Out of Office in Outlook on iPad: Set Automatic Replies

To set an out-of-office reply in Outlook on an iPad, open Outlook’s settings, select the email account, tap Automatic Replies, turn them on, write your message, and—if available—choose when they should run. This sends an automatic response while you are away, so people who email you know when you expect to return and what to do in the meantime. The exact labels can vary slightly by app version and account type.

What You’ll Need

The Outlook app installed on your iPad and access to the email account you want to update.
An internet connection to save the setting.
An account that supports server-side automatic replies. Microsoft 365 work or school accounts and many Exchange and Outlook.com accounts support them. Some IMAP or POP accounts, including some accounts added from other email providers, may not offer this feature in Outlook.
Your planned away dates and a short message with any useful contact or coverage details. You can set a simple reply without dates if you prefer to switch it on and off yourself.

Step-by-Step

Open Outlook and identify the right mailbox. Launch Outlook on your iPad and check the inbox or account name so you know which address you are changing. If you have more than one account in the app, automatic replies are configured separately for each eligible account. Do not assume that enabling them for a work mailbox also enables them for a personal mailbox.
Open the account settings. Tap your profile picture or initials near the top-left corner to open the navigation panel, then tap the gear icon to open Settings. In Settings, tap the email account you want to configure. Depending on the Outlook version, the account may appear under Mail Accounts or as a row with its email address. If you cannot see the gear, make sure the navigation panel is open and scroll if needed.
Choose Automatic Replies. In the selected account’s settings, tap Automatic Replies. If the option is not visible, check that you selected the intended account and that Outlook is up to date. An account that does not support automatic replies may not show this setting; the troubleshooting section explains alternatives.
Turn on the feature. Switch on Automatic Replies or the similarly named control. In some app versions, additional fields appear only after you enable the switch. Keep the settings screen open until you have entered the message and any dates; turning the feature on by itself may send a blank or default response, depending on the account.
Set a start and end time if the option is available. Turn on the control for replying during a time period, then enter the date and time your absence begins and ends. Set the start to the time you actually stop checking mail and the end to when you expect to resume. If you do not select a time period, replies may begin immediately and remain active until you turn them off manually. Check the displayed time zone, especially if you are traveling or your account is managed in a different region.
Write a clear reply. In the message box, state that you are away, when you expect to return, and what the sender should do if their request is urgent. For example: “I’m away from email until Monday, 12 May, and will reply when I return. For urgent order questions, contact Jordan Lee at the support desk.” Avoid promising a response time you cannot meet, and do not include sensitive personal details or confidential information.
Choose who receives the message, if offered. Some accounts let you send replies only to people in your organization or to both internal and external senders. If Outlook shows separate message fields, write an appropriate version for each audience. External senders generally need a little more context, while an internal note can name a team channel or colleague. If you select a reply-to-everyone option, remember that it can disclose your absence to people outside your organization.
Save the settings and verify them. Tap the checkmark, Save, or back control if the screen asks you to confirm; some versions save changes as you leave the page. Reopen Automatic Replies and confirm the switch, message, audience, and schedule look right. If possible, send a test email from a different account after the start time. Automatic replies may be limited to one response per sender during an absence, so a lack of a second reply does not necessarily mean the feature failed.

Common Mistakes

Changing the wrong account: Outlook can hold several mailboxes, and the setting applies only to the account selected in Settings. Check the full email address before editing, particularly if you have both a personal and a work account.

Forgetting to enable the switch: Writing a message does not always activate it. Confirm that Automatic Replies is on and that a scheduled period has not been left disabled.

Entering dates in the wrong order or time zone: An end date before the start date, or a schedule shifted by a time-zone difference, can make the reply start or stop at the wrong moment. Review the full date and time shown on screen.

Leaving the reply active: If you did not set an end time, you may need to switch the feature off yourself when you return. Otherwise, new senders could continue receiving an outdated absence notice.

