How to unsend an email in mail

The eternal quest to "unsend" an email!

Unfortunately, it's not possible to completely "unsend" an email in the classical sense, as it's already been sent and received by the recipient's email server. However, there are a few workarounds to help you recover from a mistake:

Method 1: Recall an email (Gmail only)

If you're using Gmail, you can try to recall an email using the "Undo Send" feature. Here's how:

  1. Go to your Gmail settings (gear icon) and select "See all settings."
  2. Scroll down to the "General" tab and look for the "Undo Send" option.
  3. Enable the feature and set the delay to the desired time (e.g., 5, 10, or 30 seconds).
  4. Send the email as usual.
  5. If you want to recall the email, go to the "Sent" folder and click on the email you want to recall.
  6. Click on the three vertical dots next to the email and select "Undo" (if the option is available).

Method 2: Use a third-party email client with recall features

Some email clients, like Microsoft Outlook, offer recall features. Here's how to use them:

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook and go to the "Sent Items" folder.
  2. Right-click on the email you want to recall and select "Recall This Message."
  3. Choose the recall option you want: "Delete unread copies of this message" or "Delete unread copies and replace with a new message."
  4. Follow the prompts to complete the recall process.

Method 3: Apologize and delete the email (if possible)

If you're unable to recall the email, you can try apologizing to the recipient and asking them to delete the email. This might not be possible if the recipient has already read or forwarded the email.

Method 4: Use a email client with a "Resend" feature

Some email clients, like Mozilla Thunderbird, offer a "Resend" feature that allows you to send a new email with the same content as the original one. This can be useful if you want to correct a mistake or send a revised version of the email.

Remember, while these methods can help you recover from a mistake, they're not foolproof. It's always a good idea to double-check your emails before sending them to ensure they're accurate and well-written.