There are a lot of rules that govern whether or not a message can be recalled. What is Outlook Message Recall? And why does it fail almost every time? Message recall is an Exchange feature that allows the server to reach into a connected Exchange user’s mailbox and pull out the bad message. And, much like every else on the planet, you click Recall This Message only to find out that it never works. Quickly you rush up to the Actions menu to take back that errant email via Outlook Message Recall. Either there’s a glaring typo or a forgotten attachment or you attached a file you shouldn’t have. It happens to everyone at some point.We’ve all had that moment when we hit send on something only to realize that we shouldn’t have. Admit your mistake, apologize, learn, and move-on. If you sent out something that could be viewed as a personal attack, then I highly suggest you pick-up the phone or better yet, apologize face-to-face. If you sent out something that contains inappropriate information, then it is time to send out some sincere apologies. If you do send out something that can’t be recalled, or if your recall fails, then send out a follow-up Email that provides corrected information. In fact, this is the way “Recall” actually works in Gmail (which is not even a “Recall” feature, but actually just a “Delay Send” feature). This gives you a bit of time to “grab” the message from your “Outbox”and stop it from being “Sent” by just Opening it or dragging it to your “Drafts” folder. This gives you a configurable “delay” between the time you hit “Send” and when the message is actually sent. So, if you send something in error, do the Recall as quickly as possible!Ī key suggestion is to use an Outlook Delay Send Rule, which I have discussed as well. Once someone opens your original message, they will have seen it and read it, regardless of if your Recall then works. The faster you send out the Recall, the better chance that it will succeed. Check the “Help” for your specific version of Outlook if you need assistance). There are some minor differences between the various MS Outlook versions, but the key steps are the same. (Note: The steps below are for most versions of MS Office. Using the Outlook Recall Feature in Microsoft Office: Using the “Client” version of Outlook (not the “Web Access” version).Īlso note that certain Outlook Administrators may decide to disable this feature, so it is possible that it may not be an option within your organization.

Outlook Recall will only work if you and the recipients are:īoth on Office 365 and within the same organization.īoth using Microsoft Exchange and are within the same organization. Important Limitations on the Outlook Recall Feature: The Outlook “ Recall” feature allows you to either delete the Email entirely from the recipients inboxes, or resend it with a corrected version that contains updated information. Luckily, if you work in an office that uses Microsoft Outlook (which is by far the most widely used corporate Email system), you have the ability to “ Recall” an Email message. This issue can be even more significant (and potentially embarrassing) if you send the message out to a large number of people, or even to a large distribution list. Or maybe you sent out something when you were upset that you know realize isn’t appropriate and contains some wordings you now regret. Perhaps you forgot to include an attachment, and want to retract the message, and send a replacement message that has the necessary attachment.

You may have hit “ Reply All” when you didn’t intend to, and now want to remove those Emails from all the extra people’s Inboxes. We send out an Email, only to realize just after you hit “Send” that it contains incorrect information or perhaps something that on second thought you now regret putting in the Email.

Recall an email in outlook 2013