How to Set an Out of Office Automatic Reply in Outlook Web
Automatic replies (also known as Out of Office messages) let others know you're unavailable and when they can expect a response. You can configure different replies for people inside and outside your organization.
When to Use
- You are on vacation or leave
- You are attending a conference
- You are temporarily unavailable due to illness or workload
- You want to redirect people to another contact while you're away
Instructions
1. Open Outlook Web
Go to https://outlook.office.com and sign in using your Microsoft 365 credentials.
2. Open Automatic Replies Settings
- In the top-right corner, click the Settings (gear icon).
- In the search bar, type "automatic replies".
- Click "Automatic replies" from the results.
3. Turn On Automatic Replies
- Toggle "Turn on automatic replies" to On.
4. Set a Time Range (Optional)
- Check "Send replies only during a time period".
- Choose a Start time and End time if you want the replies to stop automatically.
5. Write Your Message
Internal Message (Inside your organization):
Example: Thank you for your message. I am currently out of the office and will return on [Date]. During this time, I will have limited access to email. If your matter is urgent, please contact [Colleague Name] at [email address].
External Message (Outside your organization):
- Check "Send replies outside your organization".
- Choose whether to send replies:
- To only your contacts, or
- To anyone outside your organization
- Write a similar message, possibly with fewer internal details.
6. Save
Click Save to activate your automatic reply.
Result
Outlook will send automatic replies based on your settings.
Each sender will only receive your reply once every 4 days to prevent spamming.