How to Recall an Email in Outlook

If you need to recall an email in Outlook, open the message from Sent Items, use Recall Message or Recall This Message, and then check the Message Recall Report. That works only in supported Microsoft 365 work or school setups inside the same organization.

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How to Recall an Email in Outlook
How to Recall an Email in Outlook

If you need to recall an email in Outlook, open the message from Sent Items , use Recall Message or Recall This Message , and then check the Message Recall Report . That works only in supported Microsoft 365 work or school setups inside the same organization. [1] [2]

What’s new

Newer cloud-based recall can be more flexible than many older guides suggest because some organizations can allow recall of read messages, and Microsoft says the service can retry for up to 24 hours. [1] [2]

TL;DR

To recall an Outlook email you already sent, open the sent message in its own window, click Recall Message or Recall This Message , confirm, and wait for the recall report. If the button is missing or the recall fails, send a correction right away and use Schedule Send or Undo Send next time. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Key takeaways

  • True recall works only inside the same organization for supported Microsoft 365 work or school accounts. [1] [2]
  • Supported apps include new Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac 16.94 or later. [2] [3] [4]
  • Outlook.com personal accounts and the Outlook mobile app do not support true recall. [2] [7]
  • Open the message from Sent Items in its own window before you look for the recall option. [2] [3] [4]
  • Check the Message Recall Report after you submit the request; Microsoft says retries can continue for up to 24 hours. [1] [2]
  • If recall fails, send a correction immediately and use Schedule Send or Undo Send next time. [2] [5] [6]

Can you recall an email in Outlook?

  • True recall works only for supported Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organization. Personal Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, and MSN accounts cannot use true recall. [1] [2]
  • Supported apps: new Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac 16.94 or later. [2] [3] [4]
  • Not supported on mobile: Microsoft’s current Outlook help for iPhone and Android says recall is not available there. [7]
  • Timing: the request takes only a few clicks, the report usually arrives within minutes, and Microsoft says recall can keep retrying for up to 24 hours. [1] [2]
  • Best practice: treat recall as best effort, not a guarantee. If the email includes sensitive information or a serious mistake, send a correction and contact the recipient right away.
Outlook version Recall available? What to know
New Outlook for Windows Yes Use Recall Message with supported Microsoft 365 work or school mailboxes in the same organization.
Classic Outlook for Windows Yes Use Recall This Message . Classic Outlook also lets you delete unread copies or replace the message.
Outlook on the web Yes Available for supported work or school accounts.
Outlook for Mac Yes Requires Outlook for Mac 16.94 or later and supported work or school accounts in the same organization.
Outlook.com personal No Use Undo Send instead of true recall.
Outlook mobile app No Switch to desktop Outlook or Outlook on the web.

New Outlook for Windows

Recall available?
Yes
What to know
Use Recall Message with supported Microsoft 365 work or school mailboxes in the same organization.

Classic Outlook for Windows

Recall available?
Yes
What to know
Use Recall This Message . Classic Outlook also lets you delete unread copies or replace the message.

Outlook on the web

Recall available?
Yes
What to know
Available for supported work or school accounts.

Outlook for Mac

Recall available?
Yes
What to know
Requires Outlook for Mac 16.94 or later and supported work or school accounts in the same organization.

Outlook.com personal

Recall available?
No
What to know
Use Undo Send instead of true recall.

Outlook mobile app

Recall available?
No
What to know
Switch to desktop Outlook or Outlook on the web.

Support and limits in this table match Microsoft’s current recall guidance for Windows, web, Mac, Outlook.com, and mobile Outlook. [1] [2] [3] [4] [7]

How to tell whether recall is available

Open the sent message in its own window from Sent Items . If you see Recall Message or Recall This Message , your current Outlook setup supports recall. If you do not see it, skip recall and send a correction instead. [2] [3] [4]

Step-by-step: how to recall an email in Outlook

Start with the common steps, then use the instructions for the Outlook version on your screen.

