How to Set Up Vacation Responder in Outlook 365 and OWA

How to Set Up Vacation Responder in Outlook

    Whether you're going on a well-deserved vacation or attending a conference, setting up a vacation responder in Outlook 365 can help manage your email communications while you're away. The vacation responder automatically sends a reply to anyone who emails you during your absence, informing them of your unavailability and when to expect your response. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of configuring the vacation responder in both Outlook 365's local installation and Outlook Web App (OWA).

Setting Up Vacation Responder in Outlook 365's Local Installation:

1. Launch Outlook 365 on your local machine.
2. Click on the "File" tab in the top-left corner.
3. Select "Automatic Replies (Out of Office)" from the Info pane.
4. In the Automatic Replies dialog box, click the "Send automatic replies" option.
5. Specify the date range for your vacation or absence.
6. Compose the message you want to send as an automatic reply to incoming emails.
7. Optionally, set different messages for internal and external senders (if available).
8. To ensure external senders receive the reply, check "Send replies outside my organization."
9. Click "OK" to enable the vacation responder.

Setting Up Vacation Responder in Outlook Web App (OWA):

1. Log in to Outlook Web App (OWA) using your credentials.
2. Click the settings cog in the top-right corner and select "View all Outlook settings."
3. Choose "Mail" from the left-hand menu and then click on "Automatic replies."
4. Toggle the "Turn on automatic replies" option.
5. Specify the date and time range for your vacation or absence.
6. Compose the auto-reply message for the vacation responder.
7. Optionally, set different messages for internal and external senders (if available).
8. To ensure external senders receive the reply, check "Send automatic replies to external senders."
9. Click "Save" to activate the vacation responder.

    With the vacation responder now configured, anyone who emails you during your absence will receive an automatic reply, providing them with the necessary information. When you return, remember to turn off the vacation responder to resume regular email communication.

Conclusion:

    Setting up a vacation responder in Outlook 365's local installation and Outlook Web App (OWA) ensures that your contacts are informed of your absence and when they can expect to hear back from you. This automated feature simplifies email management during your time away, allowing you to enjoy a worry-free break without leaving your correspondents uninformed. Utilize the vacation responder to maintain professionalism and provide timely communication even when you're not available at your desk.