Set Up ‘Out Of Office’ Auto-Reply Message in Outlook

A Microsoft Outlook’s “out of office” message is an auto-reply email that notifies people you’re not at work for an extended period of time.

It is useful for letting colleagues know when to expect a response and/or whom to contact in your absence, and is often considered proper work etiquette for vacations, sick leave, and other lengthy absences.

In this note i am showing how to set up an automatic “out of office” reply in the Outlook application.

Cool Tip: How to cross out a text in an email in Microsoft Outlook! Read more →

Set Up ‘Out Of Office’ Auto-Reply Message in Outlook

1. In the Outlook application, go to the “Top Menu” → “File”:
   
2. Click on the “Automatic Replies (Out Of Office)”:
   
3. Select the “Set automatic replies”, tick the “Only send during this time range” box and set your absence time range:
   
4. Create the “Out Of Office” message, for example:

   Hello,
   
   I’m out of the office from %MM/DD% to %MM/DD% with limited access (or no access) to email.
   
   If your message can wait, I will respond as soon as I return.
   
   For urgent matters, please contact %NAME% at %EMAIL% or %PHONE%.
   
   Sincerely,
   %NAME%

5. Click the “OK” button.