Have you ever sent an email in Outlook and then immediately realized you made a mistake? Maybe you sent it to the wrong person, or you forgot to attach a file. Whatever the reason, Outlook lets you recall a message if it's still in the recipient's inbox. Here's how to do it:
You can recall a message in Outlook if it meets the following conditions:
Once you've verified that your message meets the conditions above, you can recall it by following these steps:
How to Recall a Message in Outlook
Here are eight important points to remember when recalling a message in Outlook:
- Recall only if recipient hasn't read
- Recall within 2 minutes of sending
- Recall from the Sent Items folder
- Click Recall This Message
- Select Delete unread copies or Replace with new message
- Click OK to confirm recall
- Recipient will receive a notification
- Recall may not always be successful
By following these steps, you can increase your chances of successfully recalling a message in Outlook.
Recall only if recipient hasn't read
The most important thing to remember when recalling a message in Outlook is that it will only work if the recipient has not yet read the message. If the recipient has already opened and read the message, you will not be able to recall it.
There are a few ways to check if the recipient has read your message:
- In Outlook, open the Sent Items folder.
- Find the message you want to recall.
- In the Reading Pane, look for the status of the message.
If the status says "Read," then the recipient has already read the message and you will not be able to recall it. If the status says "Unread," then you can still recall the message.
You can also check if the recipient has read your message by looking at the message tracking information. To do this, open the Sent Items folder and double-click on the message you want to track. In the Message Options dialog box, click the Tracking tab. If the recipient has read the message, you will see a timestamp next to the "Read" status.
If you are unsure whether or not the recipient has read your message, it is best to err on the side of caution and not recall the message. Once a message has been read, it cannot be recalled.
Recall within 2 minutes of sending
Another important thing to remember when recalling a message in Outlook is that you must do so within two minutes of sending the message. After two minutes, the recall option will no longer be available.
- Why is there a two-minute limit?
The two-minute limit is in place to prevent people from recalling messages after the recipient has had a chance to read them. This helps to ensure that the recipient can rely on the messages they receive in their inbox.
- What if I need more than two minutes?
If you need more than two minutes to decide whether or not you want to recall a message, you can use the delay send feature in Outlook. This feature allows you to schedule a message to be sent at a later time. Once the message is sent, you will have two minutes to recall it.
- How do I use the delay send feature?
To use the delay send feature, open a new message in Outlook. In the Options tab, click on the Delay Delivery button. In the Delay Delivery dialog box, select the date and time you want the message to be sent. Then, click on the Send button.
- What happens if I recall a message after two minutes?
If you try to recall a message after two minutes, you will see a message that says "Recall This Message - This message cannot be recalled because the recipient has already read it or the recall period has expired." You will not be able to recall the message.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of successfully recalling a message in Outlook.
Recall from the Sent Items folder
To recall a message in Outlook, you must do so from the Sent Items folder. This is because the recall feature only works on messages that have already been sent. If you want to recall a message that is still in your drafts folder, you will need to delete it and then compose a new message.
To recall a message from the Sent Items folder, follow these steps:
- Open the Sent Items folder.
- Find the message you want to recall.
- Right-click on the message and select "Recall This Message."
- Select the option you want from the Recall This Message dialog box.
- Click on the "OK" button.
You will have two options in the Recall This Message dialog box:
- Delete unread copies: This option will delete all unread copies of the message from the recipients' inboxes. If the recipient has already read the message, you will not be able to recall it.
- Replace with new message: This option will replace the original message with a new message. You can use this option to correct a mistake in the original message or to send a new message to the recipient.
Once you have selected the option you want, click on the "OK" button. Outlook will then attempt to recall the message. If the recall is successful, the recipient will receive a notification that the message has been recalled.
By following these steps, you can recall a message from the Sent Items folder in Outlook.
Click Recall This Message
Once you have found the message you want to recall in the Sent Items folder, you can recall it by clicking on the "Recall This Message" button.
- Where is the "Recall This Message" button?
The "Recall This Message" button is located in the "Message" tab, in the "Move" group. It is next to the "Reply" and "Forward" buttons.