Assuming every sender will receive a reply: The account or mail service may suppress repeated automatic replies to the same person, filter certain messages, or restrict external responses. Do not use an out-of-office reply as a substitute for a critical delivery or escalation process.

Tips

Keep the message brief and useful. A good reply answers three questions: Are you available? When are you expected back? What should the sender do if they cannot wait? Use a specific return date rather than “soon,” and name a backup only if that person has agreed to cover the work.

For a work mailbox, check your organization’s rules before sending an external reply. Some employers limit what can be shared outside the company. A simple statement that you are unavailable, a return date, and an approved general contact is usually safer than sharing travel plans, a personal phone number, or details about a project.

If Outlook provides separate internal and external messages, tailor them rather than sending the same detailed note to everyone. Internal colleagues may need a team name or shared mailbox; external customers may need a public support address. Review spelling, the return date, and any contact address before saving.

Set the schedule before you leave, then check it once more on the day you go. If your return date changes, update the end time promptly. When you are back, turn off automatic replies if the schedule does not do so, and consider sending a normal follow-up for messages that need a personal answer.

Troubleshooting

Automatic Replies is missing: Confirm that you tapped the correct mailbox in Outlook Settings. Update Outlook from the App Store, close and reopen the app, and check again. If the option remains absent, the email account or its administrator may not support or allow automatic replies in the app. For a Microsoft work or school account, try Outlook on the web: open Outlook in a browser, select the gear icon, choose View all Outlook settings, then go to Mail > Automatic replies. Your organization may use different admin policies.

The reply is not being sent: Reopen the account’s Automatic Replies screen and confirm the feature is on, the current time falls within the selected schedule, and the intended audience is included. Check for a typo in the message only after verifying those controls. Some accounts send one automatic response to each sender rather than responding to every message, and mail systems can suppress replies to mailing lists, spam, or automated notices. Test with a different address instead of repeatedly emailing yourself.

The reply starts or ends at the wrong time: Check the start and end dates, AM/PM selection where applicable, and time zone. A server-managed account may use the time zone configured for the mailbox or organization rather than the iPad’s current location. If the date is already past or the schedule cannot be edited in the app, use Outlook on the web or ask your administrator to check the mailbox settings.

The app will not save the changes: Confirm the iPad has internet access, then retry after closing and reopening Outlook. Make sure you can still sign in to the mailbox and that your organization has not restricted changes. If the app shows an error or the setting reverts, use Outlook on the web where available, or contact the account administrator or email provider. Avoid relying on the setting until you can verify it is active.

You use Gmail, IMAP, or POP in Outlook: Outlook may not be able to configure an automatic reply for that mailbox. Set the vacation responder through the email provider’s own app or website instead. The provider’s reply will usually run on its mail server, so it can continue while the iPad is offline; check that provider’s instructions for scheduling and recipient rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set an out-of-office reply in Outlook on iPad without a computer?

Yes, if the account supports automatic replies and the option appears in Outlook’s account settings. Choose the mailbox, open Automatic Replies, enter your message, and save it. If the setting is missing, use the provider’s website or Outlook on the web instead.

Will automatic replies work if my iPad is turned off?

For supported Exchange, Microsoft 365, or Outlook.com mailboxes, the reply is normally managed by the mail service, not by the iPad staying online. For an account that relies on a device or a provider-specific feature, behavior may differ, so verify with that provider.

Can I set different messages for coworkers and people outside my organization?

Some work or school accounts offer separate internal and external messages or an audience control. If you see those choices, use them to provide suitable information to each group. If they are absent, your account may not support separate messages from the iPad app.

How do I turn off the reply when I return?

Open Outlook Settings, select the same mailbox, tap Automatic Replies, and switch the feature off. If you set an end time, it should stop then, but check the setting if you return early or your plans change.

Why did someone not receive my automatic reply?

They may already have received one reply for the current absence, their message may be a mailing-list or automated message, or your settings may exclude external senders. Confirm the schedule and audience, then test with a different address. Automatic replies are not guaranteed for every incoming message.

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

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