Have you ever sent an email and immediately wished you could take it back? Maybe you noticed a typo, forgot to add an attachment, or sent it to the wrong person. Email mistakes happen to everyone, but knowing how to unsend an email can save you from embarrassment or professional consequences.
Outlook offers a built-in recall feature that allows you to retrieve sent emails under certain conditions. This guide will show you exactly how to unsend an email in Outlook, compare it with Gmail’s approach, and explain the limitations and success rates.
Key Takeaways
- Outlook’s recall feature works best when both sender and recipient are in the same organization
- The new Outlook version achieves a 90% success rate, compared to 40% for the classic version
- Gmail only allows unsending within 5-30 seconds after sending
- Cross-platform recall (Outlook to Gmail) is not technically possible
- Mobile email recall options are very limited across all platforms
- You can only recall emails that haven’t been opened by the recipient yet
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook: Desktop Version?
Learning how to unsend an email in Outlook is easier than you might think. The process differs slightly depending on whether you’re using the classic Outlook or the new Outlook version.
For Classic Outlook:
- Go to your Sent Items folder in the left panel
- Find and double-click the email you want to recall (it must open in a new window)
- Click the Message tab at the top
- Select Actions > Recall This Message
- Choose whether to delete unread copies or delete and replace with a new message
- Check the box to receive a recall report
- Click OK
For New Outlook:
- Select Sent Items in the left folder pane
- Double-click the sent message to open it in a separate window
- From the ribbon, select Recall Message
- Select OK in the confirmation dialog box
- You’ll receive a Message Recall Report in your inbox shortly after
The recall works best when both you and the recipient use Microsoft 365 or Exchange accounts in the same organization. If you’re trying to recall an email sent to a Gmail or other external account, it won’t work.
How to Recall Email in Outlook Web?
Many people wonder how to recall email in Outlook web since so many of us work in browsers now. The web version of Outlook has recently added recall capabilities, but with some limitations.
To recall an email in Outlook on the web:
- Select Sent Items in the left folder pane
- Double-click the sent message to open it in a separate window
- From the ribbon, select Recall Message
- Select OK in the confirmation dialog box
- Check your inbox for a Message Recall Report to see if it worked
Important: Outlook on the web recall only works for business users with Microsoft 365 work or school accounts. If you’re using Outlook.com with a personal account, you cannot recall emails. The web version also requires both sender and recipient to be in the same organization.
How to Unsend an Email in Gmail?
When it comes to how to unsend an email in Gmail, the approach is quite different from Outlook. Gmail doesn’t have a true recall feature like Outlook. Instead, it offers a short window to “undo” sending.
Here’s how to unsend an email in Gmail:
- Right after you click Send, look in the bottom left corner
- You’ll see “Message sent” with an Undo option
- Click Undo within the time limit (5-30 seconds)
You can customize this cancellation period:
- Click Settings (gear icon) > See all settings
- Find the “Undo Send” section
- Select your preferred cancellation period: 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds
- Click Save Changes at the bottom
Unlike Outlook, Gmail’s undo feature only works if you catch it immediately. Once the time window passes, the email is gone for good.
How to Unsend an Email in Gmail After a Day?
One of the most common questions people ask is how to unsend an email in Gmail after a day. Unfortunately, this is not possible with Gmail’s current features.
Once an email has been delivered, which happens almost instantly, you cannot recall it from Gmail. The undo feature only works for a few seconds after sending. After that, the email is on Google’s servers and on its way to the recipient.
If you need to “unsend” an email after a day in Gmail, your only options are:
- Contact the recipient directly and ask them to delete it
- If it contains sensitive information, you might need to take additional steps to mitigate any damage
- Learn from the mistake and use preventive measures next time
This limitation is why many business users prefer Outlook for important communications where the possibility of recall might be needed.
How to Unsend an Email Outlook Gmail on Android?
Mobile users often search for how to unsend an email outlook gmail on android, but the options are quite limited on mobile devices.
For Outlook on Android:
- The Outlook mobile app does not have a built-in recall feature
- You would need to use the desktop or web version to recall an email
- Some users set up their phone to remote desktop to their work computer for this functionality
For Gmail on Android:
- The Gmail mobile app offers the same undo feature as the desktop version
- After sending, you’ll see an Undo button at the bottom of the screen
- You have the same short time window (based on your settings) to click Undo
- Once the opportunity passes, you cannot recall the email
Mobile email recall is challenging because mobile apps are designed for quick sending rather than the administrative functions available on desktop versions. If you frequently need to recall emails, it’s best to wait until you’re at a computer to send important messages.
