There you did it again even when you didn’t want to! How many times has it been with you that you sent the wrong email or missed something while sending it?

Well, we’ve got your back in this blog! If you’ve been in a situation of regretting sending that email by mistake and wondering how to recall an email in Outlook 365, keep reading this guide to get your answers! 

Moreover, we will also help you how to recall an email in Outlook Mac and how to recall an email in Outlook web app while also exploring some limitations of email recall and providing answers to frequently asked questions. 

So, let’s dive in and discover how to recall an email in Outlook effectively.

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What Does it Mean When You Recall an Email?

Recalling an email in Outlook means requesting that a recipient delete a message that has already been sent. Recalling an email is typically done if you have made a mistake in the message, such as sending it to the wrong person or including sensitive information.

So as you now know what is recalling an email in Outlook, let us discover how to recall an email in Outlook 365. 

How to Recall Email Outlook?

If you want to recall an email in Outlook, follow these steps: 

  • Open the Sent Items folder.

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  • Double-click the email that you want to recall.
  • On the Message tab, in the Actions group, click Recall This Message.

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  • In the “Recall This Message” dialog box, select the desired option:

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  • Delete unread copies of this message: This option will delete the email from the recipient’s inbox if they have not yet read it.
  • Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message (Optional): This option will delete the original email from the recipient’s inbox and replace it with a new message.

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  • Click OK.

If the recipient has already read the email, it will not be possible to recall it.

What to Do if you Can’t Recall An Email in Outlook?

Well, the catch with emails in Outlook is you can not recall it once the recipient has opened the email.

If the recipient has opened your email and you can not recall it, here’s what you can do instead: 

  • Contact the recipient and ask them to delete the email.
  • Send a follow-up email apologizing for the mistake and providing the correct information.
  • Learn from your mistake and be more careful in the future.

Requirements for Recalling an Email Message 

Well, there are some checkmarks that you need to check to ensure that your emails are qualified for recall. Here’s what makes your emails qualified for recalling: 

  • The recipient must be using the same email server as you.
  • The recipient must not have opened or read the email message.
  • The email message must not have been forwarded or replied to.

If any of these requirements are not met, you cannot recall the email message.

The best way to avoid sending emails with mistakes is to delay sending messages in Outlook. In the following section, we’ve mentioned how you can do that. 

How to Delay Sending Messages in Outlook? 

Follow these steps to delay sending messages in Outlook: 

  • Open Outlook.
  • Compose a new email message.
  • On the Message tab, in the Tags group, click the More options arrow > Delay Delivery.

In the Properties dialog box, under Delivery options, do the following:

  • Select the Do not deliver before check box.
  • In the Date and time box, enter the date and time you want the message to be delivered.
  • Click Close.

If you are sending a group of messages in Outlook, there’s a different procedure than sending a single delayed message. 

Follow these steps to delay sending a group of messages in Outlook:

  • In Outlook, open the folder that contains the messages you want to delay.
  • Select the messages you want to delay.
  • On the Home tab, in the Delete group, click the More arrow > Delay Delivery.

In the Properties dialog box, under Delivery options, do the following:

  • Select the Do not deliver before check box.
  • In the Date and Time box, enter the date and time you want the messages to be delivered.
  • Click Close.

What Happens After Recalling an Email in Outlook?

When you recall an email in Outlook, the email is marked as “recalled,” and the recipient is notified that you have recalled the email. The recipient may still be able to see the original email, depending on their email settings.

Why doesn’t Recall an Email in Outlook Always Work (Why is Outlook Recall Not Working?)

There are a few reasons why recalling an email in Outlook may not work. One reason is that the recipient may have already opened the email. Another reason is that the recipient may have forwarded the email to someone else. Finally, the recipient may have deleted the email.

How to Recall an Email in Outlook 365 on a PC?

To recall and resend an email in Outlook on a PC, follow these steps:

  • Open Outlook.
  • In the Navigation Pane, right-click the email you want to recall and resend.

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  • Click Recall This Message.
  • In the Recall Items dialog box, select the Delete unread copies of this message from the recipients’ inboxes check box.

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  • Click Send.

If the recipient has already opened the email, they will see a message that says, “This message has been recalled.” The recipient will see the original email if they have not opened it.

Now that you know how to recall an email in Outlook 365 on a PC, let’s learn how to recall an email in Outlook Mac. 

How to Recall an Email in Outlook Mac? 

Follow the steps mentioned below to recall an email in Outlook Mac: 

  • Open Outlook for Mac.
  • In the Navigation Pane, click the Sent Items folder.
  • Select the email that you want to recall.
  • Click the Message tab.
  • In the More group, click Move.
  • Click Recall This Message.
  • In the Recall Items dialog box, select Delete all copies of this message or Replace all copies of this message with a new message option.
  • Click Send.

Can I Recall an Email Sent to Multiple Recipients?

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Yes, you can recall an email sent to multiple recipients. Outlook will attempt to delete an email from the recipients’ inboxes when you recall an email. However, there is no guarantee that the recipients will not have already read the email before you recall it.