How to recall an email in Outlook

  1. Sent Items , find the email, and open it in its own window. In classic Outlook, the reading pane is not enough. [2] [3] [4]
  2. Make sure the message is eligible. True recall does not work for personal Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, or MSN accounts, and it does not work for mail sent outside your organization. If both sides use supported Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organization, continue. [1] [2]

New Outlook for Windows

  1. Click Recall Message in the open message. [2]
  2. Click OK to submit the request. [2]
  3. Watch for the Message Recall Report in your inbox. [1] [2]

Classic Outlook for Windows

  1. Go to Message > Actions > Recall This Message . If you use the simplified ribbon, go to Message > More commands (...) > Actions > Recall This Message . [3]
  2. Choose Delete unread copies of this message or Delete unread copies and replace with a new message . [3]
  3. If you pick the replace option, edit the corrected draft and send it right away. [3]
  4. Wait for the recall report. [1] [2]

Outlook on the web

  1. Open the message from Sent Items and click Recall Message on the ribbon. [2]
  2. Confirm the recall request. [2]
  3. Read the report when it arrives to see whether recall succeeded, is pending, or failed. [1] [2]

Outlook for Mac

  1. Make sure you use Outlook for Mac 16.94 or later. [4]
  2. Open Sent , open the message in a separate window, click Recall Message , and confirm. [4]
  3. Check the recall report in your inbox. [1] [2]

If the report says pending or failed

  • Pending: wait. Microsoft says cloud-based recall can keep retrying for up to 24 hours if a mailbox is temporarily unavailable. [1]
  • Failed or no recall button: send a short correction now, such as “Please ignore my previous message and use this version instead.” Then turn on Schedule Send or Undo Send for future emails. [2] [5]

Why Outlook recall works only sometimes

In Microsoft 365, newer message recall is handled by a cloud-based service. Outlook sends the recall request, Microsoft 365 tries to remove the original message from recipient mailboxes, and then sends you a report. Results still depend on your organization’s setup, recipient account type, and whether the message stayed inside the same organization. Microsoft also says some organizations can allow recall of messages that were already read. Schedule send and delay delivery work differently because they hold the message before final delivery, which can help prevent the same mistake next time. [1] [2] [5]

How to schedule send in Outlook

These are the current schedule-send or delay-delivery steps for the main Outlook versions.

New Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web

  1. Click the arrow next to Send .
  2. Choose Schedule send .
  3. Pick a preset or custom time and click Send . [5]

The message stays in Drafts until send time. [5]

Classic Outlook for Windows

  1. In the compose window, open the More options arrow from the ribbon.
  2. Check Do not deliver before .
  3. Choose the date and time, click Close , then click Send . [5]

The message stays in the Outbox until send time. [5]

Outlook for Mac

  1. Use the arrow on the Send button.
  2. Choose Schedule send .
  3. Enter the time and date, then click OK . [6]

Microsoft says the message can still send even if Outlook is not open on your computer. [6]

Personal Outlook.com

Outlook.com does not support true recall, but you can turn on Undo Send for a short delay after you click Send . [2]

If Schedule send is missing in new Outlook or Outlook for Mac, Microsoft says the feature is not available for IMAP or POP accounts in those apps. [5] [6]

Want a simpler schedule-send workflow on Windows and Mac?

Mailbird is a desktop email client for Windows and Mac with Send Later . Compose or reply to a message, click the small clock next to Send , choose a send time, and keep Mailbird open and online until the message goes out. If you want one desktop app across Windows and Mac with a straightforward send-later workflow, Mailbird is worth a look. [8] [9]

Visit Mailbird [8] [10]

Troubleshooting: when you can’t recall an Outlook email

  • You can’t find “Recall Message” or “Recall This Message.” Likely cause: your account is not on the right Microsoft 365 or Exchange setup, or your organization does not expose the feature. Fix: send a correction now, and use Schedule Send for future messages. [2]
  • The email went to someone outside your company. Likely cause: message recall works only inside the same organization, not across the internet or across organizations. Fix: send a follow-up correction and contact the recipient directly if it’s urgent. [1] [2]
  • You use personal Outlook.com and recall is missing. Likely cause: Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, and MSN personal accounts do not support true recall. Fix: turn on Undo Send instead. [2]
  • The report is still pending after you clicked recall. Likely cause: Microsoft is still retrying because a mailbox was temporarily unavailable. Fix: wait and check again; the service can keep trying for up to 24 hours. [1]
  • You’re on Outlook for Mac and the button still isn’t there. Likely cause: your Mac version is older than 16.94, or the accounts are not Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organization. Fix: update Outlook for Mac and confirm the account type. [4]
  • You’re trying from the Outlook mobile app. Likely cause: Microsoft’s current Outlook help for iPhone and Android says recall is not available there. Fix: switch to desktop Outlook or Outlook on the web. [7]
  • A protected message will not recall. Likely cause: Microsoft’s Outlook recall support notes that messages protected by Azure Information Protection cannot be recalled. Fix: send a corrected follow-up and handle the issue directly with the recipient. [2]
  • Recall works in web Outlook but not in Outlook for Windows. Likely cause: Microsoft says recall in Outlook for Windows can fail when Outlook is in Online mode or when multiple Exchange accounts are configured in the same profile. Fix: try Outlook on the web first. [1]
  • Schedule send is missing in new Outlook or Outlook for Mac. Likely cause: Microsoft says schedule send is not available for IMAP or POP accounts in those apps. Fix: use Outlook on the web or classic Outlook delay delivery instead. [5] [6]

