How to Recall an Email in Outlook

You can send an email to others with only one click in Outlook. However, occasionally, such agility causes you to transmit inappropriate content or important communications to the wrong person that cannot be changed or retrieved. Here's how to recall an email in Outlook. 

When Can You Recall an Email in Outlook

Only when the recipient hasn't opened and read your email does the recall or replace feature function. It doesn't count to read the email in the reading pane. Additionally, you can only use it if the recipient and you both have Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email accounts that are associated with the same company. It is not possible to use Recall/ Replace, a Microsoft Exchange capability, with MAPI or POP accounts.

How to recall an email in Outlook 

1. Select the Sent Items folder from the folder pane on the left of the Outlook window.

2. To open the message you want to recall, double-click on it. It will open in a new window.

3. Select File then select Info.

4. Select Message Resend and Recall then Recall This Message.

5. Select among one of the following options:

Delete unread copies of this message if you want to recall the sent message.

Delete unread copies and replace with a new message if you want to replace the sent message with a new message.

6. Click on the Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient check box.

7. Select OK.

Note: If you select Delete unread copies and replace with a new message, the original message now opens for editing. And when you send an email in Outlook, the original email message will be deleted from the recipient’s mailbox and replaced with the newly edited one.

How to check on the recall

When the recall is successful: If the recipient hasn’t read the original message when you recall/ replace the message, the original message is deleted and replaced with the replaced message (in case there is one). Also, the recipient is informed that you have recalled a message.

When the recall fails, both the original and recalled message are available in the recipient’s folder. If the recipient opens the original message while the recall request is being processed, the recipient will be notified that you attempted to recall the message. But the original message is still available in their folder.

Microsoft Outlook will be your savior whether you send an email with incorrect facts or not enough of them. Nobody will be the wiser about your error if you quickly recall the message. But keep in mind that you must move swiftly because there will be no purpose in waiting once the receiver has seen your mail.