How To Resend An Email In Outlook : Resending From Sent Items Folder

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Sending a new copy of a previously sent email in Outlook is called a resend, and it creates a fresh message. This guide shows you exactly how to resend an email in outlook, covering both the desktop app and web version. You will learn the steps, common issues, and tips to make resending work every time.

Resending is useful when you forgot an attachment, made a typo, or need to send the same email to a new person. Outlook makes this simple, but the feature is hidden in a few clicks. Let’s walk through it.

How To Resend An Email In Outlook

To resend an email, you open the original message from your Sent Items folder. Outlook then creates a copy you can edit and send again. The process differs slightly between Outlook for Windows, Mac, and the web version.

Resend In Outlook For Windows (Desktop App)

This is the most common version. Follow these steps carefully.

  1. Open Outlook on your computer.
  2. Go to the **Sent Items** folder on the left sidebar.
  3. Find the email you want to resend. Double-click it to open it in a new window. Do not just preview it.
  4. In the open message window, click the **Message** tab at the top.
  5. Look for the **Move** group. Click **Actions** (or **More Move Actions** in older versions).
  6. Select **Resend This Message** from the dropdown menu.
  7. A new message window opens. It looks like a fresh email, but it contains the original content and recipients.
  8. Edit the email if needed. Add or remove attachments, fix typos, or change recipients.
  9. Click **Send**.

That is all. The new email goes out as a separate message. The original stays in Sent Items.

What If You Cannot Find The Resend Option?

Some Outlook versions hide the Actions button. Try this alternative path.

  • Open the email from Sent Items.
  • Press **Ctrl+Shift+F** to open the Advanced Find window.
  • Or, right-click the email in the list and look for **Resend** in the context menu.
  • If still missing, your IT admin might have disabled the feature.

Resend In Outlook On The Web (Outlook.com Or Office 365)

The web version has a slightly different layout. Here is how to resend there.

  1. Log in to Outlook on the web (outlook.com or your work portal).
  2. Click **Sent Items** in the left folder list.
  3. Click the email you want to resend to select it. Do not double-click.
  4. Look at the top toolbar. Click the three dots (**More actions**).
  5. From the dropdown, select **Resend**.
  6. A new compose window opens with the original message loaded.
  7. Make any changes. Add recipients if needed.
  8. Click **Send**.

Note: In Outlook on the web, the resend option might be labeled “Resend this message” or just “Resend.” It depends on your version.

Resend In Outlook For Mac

Mac users have a similar but distinct process.

  1. Open Outlook for Mac.
  2. Go to **Sent Items**.
  3. Double-click the email to open it.
  4. In the message window, click the **Message** menu in the top menu bar.
  5. Select **Resend** from the dropdown.
  6. A new message appears. Edit and send.

If you do not see the Message menu, try right-clicking the email in the list and choosing **Resend**.

Common Reasons To Resend An Email

People resend emails for many practical reasons. Here are the most common ones.

  • **Forgot an attachment.** You sent the email but realized the file was missing.
  • **Made a typo.** A critical error in the subject line or body needs fixing.
  • **Wrong recipient.** You sent it to the wrong person or missed someone.
  • **Need to resend to a new person.** The same content applies to a different contact.
  • **Follow up.** You want to send the same message again after some time.

Resending saves you from rewriting the entire email from scratch. It preserves formatting and attachments.

Resend Vs. Forward: What Is The Difference?

Many users confuse resend with forward. They are not the same.

  • **Resend** creates a new email that looks like the original. It does not include “FW:” in the subject. It goes to the original recipients by default.
  • **Forward** adds “FW:” to the subject and includes the original message as quoted text. You must manually add recipients.

Use resend when you want to send the exact same message again. Use forward when you want to share the email with someone new while keeping the original context.

Editing The Resent Email

When you resend, Outlook gives you full editing control. You can change anything before sending.

Adding Or Removing Attachments

If you forgot an attachment, simply attach it in the new message window. If you want to remove an old attachment, delete it like normal. The resend does not lock the content.

Changing Recipients

You can add new people or remove existing ones. The resent email goes only to the recipients you specify. The original recipients are not automatically included unless you leave them.

