Forum Discussion
How to Recall an Email in Outlook
Hello, my system is a Dell Inspiron 15 and it runs Windows 11, also the software I use for emails is Microsoft Outlook (Microsoft 365).
Unfortunately, I sent out an email that I have not fully completed with all the text and I've tried to recall the email, I am not sure if there's recall for my account or not, can someone help with recalling?
I will be grateful for your advice...
4 Replies
Please refer to the following Microsoft article for detailed instructions on recalling an email in Microsoft Outlook:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/mail/how-to-recall-an-email-in-outlook-requirements-limitations-steps
After initiating the recall, Outlook will send a Message Recall Report to your Inbox. Open the report and select "View Message Recall Report" to check the status of the recall request. The report will indicate whether the recall was successful, pending, or failed for each recipient.
One thing worth highlighting is that Outlook's Recall feature only works under specific conditions—typically when both sender and recipient use Microsoft 365 or Exchange within the same organization, and the email hasn't been opened yet. For emails sent externally or to personal accounts like Gmail or Outlook.com, it's generally better to send a corrected follow-up message or use the Undo Send feature if it's enabled.
Recall doesn't always work, I have used it since back in the early 2000's and even if you recall, it still might deliver. From what I know, it's only for Exchange users.
Recall depends on the mailbox type, not the Dell or Windows version. It is available when you and every recipient use Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organization and the message has not been opened. Personal Outlook.com, Hotmail, or Gmail accounts cannot recall a delivered message.
In new Outlook: open Sent Items, double-click the message so it opens separately, choose Recall Message on the ribbon, and confirm. In classic Outlook: open Sent Items, double-click the message, then choose Message > Actions > Recall This Message. With the simplified ribbon, use the three-dot menu > Actions. Choose either delete unread copies or delete and replace. You should receive a Message Recall Report showing whether it succeeded, is pending, or failed.
If the recall command is missing, your account or organization does not support it. Send a corrected follow-up immediately and ask the recipient to disregard the first message. For future personal-account messages, enable Undo send, but that only delays sending briefly; it cannot retrieve delivered mail.