- What happens when I click on the "Recall This Message" button?
When you click on the "Recall This Message" button, a dialog box will appear. This dialog box will give you two options:
- Delete unread copies: This option will delete all unread copies of the message from the recipients' inboxes.
- Replace with new message: This option will replace the original message with a new message.
- Which option should I choose?
The option you choose will depend on the situation. If you want to simply delete the message from the recipients' inboxes, you should choose the "Delete unread copies" option. If you want to replace the original message with a new message, you should choose the "Replace with new message" option.
- What happens after I click on the "OK" button?
After you click on the "OK" button, Outlook will attempt to recall the message. If the recall is successful, the recipient will receive a notification that the message has been recalled.
By following these steps, you can recall a message in Outlook.
Select Delete unread copies or Replace with new message
When you click on the "Recall This Message" button, a dialog box will appear. This dialog box will give you two options:
- Delete unread copies:
This option will delete all unread copies of the message from the recipients' inboxes. If the recipient has already read the message, you will not be able to recall it.
- Replace with new message:
This option will replace the original message with a new message. You can use this option to correct a mistake in the original message or to send a new message to the recipient.
The option you choose will depend on the situation:
- If you want to simply delete the message from the recipients' inboxes, you should choose the "Delete unread copies" option.
- If you want to replace the original message with a new message, you should choose the "Replace with new message" option.
Once you have selected the option you want, click on the "OK" button. Outlook will then attempt to recall the message. If the recall is successful, the recipient will receive a notification that the message has been recalled.
Click OK to confirm recall
Once you have selected the option you want in the "Recall This Message" dialog box, click on the "OK" button to confirm the recall.
- What happens after I click on the "OK" button?
After you click on the "OK" button, Outlook will attempt to recall the message. If the recall is successful, the recipient will receive a notification that the message has been recalled.
- What if the recall is not successful?
There are a few reasons why a recall might not be successful. For example, the recipient may have already read the message, or they may be using an email client that does not support message recall. If the recall is not successful, you will see a message that says "Recall This Message - This message could not be recalled.".
- What should I do if the recall is not successful?
If the recall is not successful, you can try to contact the recipient and ask them to delete the message. You can also try to send a new message to the recipient, explaining the situation.
- Is there anything else I need to know about message recall?
Yes. Here are a few other things to keep in mind about message recall:
- You can only recall messages that you have sent.
- You can only recall messages that have not yet been read by the recipient.
- You can only recall messages within two minutes of sending them.
- Message recall is not supported by all email clients.
By following these steps, you can recall a message in Outlook.
Recipient will receive a notification
If the recall is successful, the recipient will receive a notification that the message has been recalled. The notification will appear in the recipient's inbox, and it will say "This message has been recalled by the sender." The recipient will also see a copy of the original message, with a line through it.
- What happens if the recipient has already read the message?
If the recipient has already read the message before the recall is initiated, they will not receive a notification. They will still be able to see the original message in their inbox.
- What happens if the recipient is using an email client that does not support message recall?
If the recipient is using an email client that does not support message recall, they will not receive a notification. They will still be able to see the original message in their inbox.
- What should the recipient do if they receive a recall notification?
If the recipient receives a recall notification, they should delete the original message from their inbox. They can also choose to read the copy of the original message that is included in the notification.
- What if the recipient does not delete the original message?
If the recipient does not delete the original message, they will still be able to see it in their inbox. However, they will not be able to open or reply to the message.
By following these steps, you can recall a message in Outlook and the recipient will receive a notification.
Recall may not always be successful
There are a few reasons why a recall may not be successful:
- The recipient has already read the message.
If the recipient has already read the message before the recall is initiated, the recall will not be successful. This is because Outlook cannot delete or replace a message that has already been read.
- The recipient is using an email client that does not support message recall.
Some email clients, such as Gmail, do not support message recall. If the recipient is using one of these email clients, the recall will not be successful.
- The recall is attempted more than two minutes after the message was sent.
Outlook only allows you to recall messages within two minutes of sending them. If you try to recall a message after two minutes, the recall will not be successful.
