How to Unsend an Email in Outlook A Complete Guide
Emails are one of the most common forms of communication in both professional and personal settings. However, we’ve all been there—hitting the send button and then realizing that we made a mistake, misspelled something, or forgot to add an attachment. Thankfully, Outlook offers several methods to how to unsend an email in Outlook or prevent it from being sent in the first place. But how exactly can you undo an email you’ve already sent in Outlook? In this article, we will explain the different methods available for unsending an email in Outlook, including both the desktop and web versions.
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Can You Really Unsend an Email in Outlook?
The ability to how to unsend an email in Outlook depends on the version you’re using, as well as the settings you’ve chosen. The answer is yes, but there are limitations. Whether you are using Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, or the Outlook desktop app, Outlook offers different ways to recall or delay emails.
Let’s take a look at the available features for each version and how you can use them effectively to unsend an email in Outlook.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook.com (Web Version)
Outlook.com, which is the web-based version of Outlook, offers a feature called Undo Send. This feature lets you delay sending an email by a few seconds, which gives you a brief window to stop the email from being sent. Here’s how to set it up:
Setting Up Undo Send in Outlook.com
- Open Outlook.com in your browser.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner to access Settings.
- Select View all Outlook settings at the bottom of the menu.
- Under the Mail section, choose Compose and reply.
- Scroll to the Undo Send section.
- Choose a delay time between 5 to 10 seconds (the longest time you can select is 10 seconds).
- Click Save.
Now that you’ve set up the Undo Send feature, whenever you send an email, you’ll see a small notification pop up at the bottom of the screen that says, “Message sent.” You will have a chance to click the Undo button within the delay time you’ve set. This feature gives you just enough time to realize if there was an error in the email you just sent and stop it.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook for Microsoft 365 (Desktop Version)
If you’re using Outlook for Microsoft 365 (desktop version), the process is a bit different. Outlook doesn’t have the Undo Send feature like the web version, but it offers an option called Recall, which allows you to attempt to retrieve an email after it’s been sent. However, there are important conditions for using this feature when figuring out how to unsend an email in Outlook.
Using Recall to Unsend an Email in Outlook for Microsoft 365
Here’s how you can recall an email in Outlook for Microsoft 365:
- Open your Sent Items folder.
- Find and open the email you want to recall.
- Click on the Message tab in the ribbon at the top.
- Under the Actions menu, select Recall This Message.
- A pop-up will appear with two options: Delete unread copies of this message or Delete unread copies and replace with a new message.
- Choose your preferred option and click OK.
However, the Recall feature only works under specific conditions:
- The email must not have been read by the recipient.
- The recipient must be using Microsoft Exchange (within the same organization).
- The recipient should not have moved the email to another folder.
If any of these conditions are not met, the recall will fail. It’s important to keep in mind that while the recall feature is useful, it’s not guaranteed to work in every scenario.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook Mobile
Unfortunately, the Outlook mobile app does not currently support any unsend or recall functionality. This means once you press send on the mobile version of Outlook, the email is immediately sent.
To avoid making mistakes when sending emails on your mobile device, it’s best to double-check your message before hitting send. Additionally, consider using the Delay Delivery feature, which is available in the desktop version, to set a time for sending the email.
| Feature | Outlook.com | Outlook 365 (Desktop) | Outlook Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Undo Send (5-10 sec delay) | Recall (for unread emails) | No unsend feature |
| Limitations | 5-10 seconds, Outlook only | Works with Exchange only | N/A |
| Best For | Quick email corrections | Retrieving unread emails | Check emails before sending |
The Importance of Timing When Trying to Unsend an Email
Whether you are using how to unsend an email in Outlook with Undo Send or Recall, timing is crucial when trying to unsend an email. In Outlook.com, the Undo Send feature gives you a few seconds (typically 5–10 seconds) to act before the email is sent. However, in Outlook for Microsoft 365, the recall feature requires the email to remain unread, and it depends on whether both you and the recipient are using Microsoft Exchange.
The key takeaway here is that once the email has been delivered to the recipient’s inbox and read, it’s too late to recall or undo the action. To avoid these situations, consider enabling Undo Send or using Delay Delivery whenever possible.
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How to Set Up Delay Delivery in Outlook for Desktop
In addition to recalling an email, Outlook for Microsoft 365 also has a helpful feature called Delay Delivery. This option allows you to schedule an email to be sent later, giving you time to review the message before it is delivered.
Here’s how to use Delay Delivery in Outlook for Desktop:
- After composing your email, click on the Options tab at the top of the message.
- Click on Delay Delivery.
- A new window will pop up. Under the Delivery options section, check the box that says Do not deliver before and select a date and time.
- Click Close, then send the email.
The email will remain in your Outbox until the time you’ve selected for it to be sent. This gives you a window of time to make any last-minute changes or revisions before it reaches the recipient, helping you figure out how to unsend an email in Outlook.
How to Unsend Emails in Other Email Clients
If you’re using an email service like Gmail, Yahoo, or Apple Mail, you may be wondering how to unsend an email in Outlook and if similar features exist in these services. Many email clients, including Gmail, offer a feature similar to Outlook’s Undo Send. In Gmail, for example, you can delay sending an email for 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds, giving you a short window of time to undo the send action.
Other services like Yahoo and Apple Mail may not offer such features, so your best option in those cases would be to double-check your email before sending it or look for third-party tools that help manage outgoing messages.
Conclusion
Knowing how to unsend an email in Outlook is an essential skill, especially if you’re prone to sending messages too quickly or making mistakes. Whether you are using Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, or the Outlook desktop app, each version provides useful tools for delaying or recalling emails.
The Undo Send feature in Outlook.com is the easiest and most effective way to prevent sending an email by accident, but it only works within a short time window. On the other hand, Outlook for Microsoft 365 offers the Recall feature, which is useful but comes with its own set of limitations. Always be aware that once an email is read, it can’t be unsent, so try to use these tools proactively.
