Hotmail & Outlook help: recall, recover, delete, schedule and fix email

Jump to what you need

• Unsend an email
• Recover an account
• Change password
• Delete an account
• Schedule send
• Block spam
• Free up storage
• Fix Outlook problems

New here, or locked out? See our Hotmail / Outlook signup guide to create an account, or the Hotmail login guide if you can't sign in.

How to recall or unsend an email in Hotmail or Outlook.com

Outlook.com does not have a true "recall" on the web. It offers an Undo send window right after you send.

1. Open Settings and turn on Undo send, choosing a cancellation period of up to 10 seconds.
2. After pressing Send, select Undo in the banner before the time runs out. Outlook reopens the message so you can change or discard it.

True recall is limited. The Recall This Message feature exists only in the classic Outlook desktop app with a Microsoft 365 or Exchange work or school account, and only works within the same organization. Personal Hotmail and Outlook.com accounts rely on Undo send. See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

How to recover your Hotmail or Outlook account

If you cannot sign in, use Microsoft's recovery tools rather than creating a new account — a new account does not restore your old mail.

1. Start with Microsoft's Sign-in Helper, or choose Forgot password on the sign-in screen.
2. If directed to the account recovery form, use a familiar device and location and provide accurate details such as past passwords and contacts.

Two-step verification can't be bypassed. If it is on and no verification method is available, Microsoft's agents cannot override it. Avoid paid "recovery" services. For sign-in problems step by step, see our Hotmail login and recovery guide.

How to change your Outlook password

1. Open your Microsoft account security settings.
2. Choose Change password and confirm your identity with the method offered.
3. Enter a new, unique password you do not use elsewhere, then save.

Your Hotmail and Outlook.com mailboxes use your Microsoft account password, so this updates sign-in everywhere. See Microsoft's change-password guidance.

How to delete a Hotmail or Outlook account

Closing your Microsoft account removes its Hotmail or Outlook mailbox. There is no separate "delete just the mailbox" like Gmail — the mailbox is tied to the account.

1. Sign in and open Microsoft's close-your-account page.
2. Review and clear the checklist, then mark the account for closure.

Download first. Export anything you want to keep before closing. Microsoft holds the account for a waiting period (commonly around 30–60 days) before permanent deletion, so you can reopen it if you change your mind. See Microsoft's Microsoft account help.

How to add or switch Outlook accounts

• On the web: select your profile picture in the top-right, then choose Sign in with a different account or pick one already listed.
• In the Outlook app: open the account menu, choose Add account, enter the address and complete sign-in. Switch between mailboxes from the same menu.

Check the active address before composing so a message goes from the mailbox you intend. See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

How to schedule an email in Outlook (send later)

1. Compose your message as usual.
2. Select the arrow next to Send and choose Schedule send.
3. Pick a suggested time or set your own date and time.

The message waits until the scheduled time, where you can still edit or cancel it. See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

How to set up an Outlook signature

1. Open Settings and go to Mail → Compose and reply.
2. Under Email signature, enter your text and formatting.
3. Choose whether to add it to new messages and replies, then Save.

On mobile, the signature is set in the Outlook app settings. See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

How to create rules and organise your inbox

Rules move incoming mail automatically, and Sweep clears clutter in bulk.

1. Open Settings → Mail → Rules and select Add new rule.
2. Name it, choose a condition (such as a sender) and an action (such as move to a folder).
3. Use Sweep from the toolbar to clear or auto-delete mail from a sender in one step.

See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

How to block senders and stop junk in Outlook.com

• Report junk: select the message, open the menu and choose Report → Report junk or phishing.
• Block a sender: choose Block, or add the address under Settings → Mail → Junk email → Blocked senders.
• Unsubscribe: use the unsubscribe option for legitimate mailing lists.

Never open links or share verification codes from a suspicious message. Report phishing instead of replying. See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

How to turn on two-step verification

Two-step verification adds a second check at sign-in, so a password alone is not enough.

1. Open your Microsoft account security settings.
2. Select Two-step verification and follow the setup, choosing a method such as the Microsoft Authenticator app or a passkey.
3. Save backup options and recovery codes so you are not locked out if you lose a device.

See Microsoft's two-step verification guide.

How to free up Outlook.com storage

A full mailbox can stop new mail arriving. Clear space from the mail you no longer need.

1. Empty the Deleted Items and Junk Email folders, which still count until cleared.
2. Sort by size or search for large messages and remove big attachments.
3. Use Sweep to clear old mail from frequent senders in bulk.

Review your storage under your account or mailbox storage settings. See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

How to set automatic replies (out of office)

1. Open Settings → Mail → Automatic replies.
2. Turn automatic replies on, set the start and end time, and write your message.
3. Choose whether to reply only to your contacts, then Save.

See Microsoft's Outlook.com help.

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