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How To Unsend An Email In Outlook?

Cagri Sarigoz

Published March 18, 2024

Outlook is a popular email client developed by Microsoft that allows users to send and receive emails, manage contacts and calendars, and organize tasks. It is commonly used in both personal and professional settings due to its user-friendly interface and features.

Accidentally sending an email can be a source of stress, particularly when it involves sensitive information or is meant for the wrong recipient. Thankfully, Outlook provides a valuable feature that allows users to unsend an email within a specified timeframe. Here you find a complete, step-by-step guide on how to unsend an email in Outlook, ensuring you can retract messages and prevent potential mishaps.

What Is Outlook?

Outlook is a widely used email client developed by Microsoft. It offers various features such as email, calendar, task management, and contact management. Additionally, it also provides a web browsing interface for viewing emails. Outlook is a popular choice in professional settings due to its organizational tools and seamless integration with other Microsoft Office applications.

How to Unsend an Email in Outlook?

We’ve all experienced that moment of instant regret after hitting the send button on an email. Fortunately, Outlook provides a lifesaver – the ability to unsend an email and spare yourself from potential embarrassment or errors. In this section, we’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of how to unsend an email in Outlook. From navigating the Sent Items folder to utilizing the ‘Recall This Message’ feature, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know to successfully unsend an email in Outlook.”

1. Open Outlook: Launch the Outlook application on your computer.
2. Navigate to the Sent Items folder: Click on the “Sent Items” folder located in the left-hand panel of Outlook. This will display a list of all the emails you have sent.
3. Open the email you want to unsend: Find the email you want to unsend in the Sent Items folder and double-click on it to open it in a new window.
4. Click on the “Actions” menu: At the top of the email window, you’ll see a menu labelled “Actions”. Click on it to open a dropdown menu.
5. Select “Recall This Message”: From the dropdown menu, select the option “Recall This Message”. Follow the prompts to recall the email. If the email hasn’t been opened by the recipient yet, it will be deleted from their inbox. If it has been opened, you may have the option to delete it from their inbox or replace it with a new message.
6. Choose to Delete or Replace the Message
   – Delete: By choosing this option, the email will be removed from the recipient’s inbox if they have not yet opened it.
   – Replace: If you select this action, you can send a corrected version of the email in place of the original.

To effectively manage your emails, be sure to confirm the recipient’s details, use clear subject lines, and proofread before sending.

Learn more: How To Recall An Email In Outlook (Unsend Email) – Full Guide

What Happens After You Unsend an Email?

We’ve all been there – that moment of panic after sending an email with a mistake, typo, or an unintended recipient. Luckily, with the “unsend” feature in Microsoft Outlook, we can retract our emails before they are read. But what happens after you unsend an email? In this section, we will discuss the two main outcomes of unsending an email: the email will be deleted from the recipient’s inbox, and the recipient will receive a notification that the email was unsent.

1. The Email Will Be Deleted from the Recipient’s Inbox

• By using the unsend feature in Outlook, the email will be removed from the recipient’s inbox.

2. The Recipient Will Receive a Notification

• When an email is retracted in Outlook, the recipient will be notified that the sender has recalled the message.

Fact: In Outlook, the sender has the ability to unsend an email if they act quickly after sending it.

Can You Recall an Email After a Certain Time?

Have you ever hit send on an email and immediately regretted it? If you use Outlook as your email platform, you may be wondering if there is a way to unsend an email after a certain amount of time has passed. In this section, we will discuss if it is possible to unsend an email in Outlook after it has been sent and read by the recipient, forwarded to others, or saved in the recipient’s inbox. Keep reading to find out the answers to these commonly asked questions.

1. If the Recipient Has Already Read the Email

• If the recipient has already read the email, the ability to unsend the email in Outlook is limited.
• Even if you attempt to recall the message, if the recipient has opened and read the email, the recall will fail.
• It’s important to double-check the email content and recipients before sending to avoid any irreversible situations.

