We’ve all experienced that sinking feeling—clicking “Send” on an email and instantly realizing something’s wrong. Whether it’s a typo, a forgotten attachment, or an email sent to the wrong person. In the world of digital communication, mistakes happen fast. But Outlook offers various ways to unsend or recall emails—depending on your device and account type.
In this blog, we’ll explore how to unsend an email in Outlook across all major platforms, including Outlook for Mac, Outlook App, Outlook 365, Outlook Web, and Outlook on iPhone.
What Does “Unsend” Mean in Outlook?
Outlook provides two main features to help you stop or delay email delivery:
Message Recall: Attempts to delete or replace an unread email from the recipient’s inbox. Only works under specific conditions.
Undo Send: Delays the sending of an email for a few seconds, giving you a chance to cancel it before it’s delivered.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook for Mac?
Outlook for Mac doesn’t support full message recall, but you can enable Undo Send. Thus, follow these steps:
- Go to Outlook > Preferences > Composing.
- Set a delay time (5–20 seconds).
- After sending, click Undo at the bottom of the screen.
This feature is available in the new Outlook for Mac and for Microsoft 365/Outlook.com accounts.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook App (iPhone & Android)?
Outlook mobile app supports Recall for Microsoft 365 accounts within the same organization. Go through the mentioned below steps:
- Open the Outlook app.
- Go to Sent Items.
- Tap the three dots (…) on the email.
- Select Recall Message.
- You’ll receive a status update on whether the recall succeeded.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook 365?
To unsend an email in Outlook 365, follow the below steps:
- Go to Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply.
- Scroll to Undo Send.
- Set delay (up to 10 seconds).
- Click Save.
- After sending, click Undo within the delay window.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook Web?
Outlook Web doesn’t support full recall but offers Undo Send. Follow these steps:
- Click the gear icon
- View all Outlook settings.
- Go to Mail > Compose and Reply.
- Set Undo Send delay (up to 10 seconds).
- Click Save.
- After sending, click Undo at the bottom of the screen.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook on iPhone?
Outlook for iPhone supports Recall for Microsoft 365 accounts. Go through these procedures:
- Open the Outlook app.
- Go to Sent Items.
- Tap the … menu on the email.
- Select Recall Message.
- You’ll receive a status email confirming success or failure.
Common Pitfalls and Limitations
Before you rely on recall or undo send, it’s important to understand their limitations:
- Recall only works within the same organisation and for unread emails.
- Undo Send is time-sensitive (usually 5–10 seconds).
- External accounts (like Gmail or Yahoo) are not compatible with Outlook’s recall feature.
- If the recipient has already opened the email, recall will fail.
- Mobile and web versions may not support full recall functionality.
Tips to Avoid Email Mistakes
While Outlook’s recall and undo features are helpful, prevention is even better. Here are some tips to avoid email mishaps:
Enable Undo Send Everywhere: Set up Undo Send on all devices to give yourself a safety net.
Use Delay Delivery Rules: Create rules to delay outgoing emails by a few minutes, especially useful for sensitive communications.
Review Before Sending: Always double-check Recipients, Subject line, Attachments, and Tone and clarity.
Save Drafts for Complex Emails: If you’re writing something important, save it as a draft and revisit it later with fresh eyes.
Use Third-Party Tools: Consider third-party tools for enhanced recall and delay features.
Conclusion
Outlook email recall and undo send features aren’t perfect, but they’re powerful tools when used correctly. Whether you’re on desktop, mobile, or web, knowing how to unsend an email can save you from embarrassment, confusion, or worse.
The key is to act quickly, understand the limitations, and set up preventive measures like delay rules and Undo Send. With a little preparation, you can email with confidence—even when mistakes happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I unsend an email in Outlook after it’s been read?
No, Outlook Recall Message feature only works if the email is unread and both sender and recipient are using Microsoft 365 accounts within the same organisation.
Does Outlook Web support email recall?
Not fully, Outlook Web supports Undo Send, which delays sending for up to 10 seconds, allowing you to cancel the email before it’s delivered. It does not support full message recall.
Can I replace a recalled email with a corrected version?
Yes, when using Recall This Message, you can choose to delete and replace the original email. Outlook will open a new draft for you to edit and resend.
Is there a way to delay all outgoing emails in Outlook?
Yes, you can create a rule in Outlook Desktop to defer delivery by a few minutes. This gives you time to catch errors before the email is sent.
What’s the safest way to avoid email mistakes?
The safest way to avoid email mistakes are:
- Enable Undo Send wherever possible.
- Use Delay Delivery rules.
- Always review recipients and attachments.
- Save sensitive emails as drafts before sending.