Outlook for Windows and now Mac have a ‘Recall Message’ option for messages already sent but is now not needed, been replaced or you’ve realized was a mistake. But Recall isn’t all that Microsoft says it is.
A ‘recall’ request message either to delete the message or sometimes replace it.
How the recall request is handled depends on the email software used by the receiver
The original message might be deleted/replaced or not.
Generally speaking, ‘Recall Message’ works better inside an organization where messages are handled via Exchange Server and most users have the same or similar versions of Outlook.
As we’ll see, the on-screen messages for Recall are, to put it politely, misleading.
Recall has now been added to Outlook for Mac (“about time”) which gives us an excuse to review the feature in Outlook for Windows – both Classic and New.
Recall – Outlook (classic) for Windows
To try recalling a message, find the item in the ‘Sent Items’ folder, double-click the message to open it in a separate window. From the message, go to File | Info
Select Message Resend and Recall | Recall this Message
This is also the place for one of Peter’s favorite Outlook features, Resend a message.
Choose between delete unread copies of this message or delete unread copies and replace with a new message.
Make sure to tick the box that will tell you if a recall succeeds or fails for each recipient.
Then select OK and cross your fingers to see what happens!
Recall – Outlook (new) for Windows
For any Sent message, look for the three dots menu, down to ‘Advanced Actions’ then Recall Message.
Then there’s a warning message which doesn’t tell the whole truth. Recall will not delete the message for ALL recipients — only the ones with a compatible mailbox.
Recall – Outlook for Mac
With a Sent message, look on the Message menu for Recall.
Then there’s the same half-truth warning that’s in Outlook (new).
See the whole ‘raw’ email message in Outlook
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