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How to "Unsend" or Recall an Email in Gmail

Applies toGoogle WorkspaceGmail
4 min fix Updated 10 Jul 2026

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Immediately after sending an email, look for the black Message sent pop-up in the bottom-left corner of the screen and click Undo before it disappears.

Summary ​

This article explains how to use Gmail's Undo Send feature to recall an email immediately after sending, and how to extend the cancellation window up to 30 seconds.

Before You Start ​

None required.

Instructions ​

1. Recall an email immediately after sending ​

Gmail gives you a few seconds after Send to take the message back.

  1. After you click Send, look for the "Message sent" pop-up in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  2. Click the Undo button in that pop-up before it disappears.
  3. The email will reopen as a draft so you can edit it or delete it entirely.

2. Extend the cancellation window ​

Five seconds is the default and rarely enough, and 30 is the maximum.

  1. Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top-right corner of Gmail and select See all settings.
  2. In the General tab, scroll down to the Undo Send section.
  3. Change the Send cancellation period from the default 5 seconds to 10, 20, or 30 seconds.
  4. Scroll to the very bottom of the page and click Save Changes.

Troubleshooting ​

INFO

Unlike Outlook, Gmail's "Undo Send" delays sending the email for the specified number of seconds. Once the timer runs out and the email actually leaves your outbox, it cannot be recalled.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
No Undo button appearedEmail already sentIf the timer expired, the email cannot be retrieved.
Forgot to click Undo in timeShort cancellation windowFollow step 2 to increase the window to 30 seconds for future emails.

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Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to click Undo?
By default, Gmail only gives you 5 seconds. However, you can change this. Go to Settings (the gear icon) > See all settings, find 'Undo Send', and change the cancellation period to 30 seconds.
Can I recall an email an hour after I sent it?
No. Unlike Microsoft Outlook, Gmail does not actually 'pull back' emails from the recipient's inbox. 'Undo Send' delays sending the email for a few seconds. Once it actually leaves your outbox, it cannot be recalled.