We’ve all been there – you hit send on an email and immediately realize you made a mistake. Whether it’s a typo, an incorrect attachment, or sending the email to the wrong recipient, it can be a stressful situation. But fear not, with Outlook’s “recall” feature, you can unsend an email and save yourself from potential embarrassment or confusion. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to unsend an email in Outlook on both Mac and PC.
Unsend an Email in Outlook on Mac
If you’re using Outlook on a Mac, follow these steps to unsend an email:
- Open your “Sent Items” folder in Outlook.
- Double-click on the email you want to unsend to open it.
- In the top menu bar, click on “Message” and then select “Actions.”
- From the drop-down menu, select “Recall This Message.”
- A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to “Delete unread copies of this message” or “Delete unread copies and replace with a new message.” Choose the option that best fits your situation.
- Click “OK” to confirm the recall.
If the email has already been read by the recipient, they will receive a notification that you have attempted to recall the message. If the email has not been read, it will be deleted from their inbox.
Unsend an Email in Outlook on PC
To unsend an email in Outlook on a PC, follow these steps:
- Open your “Sent Items” folder in Outlook.
- Double-click on the email you want to unsend to open it.
- In the top menu bar, click on “Message” and then select “Actions.”
- From the drop-down menu, select “Recall This Message.”
- A pop-up window will appear asking if you want to “Delete unread copies of this message” or “Delete unread copies and replace with a new message.” Choose the option that best fits your situation.
- Click “OK” to confirm the recall.
Similar to the process on Mac, if the email has already been read by the recipient, they will receive a notification that you have attempted to recall the message. If the email has not been read, it will be deleted from their inbox.
Tips for Successfully Unsending an Email
While the “recall” feature in Outlook can save you from a potentially embarrassing situation, it’s not always foolproof. Here are some tips to increase your chances of successfully unsending an email:
- Act quickly: The sooner you realize you need to unsend an email, the better. If the recipient has already read the email, it cannot be recalled.
- Check your settings: Make sure your Outlook settings are configured to allow for message recalls. Go to “File” > “Options” > “Mail” > “Undo Send” and make sure the “Enable Undo Send” box is checked.
- Double-check before sending: The best way to avoid needing to unsend an email is to double-check it before hitting send. Take a moment to review the email for any mistakes or errors.
With these tips and the “recall” feature in Outlook, you can save yourself from potential email mishaps. Have you ever had to unsend an email in Outlook? Let us know in the comments.
