Oops! You just sent a Google Gmail message that you did not want to send. You realize for one reason or another that the message has a mistake or that it shouldn’t have been sent at all. Using Gmail, you have a small window of time in which to undo your mistake.
By default, Gmail only gives you a 5 second delay in which to recall an email after you hit the Send button. If this is too short, you’ll need to extend the length of time Gmail will keep emails pending before it sends them. Once an email(s) are sent, you are unable to recall them.
This is for Windows 10 PCs, Macs and other devices that support Google Gmail
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Setting the Time Delay in Web Based Gmail
Unfortunately, you can’t change the length of this cancellation period in the Gmail app. You’ll need to do this in the Settings menu of Web based Gmail using your Windows 10 PC or Mac.
First, open Gmail using your browser and click Settings (the gear icon) in upper right-hand corner. Next, click the See all settings option. Refer to below image:
In the General tab, you’ll see an option for Undo Send with a default 5 seconds delay. You can change this to periods of 10, 20, and 30 seconds from the drop-down list. It is recommended you set a 30 second delay. See below image:
Scroll way down till you see the Save Changes button at the bottom of the screen. Press this button to save your change. The Settings window will then close.
The cancellation period you’ve selected will be applied to your Google account across all your devices.
How to Recall a Web Email in Gmail
If you want to recall a message sent by a Web based Gmail, you’ll need to do so within the cancellation period that applies to your account. This period begins from the moment you press the Send button. If you followed my recommendation, you have 30 seconds.
To recall an email, press the Undo button that appears in the black Message Sent pop-up. It is visible in the bottom-left corner of the Web based Gmail window. See following image:
This is your only chance to recall the email. If you miss it, or you click the “X” button to close the pop-up, you won’t be able to recall it. Once the cancellation period has passed, the Undo button will disappear and the email will be sent.
How to Recall a Mobile Device Email in Gmail
The process for recalling a mobile device email is similar to using the Web based Gmail. Your cancellation period you setup above for your Google account applies.
Go ahead an send an email using the Gmail app. A black pop-up box will appear at the bottom of your screen, telling you that the email has been sent.
The Undo button will appear on the right-hand side of this pop-up. If you want to stop the email, tap this button within the cancellation period or 30 seconds if following my recommendation. Refer to below image:
Pressing Undo will recall the email, returning you to the Compose draft screen in the Gmail app. At this point, you can then make changes to your email, save it as a draft or delete it.
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