How to Set Out of Office in the Outlook Mobile App

To set an out-of-office reply in Outlook mobile, open the app’s Settings, select the email account, choose Automatic Replies, turn the feature on, and enter your message. You can also schedule a start and end time when that option is available. The reply is handled by your mail service, so it can usually be sent even when Outlook is closed.

What You’ll Need

The Outlook mobile app on an iPhone or Android phone, signed in to the account that should send the reply.
An account that supports automatic replies through Outlook, such as many Microsoft 365 work or school, Exchange, and Outlook.com accounts. The option may not appear for Gmail, IMAP, or other accounts connected to Outlook; in that case, set a vacation response with the email provider.
Your absence dates and a brief message explaining when you will be away and how urgent requests should be handled, if appropriate.

Step-by-Step

Open Outlook and check the account. Launch Outlook mobile and confirm you are signed in. If you have several mailboxes, note the address that needs the automatic reply. Automatic replies are set separately for each account, so choosing the wrong mailbox can leave the intended one unchanged.
Open Outlook settings. Tap your profile picture or account icon, usually at the upper-left of the screen, to open the navigation panel. Tap the gear icon to open Settings. The exact placement can shift slightly between app versions; if you do not see the gear, open the profile or navigation panel fully.
Select the email account. In Settings, tap the account you want to configure. If more than one address is listed, use the full email address to identify it rather than relying on a display name. Account settings such as notifications and automatic replies apply only to the selected mailbox.
Open Automatic Replies. Find and tap Automatic Replies. If the item is missing, check that you selected the correct account and that the account type supports the feature. Outlook mobile’s menus and labels can vary by platform and app release, but this setting is normally within the selected account’s settings.
Turn on automatic replies. Switch on Automatic Replies or the similarly named control. If you only want a reply during a defined absence, turn on the option to send replies during a time period, when shown. Without a schedule, the feature may remain on until you turn it off manually.
Set the start and end times if available. Choose the date and time when the reply should begin and when it should stop. Check AM or PM and the mailbox’s time zone carefully, especially if you will travel. If there is no scheduling option in your version or for your account, you can still enable the reply manually before leaving and disable it when you return.
Write the reply message. Enter a clear message in the text box. For example: “Thanks for your email. I’m away from November 10 through November 14 and will reply when I return. For urgent support, contact the service desk at support@example.com.” Replace the sample dates and address with details that are accurate for you. Avoid including private travel plans or information you would not want sent to unexpected correspondents.
Review any audience options and save. If Outlook offers separate controls for people inside and outside your organization, decide whether to enable each one and enter an appropriate message for each audience. External replies can reach people you do not know, so keep them limited to useful information. Tap the checkmark, Save, or the relevant back control if prompted, then return to the setting and confirm that the switch and dates are still correct.
Verify the setup. Check the selected account one last time and make sure the reply is enabled for the intended dates. If practical, ask a colleague or someone you trust to send a test message, while remembering that automatic replies may not be sent repeatedly to the same sender. Do not use a test as a reason to share sensitive details.

Common Mistakes

Setting it on the wrong mailbox: Outlook can contain personal and work accounts at once. Turning on replies for one does not automatically turn them on for the others. Confirm the address at the top of the account settings before changing anything.

Forgetting to set an end time: If you enable replies without a scheduled period, they can continue after you return until you switch them off. If scheduling is available, use it. Otherwise, set a reminder to disable the feature on your first day back.

Leaving the message vague or outdated: “I’m away” does not tell people when you will respond. Include a return date or a general response expectation, and check that any alternate contact is current and authorized to receive the request.

Assuming every connected account supports the feature: Outlook is also an app for reading mail from other providers. A Gmail or IMAP mailbox may not expose Outlook’s Automatic Replies control. The provider’s own vacation-response setting is the right place to configure its server-side reply.

Turning on an external reply without reviewing it: External messages may go to clients, mailing lists, or unfamiliar senders. Keep the wording professional and avoid exposing your schedule, phone number, or internal procedures unnecessarily.

Tips

Use a concise subject-free message that answers the key questions: that you are unavailable, when you expect to return, and what to do if a matter cannot wait.
For work, check your organization’s rules before naming a substitute or sharing a colleague’s contact details. Use an approved shared mailbox, help desk, or team address when possible.
If you do not know exactly when you will be available again, avoid promising a specific response time. Say that you will respond as soon as you can after returning.
Set a calendar reminder as a backup if you use manual activation. A saved draft of your usual message can make it quicker to update dates next time, but always review it before enabling it.
If you travel across time zones, compare the selected schedule with the time zone used by the mailbox. A reply that starts or ends several hours early can confuse senders.
Keep the Outlook app updated and connected while setting the option. Once saved for a supported mailbox, the automatic reply is generally managed by the mail service rather than requiring the phone to stay online.

Troubleshooting

Automatic Replies is not listed: Reopen Settings and select the exact mailbox, not a general app preference. If the option is still absent, the account may not support managing automatic replies in Outlook mobile. For a work or school account, ask your Microsoft 365 or Exchange administrator whether the feature is available. For Gmail or another provider, use that provider’s vacation-response settings instead.

The switch will not stay on or the changes do not save: Check your internet connection, wait for Outlook to finish loading account settings, and try again. Close and reopen the app if the screen appears stuck. Confirm that you are signed in to the account and that your organization has not restricted the setting. If it continues to fail, try Outlook on the web or contact your organization’s support team.

The reply is not being sent: First verify that the automatic-reply switch is on and that the current time falls within the scheduled period. Confirm that the message was saved to the right account. If the account is connected through another provider, configure the reply there. Also be aware that services may limit repeat automatic messages to the same sender, so a sender who has already received one may not get another immediately.

The reply starts or ends at the wrong time: Recheck the selected dates, clock time, AM/PM, and mailbox time zone. Edit the schedule and save it again. If the dates shown in the app do not match your expected local time, check the mailbox’s regional or time-zone settings through your organization or email provider.

People outside your organization receive no reply: Look for a separate external-sender option and make sure it is enabled if you intend to reply externally. Some organizations restrict external automatic replies, and some account types offer different controls. If the setting is managed by an administrator, ask them to confirm the policy rather than repeatedly changing the message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Outlook mobile send the reply while my phone is off?
For supported Microsoft 365, Exchange, or Outlook.com mailboxes, automatic replies are generally processed by the mail service, so your phone does not need to remain on or connected. This may differ for mailboxes whose provider does not support the setting in Outlook.

Can I set different replies for internal and external senders?
Some accounts show separate message fields or controls for people inside and outside your organization. If your app shows them, enter the appropriate text for each group. If it does not, the account or administrator may not allow separate messages from mobile.

Will the reply go out every time someone emails me?
Usually not. Automatic-reply services commonly avoid sending the same person repeated replies during one active period. Do not rely on a sender receiving a fresh response for every message they send.

Can I set an out-of-office reply for Gmail in Outlook mobile?
The Automatic Replies option may not be available for a Gmail account added to Outlook. Set the vacation responder in Gmail instead. That setting is managed by Google, even if you read the messages in Outlook.

How do I turn the reply off early?
Open Outlook Settings, select the same mailbox, and return to Automatic Replies. Turn the control off and save if prompted. If you set an end date, you can also edit or remove the scheduled period.

Can I use this for a short appointment?
Yes, if your account lets you schedule start and end times, you can choose a short window. Consider whether an automatic email reply is helpful for a brief absence, and verify the time zone so it does not stay active longer than intended.

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

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