Recall an email in Outlook for Windows

Use message recall to retract an email you’ve already sent from the mailboxes of people who haven’t opened it yet. You can also substitute the retracted email with a replacement message. For example, you can retract a message to add an attachment, then send a replacement message that includes the attachment.

1. Open Outlook.
2. On the leftmost side, select Sent Items.
3. Double-click a message that you want to recall.
4. Determine whether you have the Classic Ribbon or the Simplified Ribbon.
   • If you have the Classic Ribbon: Under the Message tab, select Actions, and then Recall This Message.
     
   • If you have the Simplified Ribbon: Under the Message tab, select More commands, then Actions, and then Recall This Message.
     
5. Select Delete unread copies of this message or Delete unread copies and replace with a new message.
   
6. If you want to be notified if the message recall is successful, make sure the checkbox next to Tell me if the recall succeeds or fails for each recipient is selected.
7. Select OK.
8. If you selected Delete unread copies and replace with a new message in step 6, compose the message, and then select Send.

The success or failure of the message recall depends on whether the message has been read as well as the individual recipients' settings in Outlook. See possible scenarios from Microsoft under "To check a recall."

Related step

• You can also recall a message by going to the File tab in Outlook.

More info

• Forward messages as attachments
• Add my email signature to Outlook (Windows)