How to Set Out of Office Dates in Outlook for Any Device

To set out-of-office dates in Outlook, open Automatic Replies, turn on replies for a specific time period, enter your start and end dates and times, write your message, and save. Outlook then sends your absence message during that window and, for supported work or school accounts, stops automatically when it ends.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook account you want to set up, and permission to change its automatic replies.
A Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365 work or school, or Outlook.com mailbox. The Automatic Replies feature may not be available for POP or IMAP accounts.
Your planned start and end dates, including the times and time zone that apply to your mailbox.
An internal message and, if needed, a separate message for people outside your organization. Keep private details out of the external message.

Step-by-Step

Choose where to configure the mailbox. Outlook settings can differ depending on the app and account type. The options below cover the current Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, and Outlook for Mac. Use the account that will actually receive the messages while you are away; setting a reply for one mailbox does not automatically set it for your other Outlook accounts.
Open Automatic Replies in new Outlook for Windows. Select the Settings gear, then go to Accounts > Automatic replies. Choose the relevant account if Outlook asks you to. Turn on automatic replies. If you use classic Outlook instead, select File > Automatic Replies. If that command is missing, check the troubleshooting section below.
Open the setting in Outlook on the web if you use a browser. For a Microsoft 365 work or school mailbox, select the Settings gear, then Accounts > Automatic replies. In Outlook.com, look under Settings > Mail > Automatic replies; the exact label or location can vary as the web interface changes. Confirm that you are signed in to the intended account before changing the setting.
Open the setting in Outlook for Mac if needed. In newer Outlook for Mac, open Outlook > Settings > Accounts, select the account, and look for Automatic replies. In legacy Outlook for Mac, the command may be under Tools > Automatic Replies. If you do not see it, try Outlook on the web for that same mailbox, or ask your organization’s administrator whether the account supports the feature.
Choose a scheduled reply rather than leaving it on indefinitely. In the Automatic Replies window, select the option labeled something like Send replies only during a time period or Send replies during this time period. Wording varies between versions. This is the key setting that makes Outlook start and stop the response automatically. If you only turn on replies without selecting a period, you may have to remember to switch them off yourself.
Set the start date and time. Choose when you want Outlook to begin sending the message. Set the start to the point your absence begins, not the day you return. For example, if you leave after work on Thursday and want replies to start Friday morning, choose Friday morning. If people may email you overnight before your departure, decide whether you want the reply to start earlier.
Set the end date and time. Choose when Outlook should stop sending the message. Check the displayed time as well as the date: an end time early on your return date could stop replies before colleagues or customers know you are back. If you want the reply active through your final day away, set an end time that covers that day. Outlook uses the mailbox’s time-zone settings, so verify the time zone if you will be travelling or managing the mailbox from another location.
Write the message for people inside your organization. Use the internal message box if Outlook provides one. State the dates you will be away, whether you will check messages, and who can help with urgent work. For example: “I’m away from Monday, June 8, through Friday, June 12, and will reply when I return. For order questions, contact Jordan Lee at the service desk.” Use accurate dates and confirm that any named colleague has agreed to be a contact.
Decide whether to send a reply outside your organization. If Outlook offers an external-replies option, turn it on only if external senders need to know you are away. Choose whether to reply to all external senders or only people in your contacts, if those choices appear. Keep this version brief: do not disclose confidential projects, internal phone numbers, travel plans, or detailed staffing arrangements. A simple return date and approved alternative contact are usually enough.
Save the setting and check the result. Select Save, OK, or the equivalent button. Reopen Automatic Replies to confirm the schedule, dates, times, and message were retained. If your organization permits it, send a test message from a different account after the start time to check what recipients see. A test sent before the scheduled start will not prove that the scheduled reply is active.

On Outlook for iOS or Android: Open Outlook, tap your profile icon, select the gear for Settings, choose the relevant email account, and open Automatic Replies if it is available. Turn replies on and look for a scheduled-period option to enter dates and times. The mobile controls depend on the account and app version; if there is no scheduling option, set the dates in Outlook on the web or desktop instead. Recheck the mobile setting afterward if you also use the app to manage replies.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting the time range. Turning on Automatic Replies is not always the same as scheduling it. If the time-period option is not selected, replies may remain enabled until someone turns them off.
Choosing the wrong end time. Selecting midnight at the start of your return date can stop replies before that day’s work begins. Pick a time that matches when you want people to know you are available again.
Changing the wrong mailbox. People with several accounts may configure their personal mailbox instead of the shared or work account they use for the relevant messages. Check the account name at the top of the settings page.
Assuming a reply goes to every sender every time. Exchange-based automatic replies commonly send only one response to a sender during the active period, rather than responding to every message. Do not use the feature as a substitute for an urgent-message alert or a ticketing process.
Including too much information. External replies can reach people you do not know. Avoid saying exactly where you are, giving sensitive details, or sharing a colleague’s contact information without approval.
Expecting unsupported accounts to behave like Exchange. POP and IMAP accounts may not have server-side Automatic Replies. A rule-based workaround may depend on Outlook being open and the device being online, so it is not a reliable equivalent to a scheduled mailbox setting.