How to avoid needing recall next time

  • Use Undo Send for personal Outlook.com: it gives you a short delay after you click Send. [2]
  • Use Schedule Send in Outlook: delay delivery so you have time to rethink or cancel before the email leaves. [5] [6]
  • Keep a short correction template ready: a saved draft or note helps you send a clean follow-up fast.
  • Ask your Microsoft 365 admin how recall is configured: cloud-based recall and read-message recall depend on organization settings. [1]

Quick checklist

  • Open the sent email from Sent Items in its own window
  • Confirm the recipient is inside your Microsoft 365 organization
  • Click Recall Message or Recall This Message
  • In classic Outlook, choose whether to delete or replace the message
  • Read the Message Recall Report
  • If recall fails, send a correction immediately
  • Turn on Schedule Send or Undo Send for future emails

These checklist items match Microsoft’s current recall and send-later flows for supported Outlook versions. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recall an email in Outlook after it has been read?

Sometimes, in some Microsoft 365 organizations. Older guidance often says recall is only for unread mail, but Microsoft’s newer cloud-based recall setup can be configured differently by your admin.

Sources: [1] [2]

Can I recall an email sent outside my company or to a personal address?

No. True recall is for supported Microsoft 365 mailboxes inside the same organization, not external recipients.

Sources: [1] [2]

How do I recall an email in new Outlook?

Open Sent Items , open the sent message in its own window, click Recall Message , and confirm. Then watch for the recall report in your inbox.

Sources: [2]

How do I recall an Outlook email in classic Outlook?

Open the message from Sent Items , then use Message > Actions > Recall This Message . You can delete unread copies or replace the message with a corrected version.

Sources: [3]

Can I recall an email in Outlook on the web?

Yes, if you use a supported Microsoft 365 work or school account. Open the sent message from Sent Items , click Recall Message , and confirm.

Sources: [2]

Can I recall an email in Outlook.com?

No. Outlook.com personal accounts do not support true recall, but you can turn on Undo Send for a short delay.

Sources: [2]

Can I recall an email in Outlook for Mac?

Yes, if you use Outlook for Mac 16.94 or later and both sides are Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organization.

Sources: [4]

Can I recall an email from the Outlook mobile app?

No. Microsoft’s current Outlook help for iPhone and Android says recall is not available there, so use desktop Outlook or Outlook on the web instead.

Sources: [7]

Why is Recall Message missing in Outlook?

Usually because your account or app does not support true recall. Common reasons include personal Outlook.com mailboxes, mobile Outlook, older Outlook for Mac versions, or an unsupported Microsoft 365 or Exchange setup.

Sources: [2] [4] [7]

What is the Message Recall Report?

It is the status message Outlook sends you after a recall attempt. It tells you whether the recall succeeded, is still pending, or failed.

Sources: [1] [2]

Is Schedule Send better than recall?

They solve different problems. Recall tries to remove an email after it was sent, while Schedule Send or delay delivery holds the message before final delivery.

Sources: [1] [5]

Can I recall a forwarded email?

Only in limited cases. Microsoft says automatically forwarded messages inside the same organization can be recalled, but manually forwarded messages cannot.

Sources: [1]

Sources

  1. Microsoft Learn: Work with Cloud-based Message Recall (updated Nov. 25, 2025)
  2. Microsoft Support: How to recall an email in Outlook: Requirements, Limitations & Steps
  3. Microsoft Support: Recall or replace a sent email in Outlook
  4. Microsoft Support: Recall an email message in Outlook for Mac
  5. Microsoft Support: Delay or schedule sending email messages in Outlook
  6. Microsoft Support: Use Schedule Send in Outlook for Mac
  7. Microsoft Support: Can I undo / recall a sent email? (Outlook for iOS and Android)
  8. Mailbird: The Best Email Client for Windows and Mac
  9. Mailbird Support: Send Later
  10. Mailbird: Download Mailbird for Windows and Mac