How to Recall a Message in Outlook

To use Outlook recall message, open the sent email from Sent Items in its own window and choose Recall Message (new Outlook, Outlook on the web and Outlook for Mac) or Recall This Message (classic Outlook). Recall only works when you and the recipient both use Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organisation. Messages sent to Gmail, Outlook.com or other outside addresses cannot be recalled.

Can You Recall an Email in Outlook?

Yes, but only inside a Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online) organisation. Recall is a server-side feature: Exchange looks for the original message in each recipient's mailbox and deletes it. If the recipient's mailbox is not on the same Exchange system, Outlook has no way to reach it.

That one rule explains most failed recalls. The table shows what to expect in common situations, based on Microsoft's recall support article and its Exchange Online documentation.

How Do You Recall a Message in New Outlook for Windows?

In new Outlook, open the sent message in a separate window and select Recall Message from the ribbon. Microsoft's steps are:

1. Select Sent Items in the left folder pane.
2. Double-click the message to open it in its own window.
3. On the ribbon, select Recall Message.
4. Select OK in the confirmation dialog.
5. Watch your inbox for a Message Recall Report and open its link to see the result.

New Outlook does not offer the classic "replace with a new message" option in the same dialog; send a corrected email separately if needed. Not sure which version you have? Our guide to new Outlook vs classic Outlook explains how to tell them apart.

How Do You Recall an Email in Classic Outlook?

In classic Outlook, open the message from Sent Items and choose Recall This Message from the Actions menu, then decide whether to delete or replace it.

1. In the folder pane, select Sent Items.
2. Double-click the message to open it. Selecting it in the reading pane is not enough.
3. With the classic ribbon, go to Message → Actions → Recall This Message. With the simplified ribbon, go to Message → More commands (…) → Actions → Recall This Message.
4. Choose Delete unread copies of this message or Delete unread copies and replace with a new message, then select OK.
5. If you chose replace, edit the new message and select Send.

Microsoft's Exchange documentation notes two classic Outlook situations where recall does not work: when Outlook is in Online mode (not using a cached copy of the mailbox), and when the profile has more than one Exchange account configured. If the command is missing, your account is probably not Exchange-based. If you need a desktop Outlook licence, the Outlook collection lists the standalone versions.

How Do You Recall an Email on Mac Outlook?

Outlook for Mac supports recall from version 16.94 onwards, for Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organisation. According to Microsoft's Outlook for Mac recall instructions:

1. Select Sent in the folder pane.
2. Double-click the message to open it in a separate window.
3. On the ribbon, select Recall Message, then OK. Alternatively, Control-click the message in the list and choose Recall.
4. Check your inbox for the Message Recall Report and open its link for the status.

To check your version, open Outlook → About Outlook from the Mac menu bar. If you are below 16.94, run Microsoft AutoUpdate first. The same account rule applies on a Mac: you cannot recall an email to or from a Hotmail, Gmail or live.com address. Mac users who buy a one-time suite can find options in our Office for Mac collection.

How Do You Know If a Recall Worked?

Outlook sends you a Message Recall Report, usually within about 30 seconds, with a link that shows each recipient's status as succeeded, pending or failed. You may need to sign in with your mailbox credentials to open the report in a browser.

Microsoft's cloud-based recall keeps trying for up to 24 hours if a recipient's mailbox is temporarily unavailable, and the status for hundreds of recipients can take several minutes to fill in. The cause-and-effect matters here: because Exchange Online now handles recall on the server rather than in the recipient's Outlook, the result no longer depends on whether the recipient has Outlook open. Whether already-read messages can be recalled is an organisation setting that Exchange administrators control, and recipients are not notified of a recall unless the admin turns that on.

What Can You Do Instead of Recalling an Email?

For personal accounts, or as a safety net at work, turn on Undo send, which holds each message for a few seconds before it leaves. In new Outlook and Outlook.com:

1. Go to Settings → Mail → Compose and reply.
2. Under Undo send, choose a delay (Microsoft's recall article mentions 5 or 10 seconds).
3. Select Save.

After sending, an Undo prompt appears briefly at the bottom of the message list. In classic Outlook, a rule that defers delivery by a minute or two does a similar job. And when a mistake has already landed, a short, plain follow-up ("Please disregard my previous email; the correct figure is…") often works better than a recall, because it does not draw extra attention when the recall fails.

A Common Mistake We See

People often open the message in the reading pane and look for the recall button, or try to recall a message that went to an outside client. In the first case the command is hidden; double-click to open the message in its own window. In the second case recall will fail whatever you do, so send a correction straight away instead of waiting for the report.

Another frequent mix-up is with licences: buying a standalone Outlook 2024 licence gives you the classic desktop app, but recall still depends on the mail account you connect. With a personal or third-party IMAP account, recall is not available; with a Microsoft 365 work account, it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there no recall option in my Outlook?

The recall command appears only for Microsoft 365 work or school (Exchange) accounts. If you use Outlook.com, Gmail or an IMAP account, it is not available. It can also be hidden if you did not open the message in its own window, or if your organisation has disabled the feature.

Can I recall an email after it has been read?

Sometimes. Microsoft's support article says recall removes messages the recipient has not opened. Exchange Online's newer cloud-based recall lets administrators decide whether read messages can also be recalled. Check the Message Recall Report: if it shows failed, assume the recipient saw the email and send a correction.

Does the recipient know I recalled an email?

By default, no notification is sent to recipients with Exchange Online's cloud-based recall, although administrators can enable one. Older on-premises recall behaved differently and could leave a recall notice in the inbox. Recipients who already read the original will still remember its content, so a brief follow-up is often wise.

How do I recall an email in Outlook on Mac?

Update Outlook for Mac to version 16.94 or later, open the message from Sent in a separate window, then select Recall Message and confirm. You can also Control-click it and choose Recall. It works only for Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organisation as the recipient.

Can I recall an email sent to Gmail?

No. Once a message reaches Gmail or another outside provider, it is stored on that company's servers, which Microsoft cannot change. Recall works only within Exchange Online. For personal accounts, enable Undo send to give yourself a few seconds to cancel before a message leaves.

How long do I have to recall an Outlook email?

There is no short time limit for the sender; Microsoft's cloud-based recall applies a maximum recallable message age that administrators can set, with a default of 365 days. In practice, act within minutes, because the chance of the recipient opening the message grows quickly.

Conclusion

Outlook recall message works well inside a Microsoft 365 organisation: open the sent email, choose Recall, and check the report. For personal accounts and external recipients, rely on Undo send and quick corrections. If you need the desktop app itself, a standalone Outlook 2021 for Windows licence is a lower-cost option.

Useful Links