How to Recall an Email in Outlook

Recall an email you sent by accident in Microsoft Outlook before the recipient reads it.

Steps

  1. 1

    Open Outlook

    on your computer. The recall feature does not work in the web browser version.

  2. 2

    Go to your "Sent Items"

    folder in the left sidebar. Find the email you want to recall.

  3. 3

    Double click the email

    to open it in a separate window. A single click will not show the recall option.

  4. 4

    Click "File"

    in the top left, then "Info," then "Message Resend and Recall." Select "Recall This Message."

  5. 5

    Choose "Delete unread copies"

    and check "Tell me if recall succeeds." Click OK to confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does email recall work with Gmail or Yahoo?Show
No. Outlook recall only works when both the sender and recipient use Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft 365.
How do I know if my recall succeeded?Show
Outlook sends you a notification email telling you if the recall worked or failed for each recipient.
Can I recall an email on my phone?Show
No. The recall feature is only available in the Outlook desktop app, not the mobile app or web version.
What happens to the recalled email?Show
The email is deleted from the recipient's inbox. If they already opened it, the recall fails and the email stays.

Written by the HowToDoStuff.online editorial team. Last updated .