Recall Message Outlook 365: What You Need to Know
When using recall message Outlook 365 features, you have access to the most advanced email recall capabilities available. Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) offers the best success rates for email recall.
Key facts about Outlook 365 recall:
- The new Message Recall feature achieves a 90% success rate
- This is a huge improvement from the classic version’s 40% success rate
- Microsoft reports that 800,000 people attempt to recall messages daily
- Recall works best within the same Microsoft 365 organization
- You can recall messages to multiple recipients at once
- You receive detailed reports about which recalls succeeded or failed
The high success rate in Microsoft 365 comes from improvements in how the recall process works. Instead of just sending a recall request, the system actively manages the recall process and provides real-time feedback.
Common Mistakes When Trying to Recall an Email
Even when you know how to recall an email, there are common mistakes that can prevent success:
- Waiting too long: The sooner you attempt recall, the higher your success rate
- Trying to recall external emails: Outlook recall only works within the same organization
- Not double-clicking to open: You must open the email in a new window, not just preview it
- Ignoring recall reports: Always check the recall report to see if it worked
- Assuming it worked: Never assume a recall was successful without confirmation
Understanding these common pitfalls can help you avoid them when you need to recall an important email.
Pro Tips to Avoid Needing to Recall Emails
While knowing how to unsend an email is useful, it’s even better to avoid needing to recall emails in the first place. Here are some pro tips:
- Use delay send: Set up a rule to delay all emails by 1-2 minutes, giving you a grace period
- Double-check recipients: Always verify the To, Cc, and Bcc fields before sending
- Use email scheduling: Schedule non-urgent emails to send later when you can review them
- Create email templates: For common communications, use templates to reduce errors
- Enable read receipts: For important emails, request read receipts to know when they’re opened
These preventive measures can save you from the stress of trying to recall an email after it’s too late.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you recall an email in Outlook after it has been read?
No, you cannot recall an email in Outlook after the recipient has opened and read it. The recall feature only works on emails that remain unopened in the recipient’s inbox. Once someone opens your email, it’s too late to recall it. This is why it’s important to act quickly when you realize you need to recall a message.
Why can’t I recall emails sent to Gmail addresses?
You can’t recall emails sent to Gmail addresses because Outlook’s recall feature only works within Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 environments. When you send an email to Gmail, it leaves Microsoft’s controlled systems and enters Google’s systems. Since Microsoft doesn’t have control over Gmail’s servers, it cannot retrieve or delete messages from them.
How long do I have to recall an email in Outlook?
Technically, you can attempt to recall an email in Outlook at any time, but your success rate decreases significantly as time passes. The best chance of success is within the first few minutes after sending, before the recipient has had a chance to open their email. Some users report success even hours later, but this is rare and depends on whether the recipient has opened the email.
Does the recipient know if I recall an email in Outlook?
Yes, in most cases, the recipient will know if you recall an email in Outlook. When you recall a message, the recipient receives a notification that a message has been recalled. If the recall is successful, the original message disappears from their inbox. If it fails, they receive both the original message and the recall notification, which can sometimes draw more attention to your mistake.
Can I recall an email sent from my phone?
Generally, you cannot recall an email directly from your phone. The Outlook mobile app does not include the recall feature. To recall an email, you typically need to access your account through the desktop application or web version on a computer. Some users set up remote desktop access to their work computer to perform recalls while mobile.
What’s the success rate of email recall in Outlook?
The success rate of email recall in Outlook depends on which version you’re using. The classic Outlook version has about a 40% success rate, while the new Outlook for Microsoft 365 boasts a 90% success rate. Success depends on factors like whether the recipient has opened the email, if they’re in the same organization, and how quickly you attempt the recall.
How do I know if my email recall was successful?
You’ll know if your email recall was successful because Outlook sends you a Message Recall Report. This report details which recalls succeeded and which failed for each recipient. The report typically arrives in your inbox within a few minutes of your recall attempt. Always check this report rather than assuming the recall worked.
Final Thought
Email is an essential part of our daily communication, and mistakes happen. Knowing how to unsend an email in Outlook can save you from embarrassing situations or professional consequences.
While the feature has limitations, understanding how it works and when to use it can make you a more confident email communicator. Remember that prevention is always the best strategy, but when mistakes happen, Outlook’s recall feature is there to help you recover.
For more email management tips and solutions, check out our guides on how to filter emails in Outlook and fixing Outlook loading email issues. If you’re having trouble with Outlook not showing emails, we have solutions for that too. For official documentation on email recall features, visit Microsoft Support or learn more about Gmail’s undo send feature from Google’s help center.
