Send & Receive Issues

How to Fix Outlook Message Recall Status Stuck on Pending

Algirdas Jasaitis Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to understand and resolve an issue where an Outlook Message Recall Report remains stuck on a Pending or Please wait status.

How to Fix Outlook Message Recall Status Stuck on Pending

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to recall a sent email in Outlook and reviewing the recall status report to confirm success.
Observed behavior: The recall report is stuck on Pending, leaving the sender uncertain if the email was successfully recalled from the recipient's mailbox.

Before you start

Ensure that both you and the recipient are using a Microsoft Exchange server email account within the same organization, as message recall does not work for external email addresses or third-party email providers.

Solution 1Recommended

Wait for the Processing Period and Verify Recipient Client

Understand the conditions for a successful recall and allow Outlook the required time to process the recall request on the server.

A 'Pending' status typically indicates that the recipient has not yet opened Outlook on a desktop computer, or the Exchange server is actively trying to process the request.

Outlook may continually retry the recall process for up to 24 hours before officially marking the attempt as failed. If the recipient opens the email using the Outlook mobile app, the recall request may fail to execute properly.

Allow time for server processing

Wait up to 24 hours to see if the Exchange server successfully processes the recall request and updates the report.

Verify recipient client usage

Confirm if the recipient primarily uses a mobile device to check their emails, as mobile clients can interrupt the desktop-based recall function.

Wait for the Processing Period and Verify Recipient Client

Recalling Read Messages: Contrary to common belief, a message that has already been read can sometimes still be recalled. In this scenario, the report will explicitly state that the message was recalled but read by the recipient.

Solution 2

Run a Message Trace in Exchange Admin Center

Use Microsoft 365 administrative tools to investigate the delivery status and identify potential server-side routing issues.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Outlook message recall status say pending?

A pending status usually indicates that the Exchange server is still processing your request, or the recipient has not yet opened their Outlook desktop client, which is required to trigger the recall action.

Can I recall an email sent to a Gmail or Yahoo address?

No, the Outlook message recall feature is only functional when both the sender and the recipient are using a Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365 email account hosted within the same organization.

How long will Outlook try to recall a message?

Outlook will continuously attempt to process the message recall and may retry for up to 24 hours. After this period, if unsuccessful, the status will typically change from pending to failed.

Does reading an email on a mobile phone affect the recall process?

Yes. If the recipient opens and reads the email using the Outlook mobile app instead of the desktop application, the recall request may fail to execute, often leaving the status report stuck on pending.

Outlook & Email Problems