-up screen appear and you’ll be asked to choose your preferred duration. Input the number you want (120 minutes is as far as you’re able to go) and then click theOKbutton. Once you’ve gone through all that, clickNext.
Step 7:If you have any exceptions, select the exceptions options you want. Then, click theNextbutton to continue.
Step 8:Give your rule a name, and check theTurn on this rulecheckbox if it’s available. Finally, hit theFinishbutton.
Why can’t I recall a message in Outlook?
Unfortunately, sometimes you cannot recall a message in Outlook. There are various reasons why this might happen:
Ultimately, recalling an Outlook message is just a safeguard in case a minor point pops up off the top of your head after tapping “send.” Don’t use it as an excuse to send controversial or intense messages in the heat of the moment. In other words, give yourself time to breathe and think it over before sending that “I quit!” message to your boss.
FAQs about recalling Outlook messages
Can you recall an email after an hour?
You can always recall an email after one hour. Recalling an email in Outlook will work as long as the recipient didn’t open the message just yet. However, it is best to act fast, as once the email is opened, the recall will do no good.
Does Outlook send a notification to the recipient after a successful recall?
No, Outlook doesn’t automatically send a notification to the recipient after a successful recall. However, the recipient may receive an alert if they opened the email before the recall attempt.
Can I recall an email on my phone?
Yes, you can. The message recall feature is also available on Outlook’s mobile apps for both Android and iOS. However, the same conditions for a successful recall still apply.
Is it possible to tell if a recall was successful?
Outlook can send a success or failure notification to your inbox, provided you select that option when you perform the recall. However, these reports aren’t always definitive.
Recalling emails in Outlook is the first step to being a power user with the client. If you want to go deeper, with have a roundup ofseven features you probably didn’t know about in Outlook. We also have three tips tokeep your Outlook inbox tidy, including automatically sending your emails to specific folders.
