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Outlook - Set Up Automatic Out Of Office Replies

Outlook - Set Up Automatic Out Of Office Replies

This article provides simple and updated steps to set up automatic Out of Office replies in Microsoft Outlook (desktop, web, and mobile).

Instructions

Outlook Classic

  1. Select File.

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  2. Select Automatic Replies (Out of Office).

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  3. Select Send automatic replies.

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  4. (Optional) Check Only send during this time range, then set Start and End.

  5. Enter your message under Inside My Organization.

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  6. (Optional) Select Outside My Organization to enable and enter a separate external message.

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  7. Select OK to save.

New Outlook / Web Outlook

  1. Select Settings (gear).

  2. Go to Accounts > Automatic replies.

  3. Turn on Automatic replies.

  4. (Optional) Enable Send replies only during a time period, then set Start and End.

  5. Enter your message for internal senders (inside your organization).

  6. (Optional) Enable replies to external senders and enter a separate external message.

  7. Select Save.

Outlook Mobile

  1. Open the Outlook mobile app.

  2. Select the mail account you want to configure.

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  3. Tap Automatic Replies and turn it on.

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  4. Choose whether to reply to Everyone or Reply only to my organization.

  5. If replying to everyone, you can choose to use different messages for internal vs external senders.

  6. Tap the check mark (or Save) to apply.

Include your return date (or when you expect to respond) and an alternate contact for urgent issues.

Schedule start/end times to avoid replies continuing after you return.

Repeat messages from the same sender may not trigger additional auto-replies while the setting is enabled.

Automatic replies are mailbox-level settings designed to notify people you’re unavailable.

Automatic replies typically send only one reply per sender while enabled.

Messages are not sent to distribution lists, Microsoft 365 Groups, or dynamic distribution groups. This is by design to prevent mail loops and cluttered inboxes.