Users complain recalling Outlook emails almost never works

2 min. read

Updated onMarch 27, 2020

updated onMarch 27, 2020

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

MicrosoftOutlookis one of the most popular email services in the world, with millions of users relying on this platform to deliver their messages every day. And as with all email, when you are in a hurry and you’ve got little time to reply to an important email, you can sometimes address it to the wrong recipient. The question is: can you recall it?

In theory, the latest versions of Microsoft Outlook allows users to recall their emails. In practice, this almost never works because there are a series of requirements that must be met. Long story short, users can recall their emails as long as:

If these criteria are not met, the recipient receives a message informing him/her that you want to recall the email. If you’re lucky, they will delete it but unfortunately, recall messages only spark the recipient’s curiosity. In most cases, they will open the email because it’s very hard resisting the temptation.

It only works if the recipient double clicks the recall notification and they haven’t already read the message you want to recall. Pretty useless.

Secondly, mostOutlookusers are connected to their inbox around the clock and it’s very unlikely that any of your emails remain unread.

Another possibility is to set timer to send your email one to five minutes after you hit the Send button, but doing this could cause various bugs.

Many Outlook users wish Microsoft would really bring back the recall feature. On previousOutlookversions such as Outlook 97, this feature worked very well and helped users avoid embarrassing situations at work.

What’s your take on this situation? Have you ever had an issue with the recall feature?

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Users complain recalling Outlook emails almost never works#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Users complain recalling Outlook emails almost never works