How to Recall an Email in Outlook: A Step-by-Step Guide

We’ve all been there: you hit send on an email, only to realize you’ve made a mistake. Maybe you attached the wrong file, forgot to include someone in the CC list, or simply typed something you regret. Thankfully, Outlook offers a feature called “Recall This Message” that allows you to undo your mistake and retrieve the email before it’s too late.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of How to Recall an Email in Outlook, both on desktop and mobile. We’ll also cover some important things to keep in mind, such as the limitations of the feature and what to do if recalling the email fails.

Before You Begin: Understanding Recall

It’s important to understand that the “Recall This Message” feature is not foolproof. It relies on the recipient using Outlook and having not yet opened or read the email. If the recipient has already opened the email or is using a different email client, you won’t be able to recall it.

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Additionally, the feature only works with emails sent within your own organization. If you sent the email to someone outside of your organization, you won’t be able to recall it.

How to Recall an Email in Outlook on a Desktop

1. Open your Sent Items folder. This is where all the emails you’ve sent are stored.

2. Double-click the email you want to recall. This will open the email in a separate window.

3. Click the File tab.

4. Click Info.

5. **Click Message Resend and Recall > Recall This Message.

6. Choose one of the following options:

7. Delete unread copies of this message: This will attempt to remove the email from the recipients’ inboxes.

8. Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message: This will attempt to remove the original email and replace it with a new message you can compose.

9. Select the Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient checkbox if you want to be notified of the outcome for each recipient.

10. Click OK.

How to Recall an Email in Outlook Mobile

1. Open the Outlook app on your phone or tablet.
2. Open the Sent Items folder.
3. Tap and hold the email you want to recall.
4. **Tap Recall.
5. Choose one of the following options:
   • Delete unread copies of this message: This will attempt to remove the email from the recipients’ inboxes.
   • Replace with a new message: This will allow you to compose a new message to replace the original email.
6. **Tap Send.

Video on How to Recall an Email in Outlook

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/videoplayer/embed/RWee2e?pid=ocpVideo1&postJsllMsg=true&maskLevel=20&reporting=true&market=en-us

Troubleshooting

If recalling the email fails, it may be because:

• The recipient has already opened or read the email.
• The recipient is not using Outlook.
• The recipient is using a different email client.
• You sent the email to someone outside of your organization.

If you’re unable to recall the email, you can try contacting the recipient directly and asking them to delete it.

Additional Tips

• To increase your chances of successfully recalling an email, send it immediately after composing it.
• If you’re unsure whether you should recall an email, err on the side of caution and do it.
• Be aware that recalling an email can be seen as unprofessional, so only do it if absolutely necessary.

Conclusion

The “Recall This Message” feature in Outlook can be a lifesaver if you make a mistake in an email. By following the steps of How to Recall an Email in Outlook, you can quickly and easily recall the email and avoid any potential problems.

Please note that this guide is provided for informational purposes only. The specific instructions may vary depending on your version of Outlook.