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How to set out of office (automatic replies) in Outlook

Outlook calls its away message Automatic replies. Where you turn it on depends on which Outlook you have. Here are the steps for each.

By David Ray · Updated November 3, 2026 · 2 min read · How we research

Quick answer

In new Outlook and Outlook on the web: go to Settings → Accounts → Automatic replies, turn them on, set the dates, write your message and select Save. In classic Outlook: select File → Automatic Replies. In the Outlook phone app: tap your profile, then Settings, your account, and Automatic replies.

New Outlook and Outlook on the web

  1. Select Settings (the gear icon) at the top right.
  2. Go to Accounts → Automatic replies.
  3. Turn on Turn on automatic replies.
  4. Tick Send replies only during a time period and set the start and end.
  5. Write your message. On work accounts you can write a different one for people outside your organization, or reply only to your contacts.
  6. Select Save.

You can also block your calendar and decline meetings during the same period from this screen.

Classic Outlook for Windows

  1. Select File → Automatic Replies.
  2. Choose Send automatic replies.
  3. Tick Only send during this time range and set the dates.
  4. Write your message on the Inside My Organization and Outside My Organization tabs.
  5. Select OK.

If you don't see Automatic Replies, your account is probably POP or IMAP rather than Microsoft 365, Exchange or Outlook.com. You can get a similar effect with a rule that replies using a saved template, while Outlook is left running. See creating rules in Outlook.

Outlook app on iPhone and Android

  1. Tap your profile picture, then the Settings gear.
  2. Tap your account, then Automatic replies.
  3. Turn them on, choose who gets them and set the dates.
  4. Write the message and tap the check mark to save.

Outlook for Mac

Select Tools → Automatic Replies (or Out of Office), turn them on, set the dates and message, and select OK.

Away message examples

Thank you for your email. I'm out of the office until Monday, June 15, and will reply when I return. For urgent matters, please contact Sam Lee at sam@example.com.
Thanks for reaching out. I'm on leave with no access to email until June 15. Your message won't be forwarded, so please resend anything urgent to support@example.com.

More in out-of-office message examples. Using Gmail too? See out of office in Gmail.

How to turn it off

If you set an end time, replies stop automatically. Otherwise, go back to Automatic replies and turn them off, or select Turn off in the banner Outlook shows while they are on.

Questions people ask

Why can't I find automatic replies in Outlook?
In classic Outlook, Automatic Replies only appears for Microsoft 365, Exchange and Outlook.com accounts. POP and IMAP accounts need a rule instead.
Does Outlook send the out of office reply to everyone?
Usually once to each sender while it is on. On work accounts, you can choose separate messages for people inside and outside your organization, or reply only to your contacts.
Can I set out of office in the Outlook app?
Yes. Tap your profile, Settings, your account, then Automatic replies.
How do I set an away message in Outlook without dates?
Turn on automatic replies without ticking the time period option. They stay on until you turn them off.
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