Set Out of Office in Outlook on Edge: Step-by-Step

To set an out-of-office reply in Outlook using Microsoft Edge, open Outlook on the web, select the Settings gear, find Automatic replies, turn them on, write your message, and save. If you want the reply to start and stop automatically, set a date and time range before saving. Edge is only the browser; the setting is controlled by your Outlook account.

What You’ll Need

A working internet connection and Microsoft Edge.
Access to the Outlook.com, Microsoft 365, or work or school account that should send the reply. You may need to sign in or complete your organization’s security check.
Your message and, if you want the reply scheduled, the dates and times you will be away. Decide whether people outside your organization should receive a reply.

Step-by-Step

Open the correct Outlook account. In Edge, go to Outlook on the web or Outlook.com and sign in with the mailbox that should send your absence message. If Edge opens more than one Microsoft account, check the profile or mailbox name before changing settings. Replies are set separately for each account, so changing a personal mailbox will not set a reply for your work mailbox.
Open Outlook settings. Select the gear-shaped Settings button near the upper-right corner. In the settings pane, look for Automatic replies. In many Microsoft 365 work or school mailboxes, the route is Accounts > Automatic replies. In some Outlook.com or interface versions, it appears under Mail > Automatic replies. If neither route is visible, use the settings search box and type automatic replies. Choose the matching setting rather than a browser or Edge setting.
Turn on automatic replies. Select the switch or option labelled Turn on automatic replies. Do not confuse this with simply typing a message into a draft or composing an email: the automatic-reply setting is what makes Outlook send the message in response to incoming mail. If the switch is already on, review the existing dates and text before editing them.
Choose whether to set a time period. If Outlook offers Send replies only during a time period, turn it on when you want the reply to start and end automatically. Enter your start and end dates and times, checking the displayed time zone. Outlook will activate the response at the start and stop it at the end. If you leave the schedule option off, the reply generally stays enabled until you return to this setting and turn it off yourself.
Write the message for people in your organization. Enter a short, clear response in the message box. State that you are away, when you expect to return, and what the sender should do if the matter is urgent. For example, you could say that you will return on a particular date and direct urgent requests to a named colleague or shared team address. Include only information you are comfortable sharing with everyone who may email you.
Decide whether to reply to people outside the organization. If Outlook shows a separate option for external senders, enable it only if you want people outside your company or school to receive an automatic response. Some accounts let you send replies to all external senders or only to people in your contacts. Choose the narrower audience if appropriate. If you enable external replies, check whether there is a separate message box; enter a version that does not reveal sensitive internal details.
Review any additional options. Depending on the account, Outlook may offer settings for calendar events, such as blocking your calendar or declining invitations during the scheduled period. These options are separate from the email message. Review them before enabling them, especially if you need to keep accepting meetings or have already arranged calendar coverage. The available controls can differ between work or school accounts and personal Outlook.com accounts.
Save the setting and confirm it is active. Select Save if the page provides a Save button. Some versions save changes as you make them, but do not assume that the message has been applied until Outlook confirms it or the setting remains enabled when you reopen it. Check the schedule, message, and external-sender choice once more.
Test the result sensibly. If practical, send a test message from a separate email account, not from the same mailbox. Automatic replies may not be sent repeatedly to the same sender for every message, so one test does not necessarily prove what every recipient will see. Confirm that the wording and dates are right, then avoid sending repeated tests to colleagues or customers.

Common Mistakes

Leaving the reply on indefinitely. If you do not set a time period, you may need to switch the feature off manually when you return. Set an end time if you know it, or make a reminder for yourself if your mailbox does not offer scheduling.

Using the wrong mailbox. A reply configured in your personal Outlook.com account does not cover a work mailbox, and a shared mailbox may have its own settings. Verify the account name before saving. If you manage several inboxes, check each one that needs a response.

Assuming every sender gets a reply to every email. Outlook may limit how often it responds to the same sender during an absence period. It can also treat people inside and outside your organization differently. A test message from your own account may not trigger a reply at all.

Sharing private details externally. External replies can go to people you do not know, including mailing lists or unsolicited senders. Do not include travel plans, personal phone numbers, confidential project information, or detailed internal coverage notes in a message sent to all external contacts.

