Undo Send or Add a Short Delay to Outgoing Email in Outlook

Questions

  • How do I unsend an email in Microsoft Outlook?
  • Can I recall or take back an email I already sent in Outlook?
  • How do I turn on the Undo Send feature in Microsoft Outlook?
  • How long do I have to undo a sent email in Outlook?
  • Where do I find the Undo Send setting in Outlook?
  • What is the difference between Undo Send and Recall in Outlook?
  • How do I delay outgoing email in Classic Outlook for Windows?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff using Microsoft Outlook with a Microsoft 365 or Exchange Online account. It applies to all of the following versions:

  • Outlook on the web (accessed in a browser with a Microsoft 365 login)
  • Outlook for Windows (both New Outlook and the Classic desktop app)
  • Outlook for Mac

This article does not apply when:

  • A third-party email application (such as Gmail, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird) is used to access the email.
  • You are trying to retrieve or delete an email that was delivered a long time ago. Undo Send works only within a brief window immediately after clicking Send. For messages that have already been fully delivered, see Recall a Message in Outlook in the Related Articles section.

Resolution

The Undo Send feature in Microsoft Outlook gives you a short grace period after you click Send. During that grace period, a small notification or button appears that lets you cancel the send. If you click it in time, the email is pulled back and placed in your Drafts folder so you can edit or delete it. If you do nothing, the email sends normally once the timer runs out. The steps below are organized by version of Outlook.

Part 1: Outlook on the Web

Turn On Undo Send

  1. Open Outlook in a web browser and sign in.
  2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. In the settings panel, click Mail.
  4. Click Compose and reply.
  5. Scroll down to the section labeled Undo send.
  6. Use the slider or dropdown to choose how many seconds the undo window should last. The available options are typically 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, or 30 seconds.
  7. Select the preferred time window. A longer window gives more time to cancel, but it also means messages are slightly delayed before they are actually delivered.
  8. Click Save to apply the change.

Use Undo Send

  1. Compose and send an email as usual by clicking Send.
  2. Immediately after clicking Send, a small notification bar appears at the bottom of the screen that says Sending... with an Undo link or button next to it.
  3. Click Undo before the timer runs out.
  4. The email moves back into the Drafts folder (or the compose window reopens) so you can make changes or delete it.
  5. If you do not click Undo before the timer expires, the email is sent and delivered normally and cannot be undone using this feature.

Part 2: New Outlook for Windows

New Outlook for Windows is the redesigned version of the Outlook desktop app. It looks and works similarly to Outlook on the web.

Turn On Undo Send

  1. Open the New Outlook app on the computer.
  2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the upper-right corner of the window.
  3. Click Mail.
  4. Click Compose and reply.
  5. Find the Undo send section.
  6. Use the slider or dropdown to select the preferred cancellation window (up to 30 seconds).
  7. Click Save.

Use Undo Send

  1. Send an email as usual.
  2. A notification bar appears at the bottom of the app window with an Undo option.
  3. Click Undo before the countdown expires.
  4. The email returns to the compose or drafts state so you can revise or discard it.

Part 3: Classic Outlook for Windows

The Classic version of Outlook for Windows does not have a built-in Undo Send button like the web and New versions. However, you can achieve the same result by creating a delayed send rule, which holds all outgoing emails for a set number of minutes before actually sending them.

Set Up a Delayed Send Rule

  1. Open the Classic Outlook desktop app.
  2. Click File in the top-left corner.
  3. Click Manage Rules & Alerts.
  4. In the window that opens, click New Rule.
  5. Under the section labeled Start from a blank rule, select Apply rule on messages I send, then click Next.
  6. On the next screen, pick conditions. To apply the delay to all emails you send, do not check any boxes and simply click Next. A message may appear asking you to confirm that this rule applies to every message you send; click Yes.
  7. On the next screen, check the box that says defer delivery by a number of minutes.
  8. In the bottom part of the window, click the underlined words a number of and type how many minutes to delay your emails (for example, 1 or 2 minutes).
  9. Click OK, then click Next.
  10. Add exceptions if desired (for example, to avoid delaying high-priority emails). If you have no exceptions, click Next again.
  11. Give the rule a name (such as "Delay Send") and make sure the box next to Turn on this rule is checked.
  12. Click Finish, then click Apply, and then OK.

Cancel a Delayed Email

  1. After you click Send, the email sits in your Outbox folder for the number of minutes specified in the rule.
  2. Open the Outbox folder from the folder list on the left side of the screen.
  3. Double-click the email to open it.
  4. Now edit the email or delete it before the delay period ends and the email is actually sent.
  5. To send an edited email again, click Send and it re-enters the delay queue.

Part 4: Outlook for Mac

Turn On Undo Send

  1. Open Outlook on the Mac.
  2. Click Outlook in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then click Settings (labeled Preferences in older versions).
  3. Click Composing.
  4. Look for the Undo send option.
  5. Set the duration of the cancellation window (up to 20 seconds, depending on the version).
  6. Close the settings window. Changes are saved automatically.

Use Undo Send

  1. Send the email as normal.
  2. An Undo Send prompt briefly appears at the bottom of the Outlook window.
  3. Click Undo before the timer runs out.
  4. The email returns to draft form so you can edit or delete it.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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