Recall an Email in New Outlook, Classic Outlook or Outlook on the Web
Quick answer: you can recall an email in Outlook when both you and the recipient use Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organisation and the message has not been opened. Recall does not normally work for personal Outlook.com accounts or recipients outside your organisation.
Reviewed August 2026. Outlook controls and wording can change, so check the current Microsoft recall guidance if your screen differs from the steps below.
Outlook recall requirements at a glance
| Check | Recall can work when | Recall will normally not work when |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts | Both people use Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organisation | The recipient uses Outlook.com, Gmail or an account outside your organisation |
| Message status | The message is still unread | The recipient has already opened the message |
| Outlook version | Recall is available in your supported new Outlook, classic Outlook or Outlook on the web account | The Recall Message command is not available for your account or client |
| Personal accounts | Undo Send is configured before sending and you cancel during its short delay | You try to retrieve an Outlook.com message after it has been delivered |
Before you try to recall the message
- Open Outlook using the same work or school account that sent the message.
- Check that the recipient is inside your Microsoft 365 organisation.
- Act quickly, before the recipient opens the email.
Recall an email in classic Outlook for Windows
- Go to your Sent Items folder.
- Double-click the email so that it opens in a separate window.
- Select File, then Info.
- Select Resend or Recall, then Recall This Message.
- Choose Delete unread copies of this message, or delete and replace the message. Ask Outlook to report whether recall succeeds or fails.
- Select OK. Outlook will attempt the recall and provide a status where supported.
Recall an email in new Outlook or Outlook on the web
- Open Sent Items and open the sent message in a separate window.
- Look for Recall message on the ribbon or within the available message actions.
- Confirm the recall, then open the message recall report when Outlook provides it.
The wording and position can vary as Microsoft updates Outlook, but the same account and unread-message requirements still apply.
When Outlook recall will not work
Recall will normally fail if the recipient has already opened the email, uses an account outside your organisation, or received the message through a personal email service such as Outlook.com, Gmail or another provider.
If you use a personal Outlook.com account, use Undo Send instead. Undo Send briefly delays delivery so that you can cancel immediately after selecting Send; it does not retrieve a message that has already been delivered.
Outlook Email Recall FAQs
Can I recall an email after it has been opened?
No, not reliably. Outlook recall is intended for unread messages. If the recipient has opened the email, contact them directly and send a clear correction if necessary.
Does Outlook recall work outside my organisation?
Normally not. Both sender and recipient usually need Microsoft 365 work or school accounts in the same organisation.
Can I recall an email sent from Outlook.com?
Personal Outlook.com accounts cannot recall a delivered message. Configure Undo Send to give yourself a short window in which to cancel future messages.
Why can I not see the Recall Message option in Outlook?
The command may be unavailable because you are using a personal account, the message is only open in the reading pane, or your account and organisation do not support recall. Open the sent message in its own window and confirm that it was sent from a Microsoft 365 work or school account.
How do I know whether an Outlook recall succeeded?
Where supported, Outlook sends a message recall report. Open that report to review the status for the recipients instead of assuming that the original email was removed.
Can I recall an email in Outlook for Mac?
Recall support on Outlook for Mac depends on the account and current Outlook version. Follow Microsoft's current Mac instructions and confirm that both accounts meet the same work or school organisation requirements.
For more practical help with email, calendars and everyday productivity, see our Microsoft Outlook training courses or Microsoft 365 training.