Let’s be honest we’ve all sent emails with embarrassing mistakes or forgotten to attach those important files (you know, the “attached” documents we meant to include but didn’t). Thankfully, many email platforms give you the chance to undo or recall sent emails because, well, everyone makes mistakes. If you’re new to an email service, you might not know about the recall feature. So, if you’ve recently started using Outlook, here’s a quick guide on how to recall an email in Outlook.
Before we dive in, keep in mind that the recall feature in Outlook is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers who are part of the same organization or use Microsoft Exchange. Also, whether the recall works depends on if the recipient has already opened the email. If they haven’t, the recall will successfully retrieve the message. But if they have opened it, they’ll get a notification that the email was recalled, yet the original message will still be visible. This is quite different from Gmail’s Undo Send feature.
How to Recall an Email in Outlook Website or Desktop App
You can recall an email in Outlook’s Desktop app in two ways: either by selecting the recall option from the top menu bar or by using the options available within the email itself.
Method 1: Recall Email From Outlook’s Top Bar
Recalling an email in Outlook is quite simple. Whether you’re using the Windows app or the web version, here’s how you can do it.
1. Open Outlook and go to Sent Items in the left sidebar.
2. Find the email you want to recall and click Recall Message on the top toolbar.
3. When the prompt appears, click OK to start the recall process.
4. Alternatively, right-click the sent email, select Advanced Actions, then choose Recall Message.
Method 2: Unsend in Outlook Using More Actions
Outlook offers two ways to draft and view emails — either within the main Outlook window or in a separate pop-out window. In both interfaces, you can access several actions by clicking the three-dot icon. Among these options is the ability to recall an email. Here’s how to do it:
1. Double-click the message to open it in a new window, or select it with a single click.
2. Click the three-dot icon and choose Advanced actions.
3. From the menu, select Recall message, then click OK in the prompt to proceed.
In either case, if the recall is successful, you’ll receive a new message called a “Recall Report.” Opening this report will let you know whether the recall request was successful.
How to Recall an Email in Outlook on iPhone and Android
The Recall option is available on both the Android and iPhone versions of the Outlook app. Since the steps are nearly identical on both platforms, we’ll use the Android app for this walkthrough.
1. Open the Outlook app on your Android or iPhone, tap your profile picture in the top left corner, and select Sent from the sidebar.
2. Tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner, choose Recall, and confirm by tapping OK.
3. Afterward, you’ll receive a notification indicating whether the recall was successful.
And that’s how you can recall emails in Outlook. As noted earlier, the recall will only work if the recipient hasn’t opened the email yet if that’s the case, it usually succeeds. However, if you don’t see the recall option despite having a Microsoft 365 subscription, ensure you and the recipient are in the same organization or using Microsoft Exchange.
What do you think of Outlook’s recall feature? Let us know in the comments below.