Are There Any Limitations on Recalling an Email?

Yes, there are a few limitations on recalling an email on Outlook: 

  • You can only recall an email that you have sent yourself.
  • You can only recall an email not being opened by the recipient.
  • You can only recall an email that has not been replied to.

What Happens If I Recall an Email That Has Been Replied to?

If you recall an email that has been replied to, the recipient will receive a notification that you have attempted to recall the email. The recipient will still have the original email in their inbox, and they can choose whether or not to keep it.

However, if you cannot recall an email, you can send a follow-up email to the recipient apologizing for the mistake and asking them to disregard the original email.

Moreover, you can also use a third-party email recall service. These services work by sending a message to the recipient’s email server requesting that the email be deleted, but you should be more careful with third-party apps as these services are not always successful, and they may not work with all email providers.

What to Do If Your Email Recall Didn’t Work? 

If your email recall didn’t work, there are a few things you can do:

  • Check the recipient’s email settings. Make sure that the recipient has their email set up to allow recalls. Some email providers, suc
  • h as Gmail, don’t allow recalls.
  • Contact the recipient directly. If the recall didn’t work, you could contact the recipient directly and ask them to delete the email.
  • Lastly, you can apologize for the mistake and explain what happened If the recipient has already read the email. 

How to Unsend Email From the Mail App on Mac? 

If you accidentally sent an email in the Mail app on Mac, you can unsend it by following these steps:

  • Open the Mail app.
  • Click on the “Sent” folder.
  • Select the email that you want to unsend.
  • Click on the “More” button and select “Unsend.”

How to Replace an Email in MS Outlook? 

If you accidentally sent an email in MS Outlook, you can replace it by following these steps:

  • Open the email that you want to replace.
  • Click on the “File” tab.
  • Click on the “Recall This Message” button.
  • Select the “Delete unread copies and replace with a new message” option.
  • Compose the new email and click on the “Send” button.

It is important to note that email recall is not always successful. If the recipient has already opened and read the email, it is unlikely that you will be able to recall it.

How to Recall an Email in Outlook Web App?

In Outlook webmail, you can recall messages if certain conditions are met. Follow the steps to recall an email in the Outlook web app: 

  • Open your Outlook webmail and go to the “Sent Items” folder.
  • Double-click on the message you want to recall to open it.
  • In the top ribbon, click on the “Actions” tab.
  • Select “Recall This Message” from the drop-down menu. 

Note that this option is only available if you’re using an Exchange account and the recipient is within the same organization or has an Exchange account.

How Do I Know if a Recalled Message Was Successful?

To check if your recalled message was successful in Outlook, follow these steps: 

  • Go to the “Sent Items” folder.
  • Look for the original email you attempted to recall.
  • If you see a double-headed arrow icon next to the email, it means the recall was successful. 

However, if the email is still present without the icon, the recall attempt failed, and the recipient has likely already read the message.

Can You Recall an Email in Gmail?

No, Gmail does not have a built-in “recall” feature like Outlook. Once an email is sent in Gmail, it cannot be fully retracted or recalled from the recipient’s inbox. 

However, Gmail does offer an “Undo Send” feature that allows you to quickly undo sending an email within a short time frame (usually a few seconds) after clicking the “Send” button. 

What Does it Mean When You Get a Recall Message?

When you receive a recall message in Outlook, it means that the sender has attempted to recall a message they previously sent to you. You may receive a notification about the recall attempt depending on the sender’s email client and settings. 

However, the effectiveness of the recall depends on various factors, such as the email client used and the recipient’s settings. If the recall is successful, the original message will be deleted or replaced with a new message from the sender indicating the recall. If the recall fails, the original message remains in your inbox.

Also Read: How to Find Archived Emails in Gmail? 2023 Guide

FAQs: 

How Do I Resend an Email in Outlook?

To resend an email in Outlook, follow these steps:

  • Open the Sent Items folder.
  • Right-click the email you want to resend and select Resend.
  • Make any changes to the email as needed.
  • Click Send.

How Do I Encrypt an Email in Outlook?

To encrypt an email in Outlook, follow these steps:

  • Open the email you want to encrypt.
  • Click the Options tab.
  • In the Security group, click Encrypt Contents and Attachments.
  • If prompted for a password, enter a strong password and click OK.
  • Click Send.

Can you Recall an Email After an Hour?

No, you cannot recall an email after an hour. Once an email has been sent, it is out of your control, and the recipient may have already read it.

Does the Recipient Know if an Email is Recalled in Outlook?

The recipient will not be notified if you recall an email in Outlook. However, if the recipient has already opened the email, they will still have a copy of it. 

Conclusion:

Recalling an email in Outlook is not always possible, and it is important to be aware of the limitations of this feature. If you are concerned about sending an email that contains sensitive information, consider encrypting the email or using a different method of communication.

We hope this blog has helped you solve the problem you were facing. 

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