How to Recall an Email in Outlook (And What to Do If It Fails)

We’ve all been there—you hit “send” too fast, and suddenly you’re wishing you could grab that email back from the ether. Maybe it had a typo, went to the wrong person, or was missing a key attachment. Fortunately, if you’re using Microsoft Outlook, there’s a built-in feature that might save you: the ability to recall email in Outlook.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how Outlook’s recall feature works, how to use it, what to do if it fails, and even how to recover lost or deleted messages with the help of recovery tools like WinfrGUI.

What Is Email Recall in Outlook?

Outlook’s Recall This Message feature allows you to attempt to delete or replace a message you’ve already sent—but only under certain conditions.

Here’s when it can work:

• You and the recipient are using Microsoft Exchange (usually within the same company or organization).
• The recipient is using the desktop version of Outlook.
• The email has not yet been opened by the recipient.

If any of those conditions aren’t met (like if the recipient is on Gmail, using Outlook Web Access, or already opened your message), recall won’t work.

How to Recall an Email in Outlook

If you’re using the desktop version of Outlook and the stars align, here’s how to try recalling an email:

1. Open your Sent Items folder.
2. Double-click the email you want to recall to fully open it (don’t just preview it).
3. In the top menu, go to File > Info.
4. Click “Resend or Recall” > “Recall This Message…”.
5. Choose one of the following:
   • Delete unread copies of this message
   • Delete unread copies and replace with a new message
6. (Optional) Tick the box to be notified about the recall success or failure.
7. Click OK and you’re done.

Outlook will attempt the recall and notify you of the results—success, failure, or partial success.

Why Email Recall Might Not Work

As helpful as it sounds, email recall is far from foolproof. Here are the most common reasons it might fail:

• The recipient already opened the message.
• They’re not using Outlook or are on a non-Exchange email client (like Gmail or Apple Mail).
• The email was accessed on a mobile device, which often bypasses recall.
• They’re outside your organization, making recall impossible in most cases.

Even when everything seems right, recall can still fail silently. That’s why it’s always good to have a backup plan.

What to Do If Recall Doesn’t Work

So, the recall failed. Now what?

Here are a few smart next steps:

1. Send a Follow-Up Email

Be honest and quick. A simple message like:

“Hey, I just noticed I sent the previous email with the wrong attachment—please ignore it. Here’s the correct version.”

That kind of follow-up goes a long way in clarifying your intent and fixing the issue.

Also Interested👉How to See Deleted Messages on WhatsApp: Quick Fixes 2025

2. Delay Sending Emails Going Forward

You can set a rule in Outlook to delay all outgoing emails by a few minutes. This gives you a grace period to catch mistakes before the message actually leaves your outbox.

To set this up:

• Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts.
• Create a new rule under Apply rule on messages I send.
• Choose “defer delivery by X minutes”—set your preferred delay (e.g., 1–2 minutes).

3. Recover Deleted Outlook Emails (Optional)

If you accidentally deleted the wrong email or something went missing, you might be able to recover it.

• While Outlook has a built-in “Recover Deleted Items” feature, it’s limited.
• If that doesn’t help, you can try a dedicated recovery tool like WinfrGUI, which is free and can help restore lost Outlook data—like deleted .pst or .ost files—from your Windows drive.

Key Features of WinfrGUI

• ✔️ Easy-to-use interface (no tech skills required)
• 🔄 Supports recovery from HDD, SSD, USB drives, and memory cards
• 🔍 Deep scan mode for thorough recovery
• 📁 Recovers a wide range of file types: DOCX, PDF, JPG, PST, etc.
• 🆓 100% free with no hidden fees

Tips to Avoid Future Email Mistakes

The best fix is prevention. Here are a few simple habits to reduce those facepalm moments:

• ✔️Use Delay Send to give yourself time to cancel.
• ✔️Double-check recipients and attachments before clicking “Send.”
• ✔️Draft complex or sensitive emails before responding emotionally or too quickly.
• ✔️Use read receipts or message tracking when sending important info internally.

Final Thoughts

Outlook’s email recall feature can be a real lifesaver—when it works. But as you’ve seen, it’s limited and doesn’t always do the job. That’s why knowing how to recall email in Outlook and what to do when recall fails is so important.

Whether you’re sending sensitive info or just made a mistake, it’s good to be prepared. And if things really go sideways—like losing important messages altogether—tools like WinfrGUI can give you a second chance by recovering deleted Outlook files quickly and for free. Got a message mishap? Don’t panic—there’s usually something you can do about it.

Also Read 👉How to Retrieve Deleted Text Messages on Google Messages?

FAQs

Q1. Can I recall an email in Outlook after it has been read?
No, recall only works if the recipient hasn’t opened the email yet.

Q2. Why does email recall fail in Outlook?
It can fail if the recipient isn’t using Outlook, is outside your organization, or has already read the email.

Q3. Does email recall work in Outlook Web or mobile apps?
No, the recall feature is only available in the desktop version of Outlook.

Q4. Will the recipient know I tried to recall the email?
Yes, they may receive a notification saying you tried to recall a message—even if it fails.

Q5. Can I recover a deleted Outlook email if recall doesn’t work?
Yes, you can use Outlook’s “Recover Deleted Items” feature or third-party tools like WinfrGUI to retrieve deleted emails.