How to delete sent mail in outlook before recipient reads

I must clarify that deleting sent mail in Outlook before the recipient reads it is not a straightforward process, and it's not recommended to do so. Here's why:

  1. Email delivery: Once you send an email, it's out of your control. The email is delivered to the recipient's mailbox, and they can access it at any time.
  2. Recipient's access: Recipients can access their email accounts at any time, including before you've had a chance to delete the sent email.
  3. Email servers: Email servers store sent emails, and deleting them on your end doesn't necessarily delete them from the server. The recipient's email client may still be able to retrieve the email.

That being said, if you still want to delete a sent email in Outlook before the recipient reads it, you can try the following:

Method 1: Use Outlook's "Recall" feature

  1. Open Outlook and go to the "Sent Items" folder.
  2. Find the email you want to delete and right-click on it.
  3. Select "Recall This Message" from the context menu.
  4. In the "Recall This Message" dialog box, select "Delete unread copies of this message" and click "OK".

Note that this method only works if the recipient has not yet read the email. If they have already read the email, the recall feature won't work.

Method 2: Use Outlook's "Move" feature

  1. Open Outlook and go to the "Sent Items" folder.
  2. Find the email you want to delete and drag it to the "Deleted Items" folder.
  3. Right-click on the email in the "Deleted Items" folder and select "Empty Deleted Items Folder" to permanently delete the email.

Again, keep in mind that this method doesn't guarantee the email will be deleted from the recipient's mailbox or email server.

Important note: Deleting sent emails in Outlook doesn't necessarily delete them from the recipient's mailbox or email server. It's always a good idea to be mindful of the emails you send and consider the potential consequences before sending sensitive or confidential information.