2. If the Email Has Already Been Forwarded

1. Once an email has already been forwarded, you cannot retract or unsend it using Outlook’s recall feature.
2. Encourage recipients to refrain from further forwarding by adding a note requesting discretion.
3. Consider password-protecting sensitive attachments to restrict unauthorized access.
4. Regularly review and update your email security protocols to prevent unauthorized forwarding.

Be cautious with your email content and attachments to minimize the risk of forwarding, and utilize Outlook’s security features to safeguard sensitive information.

In 2001, a programmer named Shiva Ayyadurai claimed to have invented email in 1978. However, this is disputed as Ray Tomlinson is widely credited with inventing email in 1971.

Three Methods to Unsend Emails in Outlook

We’ve all experienced the panic of accidentally sending an email too soon or to the wrong person. Luckily, Outlook offers the option to unsend an email, giving us a second chance to catch any mistakes before they’re sent out. However, prevention is always better than damage control. In this section, we’ll discuss three ways How To Unsend An Email in Outlook. By following these tips, you can save yourself the stress and embarrassment of having to recall an email.

1. Double-Check Before Sending

• Review the email content for accuracy and completeness.
• Double-check the recipient’s email address to ensure it’s correct.
• Verify any attachments or links included in the email.

2. Use Delay Delivery Option

1. Compose your email in Outlook as usual.
2. Click on the ‘Options’ tab in the email composition window.
3. Find the ‘Use Delay Delivery’ option in the ‘More Options’ group.
4. Set the date and time for when you want the email to be sent.
5. Click ‘Close’ to return to the email composition window and then send the email as you normally would.

For increased productivity, consider using the delay delivery option to schedule emails during optimal times for the recipient.

3. Use a Third-Party Email Recall Tool

• Research third-party email recall tools such as Criptext, which offer additional features like email tracking, message control, and real-time access.
• Compare various tools based on compatibility, ease of use, and customer reviews to determine the best option for your needs.
• Follow the specific instructions provided by your chosen third-party tool to integrate it with your Outlook account and utilize the email recall feature effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• You can easily unsend an email in Outlook by following a few simple steps in the Sent Items folder.
• After recalling the email, it will be deleted from the recipient’s inbox and they will receive a notification about the recall.
• It is not possible to unsend an email in Outlook if it has already been read, forwarded, or saved by the recipient.

In Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I unsend an email in Outlook using the web version?

To unsend an email in the web version of Outlook, go to the “Sent Items” folder and select the message you want to recall. Then, go to the “File” tab and click on “Info.” Under the “Message Resend and Recall” section, choose “Recall This Message…” and select the appropriate option. 

Q2. Can I recall an email sent from my Exchange account?

Yes, you can recall an email sent from your Exchange account as long as the recipient is also using Microsoft 365 or Exchange and is in the same organization.

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Q3. Is there a time limit for recalling an email in Outlook?

No, there is no time limit for recalling emails sent through Outlook. However, the recipient must not have read the email for the recall to be successful.

Q4. Can I replace a sent email with a newly edited one in Outlook for Windows?

Yes, you can replace a sent email with a newly edited one in Outlook for Windows. Simply select the sent email in the “Sent Items” folder, go to the “File” tab, and click on “Info.” Under the “Message Resend and Recall” section, choose “Recall This Message…” and select “Delete unread copies and replace with a new message.”

Q5. How can I ensure the success of a recall request in Outlook?

To ensure the success of a recall request in Outlook, check the box for “Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient” before clicking “OK” to complete the recall process. This will provide a notification if the recall is successful or not for each recipient.

Q6. Can I recall an email sent from a POP account in Outlook?

No, the recall feature is only available for Microsoft 365 and Exchange users in the same organization. It cannot be used for MAPI or POP accounts.

Cagri Sarigoz( Founder )

I’m founder of BizStack at Cagri Sarigoz LLC and a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs.

With over 14 years in tech, marketing, and AI, including my role as Head of SEO at CitizenShipper and co-founder of TaleBot at Intale AI, I’m dedicated to sharing genuine, useful product insights and tips.

At BizStack, I aim to cut through the digital noise to provide clear, actionable advice.

And more than all else, I’m a father to a (always) little girl and a husband.

Contact me at [email protected] for assistance.