How to master Outlook’s out-of-office automatic replies
How do I create and send Outlook out-of-office messages? Simple, at least if you use Office 365 Business or Microsoft Exchange.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Microsoft Outlook has an out-of-office messages feature that lets you automatically send replies with relevant information when you’re on vacation or don’t have access to your mail. There are several ways to customize and set Outlook out-of-office replies, based on message senders and date ranges.
Note:This tutorial is for Outlook for Windows userswith eitherOffice 365 Business or Exchangeaccounts. Outlook’s out-of-office messages feature is only available in Office 365 Business and Exchange. However, if you use Outlook with Office 365 Home, Outlook.com, Hotmail or Gmail, you can find anout-of-office “hack”, that’s a bit of hassle but gets the job done, on Microsoft’s Office support site.
Stay productive with the latest features
Office 365 gives you full access to all the apps and perks, such as 1TB OneDrive and Skype minutes. You can also install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other apps on up to six devices, and depending on the subscription, you can share the account with up to six people.
Pay once and forget it.
Office 2019 comes with all the popular apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, with enough features to get the work done.
How to send out of office automatic replies in Outlook
If you simply can’t miss a message from your boss — even when you’re in tropical paradise and really shouldn’t be working — and you prearranged to use an email subject line “code word” (such as “IMPORTANT”) so the boss can reach you if absolutely necessary, you can create custom Outlook out-of-office message rules to make sure crucial messages get sent to you via a personal mail account, for example.
How to create a custom rule for Outlook automatic replies
If you want to modify any of your Outlook out of office rules, follow steps No. 1 and No. 2 above but in step No. 3, chooseEdit ruleinstead ofAdd rule, and then make your changes accordingly
How to turn off Outlook out of office automatic replies
That’s just about everything you need to know to master Outlook 2016 for Windows' out-of-office automatic replies. Hopefully you never have to worry about work mail when you’re on vacation, but if you do you’re now prepared.
For more Outlook and Office 365 help and how-to articles, read:
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Al Sacco is content director of Future PLC’s Mobile Technology Vertical, which includes AndroidCentral.com, iMore.com and WindowsCentral.com. He is a veteran reporter, writer, reviewer and editor who has professionally covered and evaluated IT and mobile technology, and countless associated gadgets and accessories, for more than a decade. You can keep up with Al onTwitterandInstagram.
