Can You Recall an Email in Outlook?
Yes — but with important limitations. Microsoft Outlook’s recall feature lets you retrieve a sent message from the recipient’s inbox before they open it. It works only within the same Microsoft 365 organisation using Exchange Online accounts. It does not work for emails sent to Gmail, Hotmail, personal Outlook.com accounts, or anyone outside your organisation. Speed matters: you must act before the recipient opens the email.
Key Takeaways
- Outlook’s recall feature works only between Microsoft 365 or Exchange accounts within the same organization.
- You cannot recall emails sent to Gmail, Yahoo, or personal Outlook.com addresses.
- The recall only succeeds if the recipient has not yet opened the message.
- You can either delete the original message or replace it with a corrected version.
- Processing takes a short time; you receive a Message Recall Report to track the outcome.
- The recall option is not available in the Reading Pane — you must double-click to open the message.
How to Recall an Email in New Outlook
New Outlook is the current Windows and web version for Microsoft 365 business and school accounts.
Step 1: Open the Sent Items folder in the left navigation pane.
Step 2: Double-click the message you want to recall to open it in a separate window. (The recall option is not available from the Reading Pane — you must open the message fully.)
Step 3: On the ribbon, click Recall Message. If you don’t see it immediately, click the three-dot menu (…) and look for Recall Message under Advanced Actions.
Step 4: Click OK in the confirmation dialog.
Step 5: Shortly after, you will receive a Message Recall Report email. Click the link in that message to view whether the recall succeeded, is pending, or failed for each recipient.
How to Recall an Email in Classic Outlook
Step 1: Go to Sent Items in the left folder pane.
Step 2: Double-click the message to open it in a full window.
Step 3: On the Message tab, look for Actions in the Move group, then click Recall This Message. On the Simplified Ribbon, click the three-dot menu (…), point to Actions, then Recall This Message.
Step 4: In the dialog box, choose:
- Delete unread copies — removes the message from the recipient’s inbox if unread.
- Delete unread copies and replace with a new message — lets you send a corrected version.
Step 5: Check Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient, then click OK.
Step 6: Check your inbox for the Message Recall Report.
How to Recall an Email in Outlook Web (OWA)
Step 1: Open your Sent Items folder and double-click the message.
Step 2: Click the three-dot menu (…) in the toolbar and select Advanced actions → Recall message.
Step 3: Click OK to confirm.
Step 4: Wait for the Message Recall Report in your inbox.
When Recall Fails: Limitations to Know
Recall does not work when:
- The recipient has already opened the message.
- The email was sent to a Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, or personal Outlook.com address.
- You’re sending to someone outside your organization on a different email system.
- The recipient’s inbox has rules that automatically moved or processed the message.
- You are using Outlook for Mac (follow separate Mac-specific steps).
Recall applies to all recipients simultaneously — there is no way to selectively recall for only one person on a multi-recipient email.
How to Replace an Email After Recalling It
If you need to send a corrected version, choose Delete unread copies and replace with a new message in the recall dialog. A new compose window opens pre-filled with the original message content. Edit it, then send. Both actions happen together — the original is recalled and the replacement is sent in the same workflow.
Comparison: Recall Options by Outlook Version
| Version | Recall Available | Replacement Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Outlook (Windows) | Yes | Yes | Exchange Online only |
| Classic Outlook | Yes | Yes | Exchange/Microsoft 365 |
| Outlook on the Web (OWA) | Yes | No | Exchange Online only |
| Outlook for Mac | Yes (separate steps) | Yes | Exchange/Microsoft 365 |
| Outlook.com (personal) | No | No | Not supported |
Expert Tip
Outlook’s Undo Send feature (available in New Outlook and Outlook on the web) is your best first line of defense. You can configure a delay of up to 10 seconds after clicking Send, giving you a window to stop the message before it leaves your outbox entirely. Go to Settings → Mail → Compose and Reply → Undo Send and set the delay. This is far more reliable than recall because it stops the email before it is ever delivered
FAQ
Can I recall an email already read by the recipient?
No. Once the recipient opens the email, the recall will fail. You will receive a notification in the Message Recall Report confirming the failure. In that case, follow up with a direct apology or correction email.
Why can’t I find the Recall Message option in Outlook?
If you don’t see Recall Message, you likely don’t have an Exchange or Microsoft 365 work/school account, or the feature has been disabled by your IT administrator. Personal Outlook.com accounts do not support recall.
Can I recall an email sent to Gmail?
No. Outlook’s recall feature only works within the same Microsoft 365 organization. Emails sent to Gmail, Yahoo, or any external address cannot be recalled.
How long does an Outlook email recall take?
The recall process typically happens within minutes, but the Message Recall Report may take slightly longer. The outcome depends on whether the recipient opens the email before the recall is processed.
What is the Undo Send feature in Outlook?
Undo Send lets you cancel a message within a configurable window (up to 10 seconds) before it is actually delivered — more reliable than recall. Find it in Settings → Mail → Compose and Reply → Undo Send.
Can I recall an email from Outlook mobile?
No. You cannot initiate a recall from the Outlook mobile app. You need the desktop client or the web version.
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