Key Takeaways
- To unsend an email in Gmail or Apple Mail on iPhone, select Undo or Undo Send immediately after tapping the Send button.
- To unsend an email in Outlook on iPhone, you must use the Recall feature for the sent message which is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers in the same organization.
- Most email providers including Gmail and iCloud Mail only allow you to unsend a message up to 30 seconds after you tap Send.
About Unsending an Email
Before you walk through the steps below for your particular service provider and email app, it’s important to understand how unsending an email works.
When you use the Undo Send option, it doesn’t remove that message from the recipient’s inbox. Instead, the action delays the sending of the email according to the set time limit such as 10, 20, or 30 seconds.
Some email providers may offer a Recall feature rather than Undo Send in their mobile app. In this case, the message can be removed from the recipient’s inbox — this typically assumes they haven’t opened the email yet.
If you are unsuccessful at unsending or recalling an email, one option is to send a follow-up message. Depending on the situation, this may include an apology, the missing attachment, or clarification/corrections for the previous email.
📌 See also: Email Management Best Practices at Work For 2025.
How to Unsend an Email in Gmail on iPhone
If you use the Gmail mobile app on your iPhone, you can undo the sending of an email within the time limit you set up in the web app (described later).
To unsend an email in the Gmail mobile app, follow these steps:
- After you tap the Send button, you’ll see a message at the bottom of the screen that the email was sent.
- Shortly thereafter, you should see an Undo option at the bottom.
- Tap Undo before the message vanishes.
- You’ll then see the email reopen for you to make changes or discard it.
Remember, this does not recall the Gmail message from the recipient’s inbox; it simply delays the sending of the email.
How to Unsend an Email in Outlook on iPhone
Unlike Outlook on the web and desktop, you won’t currently find an Undo Send option in the iPhone app. You can, however, recall an email you send in Outlook if both you and your recipient have a Microsoft 365 work or school account in the same organization.
To recall a message in the Outlook mobile app, follow these steps:
- After you tap the Send button, go to the Sent folder using the menu or profile button on the top left.
- Select the email, tap the three dots on the top right, and choose Recall.
- You’ll receive a status email letting you know whether or not the recall was successful.
Note that if the recipient opens the message or if the email is old, it may not be able to be recalled.
How to Unsend an Email on iPhone in the Mail App
When you use the Apple Mail app on iPhone, you can unsend a message for connected Gmail, Outlook, and other accounts. This is also how to unsend an email on iPhone for iCloud Mail specifically as there isn’t an option to do so in iCloud Mail on the web.
To unsend an email in the Apple Mail mobile app, follow these steps:
- After you tap the Send button, you’ll see a message at the bottom of the screen with an Undo option.
- Tap Undo Send before the message disappears.
- You’ll then see the email reopen for you to make edits or discard it.
💡 Pro Tip: If you like the ability to connect multiple email accounts like with Apple Mail, but would appreciate more robust features for a controlled sending experience, consider Clean Email.
With this unified email management solution, you can eliminate inbox clutter using automated organization features. This means a less stressful mailbox experience and cleaner contact list (by blocking unwanted emails and senders) — both of which can reduce rushed, error-prone email sending.
How to Change the Unsend Email Time Limit on iPhone
Wondering how to unsend an email on iPhone after 10 seconds rather than 5 seconds or not at all? You can change the amount of time that the Undo Send option is available in the Gmail and Apple Mail apps on iPhone. Because Outlook currently only provides a Recall option in the mobile app, there is no time setting.
How to Change the Undo Send Timing in Gmail
To adjust the timing for Gmail, you must change the setting in the web app. It then syncs with the Undo Send action in the mobile app.
- Visit Gmail on the web and sign in.
- Use the gear icon on the top right to open the Settings sidebar and pick See all settings.
- Go to the General tab and choose the time limit next to Undo Send. You can pick from 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds.
How to Change the Undo Send Timing in Apple Mail
To adjust the timing for iCloud Mail and other email accounts in the Apple Mail app, you can do so in the mobile Mail app on iPhone.
- Open Settings and choose Apps → Mail.
- Tap Undo Send Delay in the Sending section.
- Choose a time limit from 10, 20, or 30 seconds. Note that you can also turn off the feature.
How to Unsend an Email on iPhone After an Hour
Unlike Outlook where you must use the Recall feature and there is no time limit, email accounts like Gmail and iCloud Mail only allow a maximum of 30 seconds for unsending a message. So, unless you meet Outlook’s requirements and recall a sent message, you cannot unsend an email on iPhone after an hour with most other account types.
Luckily, there are a couple of workarounds you can use to delay the sending of the email that allow you to double- or triple-check it first.
Save a Draft
You can compose your email and allow time to make changes by saving it as a draft.
- In Gmail, simply close the message, and it’ll save automatically.
- In Apple Mail, tap Cancel and then choose Save Draft.
Visit Drafts in the menu for either account, review the message, and send when you’re ready.
Schedule the Send
You can compose your email and allow time to make changes by scheduling it to send later.
- In Gmail, tap the three dots at the top, pick Schedule send, and choose the timing.
- In Apple Mail, long-press the Send button and choose the timing.
Visit Scheduled or Send Later in the menu to make adjustments before the scheduled send time.
Unsend Email Feature Comparison
For a quick rundown of what’s available in each iPhone app for Gmail, Outlook and Apple Mail, here’s a comparison:
| Gmail | Outlook | Apple Mail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undo Send | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Recall | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Time Limit | 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds | Unavailable | 10, 20, or 30 seconds |
Wrap-Up
Knowing how to unsend an email in the Outlook app on iPhone or using Gmail or Apple Mail can save you from mistakes and potential embarrassment. But there are limitations to the Undo Send and Recall features to keep in mind as well as the possibility of them being unsuccessful.
Again, this is when Clean Email’s smart features like Cleaning Suggestions, Auto Clean rules, and Unsubscriber can help. By decluttering your inbox and managing senders with these tools, available across iOS (both iPhone and iPad), Android, macOS, and in a web app, you can relieve email anxiety, maintain a solid contact list, and ultimately, reduce the risk of accidentally sending messages you wish you could take back.