Forgetting the time zone or end time. A scheduled reply can begin or finish earlier or later than expected if the selected time zone is not the one you intended. Check the dates and local time shown in Outlook, especially when travelling or working with colleagues in another region.

Expecting Edge to control the setting. Clearing Edge cookies, changing browser notifications, or closing the browser does not switch Outlook automatic replies on or off. The setting belongs to the mailbox, and scheduled replies can continue while Edge is closed.

Tips

Keep the message brief and useful. A return date and a clear urgent-contact route usually help more than a long explanation of why you are away.
Use a different message for internal and external senders when Outlook allows it. Internal colleagues may need a team handoff; external contacts generally need only a safe return date and a public contact route.
Use a monitored shared address or an agreed colleague as the urgent contact. Confirm that the person or team has agreed to handle requests before naming them in your reply.
Set the start and end time using the time zone displayed in Outlook. If you are unsure which time zone your mailbox uses, check the date and time preferences in Outlook settings before relying on a scheduled start.
For an account without scheduling, turn on the reply shortly before leaving and create a calendar reminder to turn it off when you return. If someone else manages the mailbox, agree who will disable it.
After making a change, reopen Automatic replies to confirm the switch, dates, and message. This is especially useful when you are setting up more than one mailbox or making the change close to your departure.

Troubleshooting

You cannot find Automatic replies. Make sure you are in Outlook on the web, not in Edge settings or a separate Microsoft account page. Open the Settings gear and search settings for automatic replies. If the option is absent from a work or school mailbox, your administrator may manage it or your organization may use a different mail system. Ask your IT team which mailbox settings are available.

The message is not being sent. Check that automatic replies are switched on, that the current time falls within the schedule, and that the message was saved. Confirm that you changed the mailbox that received the test email. Then test from a different address. Outlook may suppress repeated automatic responses to the same sender, so sending several messages from one address is not a reliable test.

Only internal people receive a reply. Return to the external-sender section and check whether external replies are enabled. If there is a choice between all external senders and contacts only, verify that the test address meets the selected condition. Your organization may restrict external automatic replies; contact the administrator if the option is unavailable or does not work as expected.

The reply starts or ends at the wrong time. Reopen the schedule and inspect the date, time, and time zone. Correct the range and save again. If the scheduled start has already passed, check that the start time is not set in the future because of a date or time-zone mistake.

You changed the text but recipients still see the old version. Reopen the setting and make sure the new message is present and saved. Check whether you edited the internal message when you meant to change the external one, or vice versa. A sender who already received an automatic response may not receive another immediately, so verify the new wording from an address that has not already triggered a reply.

Settings will not load or save. Refresh Outlook and sign in again if prompted. Try opening Outlook in a new Edge tab, and check that the browser is online. If the problem continues, check your organization’s service status or contact its support team; do not rely on an unsaved change for an upcoming absence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does setting out of office in Outlook require a special Edge extension?
No. Use Outlook on the web in Edge and change the mailbox’s Automatic replies setting. Edge extensions and browser notifications are not required.

Will the reply keep working if I close Edge?
Usually, yes. Outlook applies the setting to the mailbox, so a scheduled automatic reply does not depend on keeping the browser open. Check the setting after saving to confirm it is enabled.

Can I set an automatic reply without an end date?
Yes, if your Outlook version allows you to turn on replies without selecting a time period. In that case, remember to turn them off manually when you return. A scheduled end time is safer when you know your return date.

Will Outlook send a reply to every email from the same person?
Not necessarily. Automatic replies are commonly limited so one sender does not receive the same response repeatedly during your absence. The exact behavior can depend on the account and service.

Can I set different messages for internal and external senders?
Many work or school accounts offer separate message fields, but options vary. If Outlook shows an external-reply option, check whether it has its own message box and recipient scope. Personal accounts may offer fewer controls.

Is this the same as setting an out-of-office reply in the Outlook desktop app?
The goal is the same, but the menus differ. These instructions are for Outlook opened in Edge. In the Windows desktop app, look for automatic replies in the app’s settings or File options, depending on the Outlook version; do not expect the browser menu path to match.

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

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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