Editing The Subject Line Or Body

Fix any typos or update the message. The resent email is a fresh copy, so changes are easy. Outlook does not mark it as a resend in the subject line.

Troubleshooting Resend Issues

Sometimes the resend option does not work as expected. Here are common problems and fixes.

Resend Option Grayed Out Or Missing

This happens for several reasons.

  • **You are using an Exchange account.** Some Exchange policies disable resend. Contact your IT admin.
  • **The email is too old.** Outlook may hide the option for very old messages.
  • **You opened the email in the reading pane only.** Always double-click to open it in a new window.
  • **Your Outlook version is outdated.** Update to the latest version.

Resent Email Goes To Wrong People

If you do not edit the recipients, the resent email goes to the original ones. Always check the To, Cc, and Bcc fields before sending. Remove anyone who should not get it again.

Resent Email Shows As Original In Sent Items

Outlook treats the resent email as a brand new message. It appears separately in Sent Items. The original remains unchanged. This is normal behavior.

Best Practices For Resending Emails

Follow these tips to avoid confusion and maintain professionalism.

  • **Always edit the subject line if the context changes.** For example, add “Updated” or “Corrected version.”
  • **Remove old recipients if they do not need the new email.**
  • **Check attachments before sending.** The resend copies the original attachments, so verify they are correct.
  • **Do not resend the same email multiple times in a short period.** It looks spammy.
  • **Use resend for internal or familiar contacts.** For external clients, consider writing a fresh email to avoid looking careless.

When Not To Use Resend

Resend is not always the best choice.

  • **If the original email had sensitive information.** A resend might expose it again.
  • **If you need to recall a message.** Recall is different and only works in Exchange environments.
  • **If the email is part of a long thread.** Forwarding might be more appropriate.

Resend In Outlook Mobile App

The Outlook mobile app for iOS and Android does not have a direct resend feature. You can work around this.

  1. Open the email in Sent Items on your phone.
  2. Tap the three dots (More) at the top right.
  3. Select **Forward** instead.
  4. Remove the “FW:” from the subject line.
  5. Delete the quoted original message if you want a clean copy.
  6. Add recipients and send.

This is not a true resend, but it achieves a similar result. The formatting may be slightly different.

Keyboard Shortcuts For Resend

Speed up the process with shortcuts. These work in Outlook for Windows.

  • **Ctrl+Shift+F** opens Advanced Find, which can help locate the email.
  • **Alt+H, M, R** is a keyboard sequence for Resend in some versions.
  • **Ctrl+Enter** sends the email once you are ready.

Shortcuts vary by Outlook version. Check your specific version for exact keys.

Resend Vs. Recall: Key Differences

Many users mix up resend and recall. They serve different purposes.

  • **Resend** sends a new copy of the email. The original stays in the recipient’s inbox.
  • **Recall** tries to delete or replace the original email from the recipient’s inbox. It only works if both parties use Exchange and the email is unread.

Use resend for a fresh start. Use recall only when you need to retract a message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I resend an email in Outlook without opening it?

No. You must open the email from Sent Items to access the resend option. Double-clicking is required.

Does resending an email notify the original recipients?

No. The resent email appears as a new message. There is no notification that it is a resend. However, if you keep the same subject line, recipients might recognize it.

Why is the resend option missing in Outlook?

It may be disabled by your IT administrator, or you might be using an older version. Check your account settings or update Outlook.

Can I resend an email to a different person?

Yes. Simply change the recipients in the new message window. The content stays the same.

Does resend include the original attachments?

Yes. The resend copies all attachments from the original email. You can remove or add new ones.

Final Tips For Resending Emails

Resending is a simple but powerful feature. It saves time and reduces errors. Always double-check the recipients and content before hitting send. If you use Outlook daily, memorize the steps to resend quickly.

Remember that the resend option is only available for emails you sent. You cannot resend emails from your Inbox. The feature lives exclusively in Sent Items.

If you encounter issues, try restarting Outlook or clearing your cache. Most problems resolve with a fresh session.

Now you know how to resend an email in outlook. Practice the steps once or twice, and it will become second nature. Whether you are using the desktop app, web version, or Mac, the process is straightforward. Happy emailing.