How to cancel an email already sent in Outlook

Did you just send an email and now you're feeling regret? Don't worry, because the Outlook do Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) offers a solution to this situation. It is important to note that canceling sent messages is only possible if you and the recipient are using email accounts Microsoft 365 ou Exchange and belong to the same organization, that is, this process is effective in exchanging corporate emails. Additionally, the recipient must not have read the message yet. Follow the tutorial below and learn how to cancel an email that has already been sent.

Just like cancel email in Outlook

Step 1: Access the “Shipped Items".

Step 2: Open the message you want to cancel with a double click.

Step 3: On the menu “Message“, in the toolbar, find the option “Share” under the “More Commands” and select "Cancel Sent Message".

Step 4: After clicking on “Cancel Sent Message“, you will have two options: delete unread copies of this message or delete unread copies and replace them with a new message.

Note: Make sure to check the box that says “Inform sender of cancellation for each recipient.”

After canceling, you will receive a cancellation report. Email cancellation can be used to replace a message sent in error or to replace a message that was sent without a file attached.

How to cancel email in Outlook Web

However, if you are using the web version of Microsoft Outlook, you can configure the “Undo Message Send” function. By default, you have a maximum of 10 seconds to undo the send. To activate this function, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click on the button "Settings", at the top right corner.

Step 2: Select "E-mail" and choose “Compose and Reply”.

Step 3: Scroll down until you find the option “Undo Send” and select how many seconds you want to have to undo the send.

After configuring this, whenever you send a message through Outlook on the web, you will have a maximum of 10 seconds to undo the sending. After this time, it will no longer be possible to undo the shipment.

How to avoid errors when sending an email?

Errors in sending emails can be embarrassing and sometimes even harmful. Therefore, it is essential to take precautions to prevent these errors from occurring. Here are some tips to help minimize the risk of sending the wrong emails:

• Check before submitting: Before pressing the “Send” button, take a few minutes to review the content of the email. Check that the recipients are correct, the text is clear and concise, and that the necessary attachments are included.
• Use contact groups: If you frequently send emails to a specific group of people, consider creating contact groups. This reduces the chance of error when selecting individual recipients.
• Pay attention to quick responses: Errors often occur when you are quickly responding to an email. Make sure you are replying to the correct sender and that the message does not contain confidential or sensitive information that should not be shared.
• Education and training: If you are managing a team, it is critical to provide proper education and training on the correct use of email, especially when it comes to corporate messaging.
• Clear email signatures: Have a clear email signature that includes your name and contact information. This helps recipients easily identify who sent the email.

I sent the wrong email, what now?

When you realize you've made a mistake sending an email, how you handle the situation can be critical to maintaining healthy professional and personal relationships. Here are some tips for repairing relationships after sending the wrong email:

• Apologize immediately: If you notice the error immediately, send an apology email to the recipient. Be honest about the mistake and explain what happened. Transparency is fundamental.
• Fix the error quickly: If it is possible to correct the error, do so without delay. This may include sending the correct information or clarifications.
• Learn from mistakes: Use past mistakes as learning opportunities. Consider implementing more rigorous review processes before sending emails in the future.
• Be professional: Remain calm and professional when dealing with the error. This can help minimize possible damage to interpersonal relationships.
• Communicate: If the error was serious and the email had a significant impact, it may be appropriate to communicate with the affected recipient to explain the entire situation and retract the misunderstanding, whether by phone, chat or in person.

See also:

How to Use Outlook, Microsoft's Email Program

Sources: Microsoft, ExtendOffice e Clean Email

reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 26 / 10 / 23.