Whether you’re stepping away for a business trip, taking a well-earned vacation, or simply need some uninterrupted work time, it’s important to manage your inbox without leaving contacts in the dark. That’s where Microsoft Outlook’s Out of Office (OOO) auto-reply feature comes in handy.
An Out of Office response is an automatic email notification that informs senders you’re unavailable and won’t be responding immediately. Outlook gives you the ability to schedule start and end dates, write custom messages for coworkers and external contacts, and even provide alternate contact information while you’re away.
Many users don’t realize there are several ways to set up these automatic replies in Outlook—and you can do it yourself without needing IT support. Here’s a step-by-step guide for setting up your OOO message on desktop, web, and mobile devices.