- The recipient's email server is down or unavailable.
If the recipient's email server is down or unavailable at the time the recall is attempted, the recall will not be successful.
If a recall is not successful, you will see a message that says "Recall This Message - This message could not be recalled." You can then try to contact the recipient and ask them to delete the message. You can also try to send a new message to the recipient, explaining the situation.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about recalling messages in Outlook:
Question 1: How do I recall a message in Outlook?
Answer 1: To recall a message in Outlook, you must do so from the Sent Items folder. Right-click on the message you want to recall and select "Recall This Message." You will then have two options: "Delete unread copies" or "Replace with new message." Select the option you want and click on the "OK" button.
Question 2: How long do I have to recall a message?
Answer 2: You only have two minutes to recall a message in Outlook. After two minutes, the recall option will no longer be available.
Question 3: What happens if the recipient has already read the message?
Answer 3: If the recipient has already read the message, you will not be able to recall it. This is because Outlook cannot delete or replace a message that has already been read.
Question 4: What happens if the recipient is using an email client that does not support message recall?
Answer 4: If the recipient is using an email client that does not support message recall, the recall will not be successful. Some email clients, such as Gmail, do not support message recall.
Question 5: What should I do if the recall is not successful?
Answer 5: If the recall is not successful, you can try to contact the recipient and ask them to delete the message. You can also try to send a new message to the recipient, explaining the situation.
Question 6: Can I recall a message that I sent to a distribution list?
Answer 6: Yes, you can recall a message that you sent to a distribution list. However, the recall will only be successful for the recipients who have not yet read the message.
Question 7: Can I recall a message that I sent to myself?
Answer 7: Yes, you can recall a message that you sent to yourself. However, you must do so from the Sent Items folder.
Question 8: What if I want to recall a message that I sent from my phone?
Answer 8: You cannot recall a message that you sent from your phone using the Outlook app. You must recall the message from the Sent Items folder on your computer.
Closing Paragraph for FAQ:
These are just a few of the most frequently asked questions about recalling messages in Outlook. If you have any other questions, please consult the Outlook Help Center.
Once you've familiarized yourself with the basics of recalling messages in Outlook, you can check out the tips section below for additional insights and best practices to help you make the most of this feature.
Tips
Here are a few tips for recalling messages in Outlook:
Tip 1: Use the keyboard shortcut.
You can recall a message quickly by using the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + Z." This shortcut will only work if you are still in the Sent Items folder.
Tip 2: Be quick about it.
You only have two minutes to recall a message in Outlook. So, if you realize you have sent a message in error, act quickly.
Tip 3: Use the delay send feature.
If you think you might need more than two minutes to decide whether or not you want to recall a message, you can use the delay send feature. This feature allows you to schedule a message to be sent at a later time. Once the message is sent, you will have two minutes to recall it.
Tip 4: Consider using a third-party tool.
There are a number of third-party tools that can help you recall messages in Outlook. These tools can give you more control over the recall process, such as the ability to recall messages that have already been read.
Closing Paragraph for Tips:
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of successfully recalling a message in Outlook.
Now that you know how to recall a message in Outlook, you can use this feature to avoid sending embarrassing or incorrect emails. Just remember to act quickly and follow the tips above to increase your chances of success.
Conclusion
Message recall is a useful feature in Outlook that allows you to retrieve messages that you have sent in error. However, it is important to remember that message recall is not always successful. There are a few factors that can affect the success of a recall, such as whether or not the recipient has already read the message and whether or not they are using an email client that supports message recall.
If you need to recall a message, it is important to act quickly. You only have two minutes to recall a message in Outlook. If you think you might need more time, you can use the delay send feature to schedule the message to be sent at a later time.
By following the tips in this article, you can increase your chances of successfully recalling a message in Outlook. However, it is important to remember that message recall is not a guarantee. If you are concerned about the possibility of sending an embarrassing or incorrect email, it is best to proofread your message carefully before sending it.
Closing Message:
I hope this article has been helpful in explaining how to recall a message in Outlook. If you have any other questions, please consult the Outlook Help Center.