Tips

Use full dates in the message. “Away June 8–12” is clearer than “away next week,” especially if someone reads the response later or lives in another time zone.
Make the message useful, not just informative. Include one practical next step, such as a shared inbox, help desk, or colleague who has agreed to cover. Do not promise that someone will respond unless that is confirmed.
Keep internal and external messages distinct. Internal colleagues may need a team channel or coverage details that should not be sent to customers or unknown contacts.
Allow for travel and overnight mail. If you want people emailing before your first day away to receive the notice, schedule the start earlier. If you are working part of a day, make the start and end times reflect that arrangement.
Check shared mailboxes separately. A personal out-of-office setting does not necessarily apply to a shared mailbox. Open the shared mailbox’s own settings or ask its administrator how replies are managed.
Set a reminder to review the message. If your dates change, update the schedule and the text together. The date range in the message does not automatically change when you edit the schedule.

Troubleshooting

Automatic Replies is missing or unavailable: Confirm the mailbox type and make sure you selected the correct account. Some accounts, including certain POP or IMAP setups, do not support the server-side feature. In classic Outlook for Windows, the option is commonly available for Exchange or Microsoft 365 work and school accounts, but may not appear for other account types. Try Outlook on the web for the same mailbox; if it is still unavailable, contact your email administrator.

Replies do not start at the scheduled time: Reopen the setting and check that the scheduled-period option is enabled, the start date and time are correct, and the change was saved. Check whether the mailbox or app is using a different time zone than you expected. For a work or school account, an administrator may also manage or restrict automatic replies.

Replies continue after the end date: Check whether a time range was set, rather than simply turning replies on. Revisit the setting to confirm the end date and time and save any correction. If a separate Outlook rule or another mailbox tool is also sending an absence message, disable or update it so two systems are not producing replies.

External senders receive nothing: Confirm that external replies are enabled and check whether the setting limits them to your contacts. Your organization may block external automatic replies for security reasons. Try a test from an address outside the organization, then ask your administrator if the setting appears correct but no reply is sent.

The message or dates look wrong: Reopen the account’s Automatic Replies settings and inspect both message boxes and the date fields. If you edited the setting on another device, refresh Outlook and confirm the change has synchronized. When in doubt, use Outlook on the web for the same mailbox to check the server-side configuration.

A POP or IMAP workaround is unreliable: Outlook rules may be able to send a reply for some account setups, but they are not identical to server-side Automatic Replies and may require Outlook to remain running. Avoid depending on that approach for a critical absence. Ask your provider or administrator about a supported vacation-response feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I schedule out-of-office dates in Outlook in advance?
Yes. If your account supports Automatic Replies, set the start and end dates and times in the scheduled-period option, then save. The response should begin and end according to that schedule without you switching it on at the last minute.

Will Outlook automatically turn off my out-of-office reply?
It will when a supported mailbox has a saved end time in its scheduled automatic-replies settings. If you enable replies without a schedule, you may need to turn them off manually. Confirm which option is active before you leave.

Can I set different messages for coworkers and customers?
Many Exchange and Microsoft 365 accounts let you write one message for people inside your organization and another for external senders. Outlook.com and other account types may offer different choices. If separate boxes are not shown, the account may not support separate messages.

Does the reply go out for every email someone sends?
Usually not. Exchange automatic replies commonly send a person one response during the active period, even if that person sends several messages. Exact behavior can depend on the mailbox and organization settings.

Can I set out-of-office dates for a shared mailbox?
Often, but you need access to that mailbox and permission to manage its automatic replies. Set the schedule on the shared mailbox itself, not just on your own account. If the option is missing, ask the mailbox owner or administrator to configure it.

What if I use Outlook with a Gmail, POP, or IMAP account?
Outlook may not provide its server-based Automatic Replies feature for that account. Check the email provider’s own vacation-response settings or ask your administrator. A local Outlook rule may not send while Outlook is closed or offline, so verify its limitations before relying on it.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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