Outlook: How to Recall a Sent Message

Contributor Icon Contributed by shamanstears Date Icon October 7, 2006  
Tag Icon Tagged: Microsoft Outlook

Have you ever clicked send on a message and then remembered that you forgot to attach that important file, or realized you put the wrong time down for a meeting? Outlook allows you the option of recalling a sent message. Here’s how:


For Outlook 2003:

1. Go to the Sent Items folder.

2. Find the message you want recalled and double-click it.

3. Go to the Actions menu and select Recall This Message.

4. To recall the message:

Select Delete unread copies of this message.
(Note: the recipient needs to have Outlook opened for the message to be deleted)

To replace the message:

Select Delete unread copies and replace with a new message, click OK, and type your new message.

To be notified about the success of the recall or replacement:

Check the Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient check box.

5. Click OK.

UPDATE: How To Recall a Sent Message in Outlook 2007:

1. Click on Sent Items.

2. Find the message you want recalled and double-click it to open.

3. Go to the Ribbon.

4. In the Actions section, click Other Actions and select Recall This Message.

5. Select Delete unread copies of this message.

6. To be notified about the success of the recall, check the Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient checkbox.

7. Click OK.

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  • Anonymous
    :!: N.B. This works only within an organization or company. You cannot recall e-mail that you've sent to an outside, i.e., internet e-mail address.
  • Anonymous
    That's very true. It doesn't work well with universities either (except I guess if maybe they are using Exchange server).
  • oabo
    Thank you, please note that if the mail is read before you recall it will send a "failure to recall" email.
  • Vincenia
    I have tried to recall a message without success even the recipient open to Outlook (Note: the recipient needs to have Outlook opened for the message to be deleted).

    When the recipient clicks to recall message, the original email is still be opened to read. Why?
  • Thanks :) just saved me embarrassment of not putting the subject into an email
  • Alice
    No action on my toolbar. Only More Actions?
    Unable to recall msg
  • Frieda
    GREAT THANKS!!!
  • Brian
    Many thanks quick and straight to the point
  • Marian Matei
    Thanks! Very usefull!
  • john
    This recall function only works when using MS Exchange email account. It does not work with other popular email providers such as hotmail, yahoo, gmail, etc...
  • Dave
    This entry made me look like a hero - thanks for those responsible.

    CEO calls in a big panic - I google, land on this entry, and shout out these instructions in the speakerphone.

    Sweet.
  • Randal Oulton
    It should be noted that this only works in very limited circumstances:

    - It will not work on email sent outside your organization;
    - It only works in internal systems and for those using Microsoft Outlook in that internal system;
    - On the recipient's install of Outlook, in Tracking Options, Process requests and responses on arrival must be selected.
    - the original message must be unread.

    And, even if it is successful, the recipient gets informed that you deleted the message from his or her mailbox, perhaps making them even more curious than they would have been otherwise.

    More information: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010... (link valid as of March 2008)
  • Raven
    That was helpful.

    Thanks.
  • neil
    we have outlook 2007. Sent a message to 5 internal people - got back 2 successful, 2 failed, the other, zip, nada, nothing:-(( Any idea why not? We'd like to get it back - her mother died and we accidentally inculded her in the flower-note. No big deal, but it's frustrating. She's on the same server as us, same version as us, and no-way has she opened it up yet, but even if she had, we would have gotten the "failed" message. Didn't do the replace option at first, but when we tried that route, still nothing from her email
  • Bandit
    Perhaps her Outlook has to be running in order for the Request to process. If she's out of the office with the computer off, there is no client app running to process your recall request. I don't get the impression that the recall is done at the server level.
  • Wafaa
    Thanks, that was very helpfull for me.
  • o1ive
    Recall will only be success full if:

    The recipient uses Outlook and Outlook is running
    The recipient's mailbox must be open for the recall to success

    Message Recall will not be successful if:
    The recipient is not using Outlook
    The recipient is not logged on to the mail service provider
    The message has been read
  • kittenparty
    Solution: Think and re-read before you send.
  • syedalhaj
    i lost my IDpassword
  • Owais
    Thanks...Very usefull
  • ramsmba
    Simply Fantastic. No words to explain about this
  • zatti
    I think it works, but it sent a message to the recipient that I wanted to recall the email, then it asked the recipient for authorization for me to take it back.

    Still it is a good idea, if I do not mind telling the recipient and asking permission. :-)
  • rickscr
    It may work to a degree but is really not all that effective. It sends a message to the recipeint basically asking them if its OK to recall the message. So naturally in most cases people will immediatley read the message in question. The sender ends up raising the profile of the message they wish to retract.
  • Tom555
    Where is the actions menu? (I can't find it)
  • Tom555
    Where is the actions menu? I can't find it
  • Tom555
    Where is the actions menu?
  • Tom555
    Where is the actions menu?
  • Tom555
    where is the actions menu? what is the Ribbon?
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