How to Unsend an Email in Outlook: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Unsend an Email in Outlook: A Step-by-Step Guide

We've all been there—hitting “send” on an email and immediately regretting it. Maybe you noticed a typo, forgot an attachment, or sent the wrong message. Fortunately, Outlook offers a handy feature to help you correct these mistakes. In this guide, we'll show you how to unsend an email in Outlook, including how to enable the feature, how it works on different versions of Outlook, and best practices for preventing mistakes.

What Does 'Unsend' Mean in Outlook?

When you unsend an email in Outlook, you essentially stop the email from being delivered to the recipient's inbox. However, this feature comes with some limitations. First, it’s important to note that Outlook's "Undo Send" feature only works if you act quickly—usually within 5 to 10 seconds after hitting send. Also, it only works if both the sender and recipient are on Outlook or using Microsoft Exchange accounts. If your email has already been opened or the recipient is using a different email platform, unsending won’t be possible.

How to Enable the Undo Send Feature in Outlook

Before you can unsend an email in Outlook, you need to make sure the "Undo Send" feature is activated. Here's how to do it in both the desktop and web versions of Outlook.

Enabling Undo Send in Outlook Desktop

1. Open Outlook on your computer.
2. Go to the File tab in the top-left corner.
3. Click Options.
4. In the Outlook Options window, select Mail.
5. Scroll down to the Send messages section.
6. Check the box for "Use Undo Send" and choose a time limit for how long you want to be able to undo a sent email (5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds).
7. Click OK to save the changes.

Enabling Undo Send in Outlook Web

1. Open Outlook in your web browser and log in.
2. Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
3. Scroll down and click View all Outlook settings.
4. Under Mail, go to Compose and reply.
5. Scroll to the Undo Send section, and select a time frame for how long you want to be able to undo an email (5, 10, or 20 seconds).
6. Click Save.

How to Unsend an Email in Outlook (Desktop Version)

Once you have enabled the Undo Send feature in Outlook, here's how you can unsend an email in the desktop version:

1. After sending an email, look for a small pop-up at the top of the screen with the option to Undo. This pop-up will only appear for the time duration you set (e.g., 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds).
2. Click Undo. The email will be stopped from being delivered and will be returned to your drafts folder.

How to Unsend an Email in Outlook Web

In Outlook's web version, unsending an email follows a similar process:

1. After sending an email, a "Message Sent" notification will briefly appear at the top of your screen.
2. You’ll see an Undo option next to this notification.
3. Click Undo within the allotted time (5, 10, or 20 seconds), and your email will be stopped from sending and returned to the Drafts folder.

Things to Know About Unsend in Outlook

While Outlook's Undo Send feature is handy, it has its limitations:

• Time Limit: You must act within the time window you set (usually up to 30 seconds). If the recipient’s email client doesn’t support this feature, the email may still go through.
• Recipient Status: If the email has already been read or opened by the recipient, unsending it won’t work.
• Exchange Server: The Undo Send feature works best when both the sender and recipient are using Outlook or an Exchange server.

Be mindful of these limitations when using this feature to avoid confusion or disappointment.

Alternative Methods to Recall Emails in Outlook

If you want to completely recall an email, especially if the Undo Send feature is not available, Outlook offers a recall feature for Exchange accounts (for both desktop and web versions). However, this works only if the recipient hasn’t already read the email. Here's how to attempt recalling an email:

1. Go to the Sent Items folder in Outlook.
2. Open the email you want to recall.
3. Click Message in the top menu, then select Actions and choose Recall This Message.
4. Choose either Delete unread copies of this message or Delete unread copies and replace with a new message.

Remember, recall won’t always work, and it’s not available for emails sent to recipients outside of your organization.

Best Practices for Avoiding Email Mistakes

While the Undo Send feature is a lifesaver, it’s better to prevent email mistakes in the first place. Here are some tips to avoid embarrassing or urgent email corrections:

• Double-check your emails: Take a moment to read through your message before clicking send. Look for typos, missing attachments, and correct recipients.
• Use Email Drafts: If you’re not in a hurry, write the email and save it as a draft. Revisit it before sending to ensure accuracy.
• Schedule Emails: If you’re sending an email at a later time, use Outlook’s Send Later feature to schedule it. This gives you a buffer period to review before it’s actually sent.

By adopting these practices, you can minimize the need for unsending emails and avoid common email errors.

Conclusion

Knowing how to unsend an email in Outlook can save you from a lot of frustration when mistakes happen. Whether you're using the Undo Send feature or the email recall option, you have the tools you need to fix errors quickly. However, remember to take advantage of Outlook’s best practices to prevent mistakes in the first place. By enabling the Undo Send feature, understanding its limitations, and using helpful tools like drafts and scheduled sends, you’ll be more confident in your email communication.

Need more Outlook tips? Be sure to check out our other guides and keep learning about how to make the most of your email experience.