Short Tutorial/FAQ – Oh, No! Can I Unsend an Email?

Question: I use Gmail. Is there a way to unsend or recall an email I just sent?

Answer: We've all been there. It's a horrible feeling to send an email and then realize you said the wrong thing, attached the wrong file, or sent it to the wrong person. It can ruin your day.

Fortunately, Gmail does allow you to unsend an email, but you'll need to act quickly. To give yourself the maximum amount of time, follow the steps below today. That way, you'll be ready the next time you have one of those "Gmail regret" moments.

To set up an amount of time to recall a message, use the web version of Gmail:

• Click on the "Settings" cogwheel in the upper-right corner, and then on "See all settings."
  
  
• Under the "General" tab, look for "Undo Send."
  
  
• Choose how long you'd like Gmail to give you to change your mind. You can select a cancellation period of 5, 10, 20, or 30 seconds. You'll probably want to choose 30 seconds.
  
  
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Save Changes."

To recall an email with Undo Send:

If you decide you don't want to send a particular email, immediately do the following to retract it:

1. In the bottom left, you'll see "Message sent" and the option to "Undo" or "View message."
   
   
2. Click "Undo." You'll be brought back to your email draft, and the message won't be sent.

You may want to practice the "Undo Send" process with a test email first, so you'll know what to do when the time comes.