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Quick Answer

Open your Sent Items folder, double-click the email to open it in a new window, go to the Message tab, click Actions, and select Recall This Message.

How to Recall or Replace a Sent Email in Outlook ​

Applies to: Microsoft 365 (Outlook desktop, New Outlook, Outlook on the Web)
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

Sent an email by mistake? Outlook lets you attempt to recall or replace a message before the recipient reads it. This article explains how to use Recall in Classic Outlook and Undo Send in New Outlook and the web.

Prerequisites ​

  • A Microsoft 365 mailbox on Exchange Online.
  • Both you and the recipient must be in the same organization (recall only).

Instructions ​

1. Recall a Message in Classic Outlook ​

Recall attempts to delete the sent message from the recipient's inbox before they open it.

  1. Open your Sent Items folder.
  2. Double-click the email you want to recall to open it in its own window.
  3. Click the File tab, then select Resend or Recall > Recall This Message.
    • If you do not see this option, click Actions > Recall This Message on the Message tab.
  4. Choose one of the following:
    • Delete unread copies of this message — removes it from inboxes.
    • Delete unread copies and replace with a new message — lets you send a corrected version.
  5. Check Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient if you want a status report.
  6. Click OK.

Note: If the message itself was fine and the problem is that nobody replied or someone was left off the recipient list, use Resend This Message on that same Resend or Recall menu instead — it sends a clean copy with no FW: prefix. See How to Resend a Message in Outlook.

2. Use Undo Send in New Outlook and Outlook on the Web ​

New Outlook and the web app offer a brief window to cancel a message right after clicking Send.

  1. After clicking Send, look for the Undo button or toast notification at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Click Undo within the countdown window (default is 10 seconds).
  3. The message returns to your draft for editing or deletion.

3. Increase the Undo Send Delay (New Outlook / Web) ​

Give yourself more time to catch mistakes.

  1. Click the Settings gear icon.
  2. Go to Mail > Compose and reply.
  3. Scroll to Undo send and move the slider to your preferred delay (up to 10 seconds).
  4. Click Save.

Troubleshooting ​

DANGER

Recall only works when both sender and recipient use Exchange within the same organization. If the recipient uses Gmail, Yahoo, or a different tenant, the recall will fail silently.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Recall failed notificationRecipient already read the emailThe message cannot be recalled once opened. Send a follow-up apology or correction instead.
"Recall This Message" option missingUsing New Outlook or a POP/IMAP accountRecall is a Classic Outlook + Exchange feature. Use Undo Send in New Outlook instead.
Undo button did not appearUndo send delay set to 0Increase the delay in Settings > Mail > Compose and reply > Undo send.