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How to Recall an Email in Microsoft Outlook

By Higher Information Group on January 17, 2022 | Technology Solutions

If you have an “Oh, nooo!” moment after emailing in Microsoft Outlook, never fear help is here. Microsoft’s email client has a built-in feature that allows the sender to recall an email provided the recipient has not opened it. The message recall feature is especially useful if you emailed the wrong person, forgot to include an important attachment or had second thoughts about what you wrote. (Maybe I shouldn’t have fired off that angry email!)

Here’s how to recall and replace a message:

1.Click the Sent Items folder in the left navigation panel. If you don’t see the Sent folder, try clicking on a downward arrow to access it. 2. Find the message you want to recall and double-click to open. 3. Click the Message tab at the top of the toolbar and move your cursor to the Move (Fig.1) 4. Click the More Move Actions arrow next to letter and envelope icon and select Recall This Message. (Fig.2) 5. If you have the simplified ribbon, select the Message tab, click on the three-dot icon (…), select Actions and then Recall This Message. 6. Click Delete unread copies of this message or Delete unread copies and replace with a new message. (Fig.3) 7. Check the box that says, Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient. (You will receive an email containing the recall results.) 8. Press OK. 9. If you’re sending a new email, Outlook will open a message composer window. Revise your email and then click (Fig.4)

Sounds simple, right? But there are some limitations to recovering an email in Outlook:

  1. If you don’t see the Recall This Message command, you probably don’t have a Microsoft Exchange account or the feature isn’t available within your organization.
  2. You cannot recall a message that’s protected by Azure Information Protection.
  3. You cannot recall a message if using the web-based version of Outlook.
  4. The recall feature will not work if you are emailing someone outside your organization.

So the next time you find yourself breaking out in a sweat from a case of Instant Email Regret, try using the message recall feature.

 

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