Have you ever sent an email and immediately realized you made a mistake or forgot to include an important attachment? I am familiar with that feeling. Fortunately, if you are using Microsoft Outlook, there is a capability that enables you to retrieve a sent email and correct those errors before it’s too late!
Before we dive into the steps of how to call back an email in Outlook, let me share a personal experience. A few months ago, I was working on a project and needed to send some important information to my colleague. In my haste, I accidentally attached the wrong file to the email. As soon as I hit the send button, I panicked. Thankfully, I remembered that Outlook has a recall feature. I immediately followed the steps I’m about to share with you, and to my relief, I was able to correct my mistake before my colleague even opened the email.
Step 1: Open the “Sent Items” Folder
To begin the process of recalling an email, open your Outlook application and navigate to the “Sent Items” folder. This folder contains all the emails you have sent.
Step 2: Open the Email You Want to Recall
Locate the email you want to recall and double-click on it to open it in a new window. Make sure you open the email within the “Sent Items” folder, as the recall feature only works on emails within this folder.
Step 3: Access the “Actions” Menu
Once the email is open, go to the top toolbar and click on the “Actions” tab. In the drop-down menu, select “Recall This Message.” This will open a new window with recall options.
Step 4: Choose Your Recall Option
Within the recall options window, you have two choices:
- Delete unread copies of this message: This option will delete the email from the recipient’s inbox without notifying them.
- Delete unread copies and replace with a new message: This option allows you to send a corrected version of the email in place of the original.
Select the option that fits your situation best and click “OK”.
Step 5: Confirm the Recall
Once you have selected your recall option, Outlook will attempt to recall the email. However, there are some conditions that need to be met for the recall to be successful. If the recipient has already read the email, for example, the recall will not work. Keep in mind that the recall feature is not foolproof, and it is always a good idea to follow up with the recipient directly if the email contains critical information.
Conclusion
Recalling an email in Outlook can be a lifesaver when you realize you’ve made a mistake or need to correct something quickly. However, it’s important to note that the feature is not guaranteed to work in all scenarios. To avoid the need for recalls, take a moment to double-check your emails before sending them, and always proofread attachments to ensure they are correct.
Remember, we’re all human, and mistakes happen. The ability to recall an email in Outlook is just one more tool in our arsenal to help us navigate the world of digital communication with confidence.