How to Cancel a Sent Message in Outlook for Microsoft 365 Print

Overview

If you send an email by mistake, Outlook may give you a brief chance to stop it from going out or recall it after sending, depending on which version of Outlook you are using.

Option 1 - Undo Send (New Outlook for Windows or Mac, Outlook on the Web)

1. Immediately after clicking Send, look for the Sending... bar with an Undo button
2. Click Undo before the timer ends to cancel the message

Adjust the Undo Send Delay:

1. Click the Settings (gear icon)
2. Select Mail > Compose and Reply
3. Adjust the Undo Send delay (up to 10 seconds)

Option 2 - Recall a Sent Message (Classic Outlook for Windows Only)

This option only works if the message was sent inside the same organization (Microsoft 365 or Exchange) and the recipient has not yet opened the message.

1. Open Classic Outlook for Windows
2. Go to Sent Items and double-click the message to open it fully
3. Go to File > Info > Resend or Recall > Recall This Message
   • If not visible, try: Message tab > Actions > Recall This Message
4. Choose one of the following:
   • Delete unread copies of this message
   • Delete unread copies and replace with a new message
5. Optionally, select Tell me if recall succeeds or fails
6. Click OK

Option 3 - Add a Safety Delay for Future Emails (Classic Outlook Only)

This creates a rule that delays all outgoing messages by a set number of minutes, giving you a window to cancel before they are sent.

1. Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts
2. Click New Rule
3. Select Apply rule on messages I send
4. Click Next, then Next again to apply the rule to all sent mail
5. Click Yes when asked to confirm
6. Enable Defer delivery by a number of minutes and set your preferred delay
7. Click Finish, then Apply

Notes

• Message recall often fails if the recipient has already read or moved the message
• Emails sent to recipients outside your organization cannot be recalled
• If the Recall option is missing, you are likely using New Outlook for Windows, Outlook on Mac, or Outlook on the Web - use Undo Send instead