Email providers like Outlook and Gmail have a handy feature that allows you to edit or recall messages after they’ve been sent, giving you an easy way to fix typos or quickly replace the original message. But there are some caveats.
Read on to find out How to recall an email in Outlook or select Gmail.
When You Can’t Remember an Email
While recalling a Google or Outlook message is a useful feature, there are some situations when you cannot complete the action. First, you must initiate the recall request before the recipient opens and reads the email message.
Even if they haven’t seen your message, you only have a short time to use this feature. The rules differ depending on the email service you use. For example, in Gmail, you can set a cancellation period of 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds.
Certain security settings on the sender or receiver side may also cause the message recall attempt to fail. So the safest move is to avoid sending an embarrassing email that you might regret in the first place.
How to Recall Messages in Microsoft Outlook
According to Microsoft support, the Outlook recall feature is available to users with a Microsoft Exchange email address. Your workplace or internet service provider may provide you with this email address. Or you can have one as a Microsoft Office 365 subscriber.
Assuming the feature is available to you, here are the steps to use it in Classic Outlook, New Outlook, Outlook web access, and Outlook.com.
Classic Look
-
Select send items folder, which you can find in the folder pane on the left.
-
Double-click to open the message you want to recall.
-
For those with the Classic Ribbon, follow these steps from the Message tab: Actions > Recall This Message. For the Simplified Ribbon, Message select the tab and then More commands > Point to Actions > Remember This Message.
-
choose between Delete unread copies of this message or Delete unread copies and replace with a new messageand then click OK. You may also wish to receive a message alerting you if the email recall was successful.
-
If you are resending a message, write a new message and then To send.
New view
-
Go send items Open the folder and double-click the message you want to recall and it will open in a new window.
-
To call Recall Message Click the button on the ribbon, and then click OK to confirm.
-
You will receive one Message Recall Report This tells you whether the action was successful or not.
Outlook on the web (Work or School Account)
-
In the left pane, send items and double-click the email to open in a new window.
-
choose Recall Message and confirm.
-
A. Message Recall Report will appear in your inbox telling you whether the email was unsuccessful, successful or pending.
Outlook on the web (Personal Account)
This feature is not available for personal accounts ending in @live.com, @hotmail.com, @outlook.com, or @msn.com. Instead, you can delay sending a message for up to 10 seconds. Turn this feature on like this:
-
click Settings > Mail > Compose & reply.
-
Go Undo send and choose how long you want to delay the email.
-
click save.
If you try to recall an email that a recipient has read (even if it’s the wrong person), a second message is sent to the recipient notifying them of the recall. They will also have the original email.
If you only edit your first email, both the modified version and the original remain in the recipient’s inbox.
Recall Emails in Gmail
Microsoft Exchange isn’t the only email client with a recall option. Gmail can also recall emails; but you can find it under the “undo send” or “undo send” label. Since recall is only valid for a very short period of time after an email reaches the recipient’s inbox, you should decide to do this quickly.
If you realize that you sent an email by mistake or sent it to the wrong person, you have a short time to cancel the email. According to Google support, you can immediately retract a message by following these steps after sending it:
-
You will see at the bottom left Message sent and option Undo or View message.
-
click Undo.
Gmail Recall Time is Limited
Gmail also lets you set the amount of time a sent email can be recalled, up to 30 seconds.
Go to Gmail on your computer.
-
top right Settings > Show all settings.
-
next to Undo send Submit cancellation period 5, 10, 20 or 30 seconds.
-
At the bottom, click Save Changes.
Now This Is Interesting
Why do you need to recall an email in Outlook or Gmail? Maybe you sent it to the wrong person or found a typo after pressing send. If your recall attempt fails, perhaps you should receive an honest apology email. Even if your email doesn’t really need it, a description can go a long way.
Original article: How to Recall an Email in Outlook or Gmail
Copyright © 2024 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company