How to Delete an Email You Sent

Deleting vs. Recalling an Email

You can either unsend or delete an email you’ve already sent. Note that removing an email from your Outbox is different from recalling it from the Inbox.

Continue reading to find out how to:

Can I delete an email I already sent to someone by mistake?

When you delete an email, it is only erased from your account. This means a copy of the email still exists in the recipient’s Inbox, and they will still be able to read it. If you want to delete a message you sent to someone, use the Undo function right away, as you won’t be able to recall an email sent days ago.

What can I do to delete an email I sent from both sides if the recall isn’t available?

If you don’t have any settings, extensions, or third-party programs that allow you to delete an email you sent from both sides, the next best step is to own up to the mistake. Send a follow-up email to acknowledge the error, apologize for any inconvenience caused, and provide accurate information, as shown in a template here. Also, check out these business email template ideas you can use for your follow-up letter.

Recall or Delete an Email Sent in Gmail

If you’re one of the 1.8+ billion Gmail users today, you can recall or delete any email you just sent through the email provider.

Recall sent emails on Gmail

Gmail users have a short window of time to recall their messages. However, the Undo Send feature must already have been set up—you won’t be able to unsend an email without this setting in place.

Instructions for “Undo Send” on desktop

1. Open your Gmail account.
2. Go to Settings → General.
3. Right by the Undo Send option, set a cancellation period.
4. Click Save Changes.
5. The next time you send a message, click the Undo button next to Message Sent.

On mobile, the Message Sent notification appears on the bottom right of your screen after you send the email, along with an Undo button. Read more about unsending emails in Gmail.

How to set up more time in Gmail’s Undo Send

1. Open your Gmail mailbox.
2. Go to Settings → General.
3. Beside Undo Send, choose between a cancellation period of 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, or a max of 30 seconds.

Delete sent emails in Gmail desktop or mobile

1. Open your Gmail account.
2. Click or tap on your Sent Folder.
3. Choose the email(s) you want to delete by clicking or tapping on the box beside it.
4. To delete, click or tap on the trash can icon.
5. If you want to delete the email(s) permanently, go to the Trash folder, select the email(s), and click or tap Delete Forever.

Recall or Delete an Email You Sent in Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is another email platform widely used in professional settings. Recalling and deleting sent emails are also possible here.

Recall emails in New Outlook

Outlook includes a unique feature called Recall Message that makes it easy to take back sent emails. However, this is only accessible for desktop Outlook for Windows users. If you use Outlook for Mac, the web, or the mobile app, the recall feature is unavailable.

How to use Recall in New Outlook

1. Go to your Sent Items folder.
2. Open the sent message.
3. Click the three dots in the message window and select Advanced actions → Recall message.
4. Click OK in the confirmation pop-up.
5. Shortly after doing this, you’ll receive a Message Recall Report in your inbox.
6. Check the link to see if your recall was successful, pending, or failed.

⚠️ Note: The recall feature will only work if you and the recipient both use Outlook, both belong to the same organization, the message is unread, and the recall is done within 120 minutes of sending.

How quickly must I act to successfully recall an email in Outlook?

The email must be recalled within 120 minutes (2 hours).

How does the recall feature work in different versions of Outlook?

The recall feature is present across different Outlook for Windows versions, but there may be slight differences. Read more here.

Can I recall an email sent from Outlook to a non-Outlook email address?

Unfortunately, you can’t recall a message from Outlook if the recipient is using a non-Outlook mailbox.

Can I extend the recall period in New Outlook?

Currently, the 120-minute recall period in New Outlook can’t be extended.

Delete sent emails in New Outlook

1. Go to Sent Items.
2. Click to select the email(s) you want to delete.
3. Press the Delete button.
4. To permanently delete it, go to the Deleted Items folder.
5. Select Delete again to permanently remove the email(s) from your account.

How do I delete an email before the receiver sees it in Outlook?

Without read receipts, it’s difficult to know when your message is opened. But there’s a chance you can recall the email before the receiver opens it if you act ASAP. Note that once they open the message, you won’t be able to recall it anymore. They may also be able to view the email via offline access or email notification preview.

Recall or Delete Sent Emails in Yahoo Mail

Unlike the previous two, Yahoo Mail does not have a direct recall feature.

How to recall emails in Yahoo Mail

Yahoo users can’t recall emails on desktop, but the Yahoo Mail mobile app has recently added an unsend feature. After you send an email, a message box with an Undo button appears at the bottom of the screen, but you only have 3 seconds to tap it.

How to delete sent emails in Yahoo Mail

1. Open your Yahoo Mail account.
2. Select the Sent folder on the left-hand side.
3. Select the email(s) you’d like to delete by ticking the checkbox beside it.
4. Click Delete.
5. Empty the Trash folder to remove them permanently.