Well, fortunately, Gmail allows you to undo your email message. While sending the message, Gmail gives you a Cancel option. And, even if you missed it, it again shows you an Undo option to recall your email. However, if you are looking to recall an email after a minute or so, you have run out of luck. But, still, there are things you can do to minimize or even avoid the consequences. Continue reading further to learn more in detail.
How to Recall an Email in Gmail?
While Gmail provides an undo option, it’s only for a split second. Once the email message reaches the recipient and you miss the Undo option, there’s no way to recall it. However, you can extend the time Gmail displays the options.
On Web
On Mobile App
Other Alternatives
Even though you can’t extend the time limit of 30 seconds to recall your email in Gmail, you can try other workarounds.
Send Using Confidential Mode
While sending an email message on Gmail, you can enable the Confidential mode for it. This way, the email contents expire on their own from the recipient’s Gmail inbox.
Use Google Docs
Anything you want to send as a message on Gmail, you can write on Google Docs and share it with the other person. Doing this has an added advantage: you can restrict the document anytime later.
What to Do if You Can’t Undo the Sent Email?
Once you miss the Undo option, there isn’t a way to revert it. However, you can take certain actions as a precautionary step so that you don’t repeat the same mistake the next time.
Adjust Your Undo Settings (Desktop)
By default Gmail only displays the Undo option for 5 seconds. To extend it for a longer time, you can configure the Gmail settings as follows. On Gmail Web
Enable the Confirm before Sending Option (Mobile App Only)
If you use Gmail on a mobile device, you can enable an option that displays a confirmation prompt before sending the message.
Inform the Receiver
If you didn’t get a chance to undo your email, you should at least inform the recipient that the message wasn’t meant for them. Also, request them to delete the message if possible.
Review the Email Before Sending
The proverb “Prevention is better than cure” fits perfectly in your case. Rather than repenting over the spilled milk, cultivate a habit of reviewing your emails before sending them. This way, you won’t even require an undo option.
