Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office How To Set Out Of Office

When it comes to managing your work schedule effectively, setting an out of office message is a crucial tool in ensuring that your colleagues and clients are aware of your absence. Microsoft Office provides a seamless and easy-to-use feature for setting up your out of office message. This feature is not only time-saving, but it also ensures that your work continues smoothly even when you're away.

With Microsoft Office's out of office feature, you can customize your message to inform others about your absence, provide alternative contacts, and even set specific dates for when you'll be away. This allows you to maintain professional communication and ensures that your colleagues and clients are well-informed about your availability. Whether you're on vacation, attending a conference, or simply taking a day off, Microsoft Office's out of office feature is the perfect solution to keep everyone in the loop.



Microsoft Office How To Set Out Of Office

Setting up Out of Office in Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office provides a convenient feature called "Out of Office" that allows users to set an automatic reply when they are away. Whether you are going on vacation, attending a conference, or simply won't be able to respond to emails, setting up Out of Office can help manage expectations and communicate your availability. In this article, we will explore how to set Out of Office in Microsoft Office and make the most out of this useful feature.

Setting up Out of Office in Outlook

If you use Outlook as your email client in Microsoft Office, setting up Out of Office is quick and straightforward. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

  • Open Outlook and click on the "File" tab at the top left corner of the window.
  • Click the "Automatic Replies" button in the Info section.
  • In the Automatic Replies window, check the "Send automatic replies" box.
  • Enter the message you want to be sent as your automatic reply. You can customize the message and include important details such as the dates you will be away and alternative contact information.
  • If needed, you can set different automatic replies for internal colleagues and external contacts by selecting the respective tabs.
  • Choose whether you want to set a specific time range for the automatic replies or keep it running until you manually turn it off.
  • Click "OK" to save your settings.

Once you have followed these steps, Outlook will send the automatic reply message to anyone who emails you during the specified time period. Remember to disable Out of Office when you return to regular work to ensure timely responses to incoming emails.

Setting up Out of Office on Outlook Web App

If you don't have access to the desktop version of Outlook or prefer to use the Outlook Web App, you can still set up Out of Office with the following steps:

  • Go to https://outlook.office.com and log in to your Office 365 account.
  • Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner to access the Settings menu.
  • In the settings panel, click on "View all Outlook settings" at the bottom.
  • Under the Mail section, select "Automatic replies."
  • Toggle the switch to enable automatic replies.
  • Enter the desired message in the text box, providing relevant details about your absence.
  • Choose whether you want to apply the automatic replies internally (within your organization) or externally (to people outside of your organization).
  • Set a start and end date if you want the automatic replies to begin and end on specific days.
  • Click "Save" to apply the settings.

With these simple steps, you can set up Out of Office on the Outlook Web App and ensure that your contacts receive your automatic reply while you're away from your desk.

Setting up Out of Office in the Outlook Mobile App

If you need to set up Out of Office on the go, the Outlook Mobile App allows you to do so from your smartphone or tablet. Here's how:

  • Open the Outlook Mobile App on your device and tap the three horizontal lines at the top-left corner to access the menu.
  • Scroll down and tap the "Settings" option.
  • Select your email account from the list of accounts.
  • Tap on the "Automatic Replies" option.
  • Toggle the switch to enable automatic replies.
  • Enter the message you wish to use as your automatic reply.
  • Specify the start and end date for the automatic replies.
  • Tap the checkmark or save button to apply the changes.

By configuring Out of Office through the Outlook Mobile App, you can conveniently manage your automatic replies right from your mobile device, ensuring that your contacts are well-informed even when you're away from your desk.

Setting up Out of Office in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

While Out of Office is commonly associated with email, you can also set up automatic replies in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This feature can be helpful when collaborating on documents or sharing files with colleagues. Here's how:

Setting up Out of Office in Word

In Microsoft Word, you can create an automatic reply message that will be displayed when someone opens a document that you've saved. Here's how:

  • Open Word and click on the "File" tab at the top-left corner.
  • Click on "Options," then select "Trust Center" from the left-hand menu.
  • Click on the "Trust Center Settings" button.
  • In the Trust Center window, select "Privacy Options" from the left-hand menu.
  • Check the box next to "Remove personal information from file properties on save."
  • Enter your desired automatic reply message in the box provided.
  • Click "OK" to save the settings.

Now, anyone who opens a Word document that you've saved will see the automatic reply message you've set up, providing them with relevant information about your availability and when they can expect a response.

Setting up Out of Office in Excel and PowerPoint

In Excel and PowerPoint, the process of setting up automatic replies is slightly different but still achievable. Here's how:

  • Open the Excel or PowerPoint application.
  • Click on the "File" tab at the top-left corner.
  • Choose "Options" from the left-hand menu.
  • In the Options window, select "Save" from the left-hand menu.
  • Under the "Preserve fidelity when sharing this presentation" section, enter your desired automatic reply message.
  • Click "OK" to save the settings.

Now, when you share an Excel spreadsheet or PowerPoint presentation with others, they will see the automatic reply message you've set up, helping them understand your availability and when they can expect a response from you.

Configuring Out of Office Made Easy

Microsoft Office makes it simple and efficient for users to set up Out of Office messages across various applications. Whether you're using Outlook for email or working on documents in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, you can communicate your availability and ensure that your colleagues and contacts receive timely responses. By following the step-by-step instructions outlined in this article, you can easily configure Out of Office and make the most out of this valuable feature in Microsoft Office.


Microsoft Office How To Set Out Of Office

Setting Out of Office in Microsoft Office

When you're going on vacation or taking some time off, it's important to let people know that you're out of office. Microsoft Office provides a convenient feature to set an out of office message in Outlook, which will automatically reply to incoming emails in your absence.

To set out of office in Microsoft Office, follow these steps:

1. Open Outlook

Launch the Microsoft Outlook application on your computer.

2. Go to File

Click on the "File" tab located at the top left corner of the screen.

3. Set up Automatic Replies

In the backstage view, click on "Automatic Replies" under the "Info" category.

4. Enable Automatic Replies

Check the box "Send automatic replies" and enter the desired message for your out of office response.

5. Set the Time Range

Select the date and time range for when you will be out of office.

6. Save your Changes

Once you have entered all the necessary information, click "OK

Key Takeaways

  • Learn how to set your out of office message in Microsoft Office.
  • Ensure you include the dates you will be away and your contact information.
  • Set specific times for your automatic replies to activate and deactivate.
  • Personalize your out of office message with a professional tone and relevant information.
  • Remember to turn off your out of office message when you return.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions about setting up the out of office feature in Microsoft Office:

1. How do I set up the out of office reply in Microsoft Outlook?

To set up the out of office reply in Microsoft Outlook, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.

Step 2: Click on the "File" tab in the top-left corner of the window.

Step 3: Select "Automatic Replies" from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: In the Automatic Replies window, check the box next to "Send automatic replies."

Step 5: Choose whether you want to set a specific time range for the out of office reply or leave it on indefinitely.

Step 6: Enter your out of office message in the text box provided. You can customize the message to include information such as the duration of your absence and alternative contacts.

Step 7: Click "OK" to save your settings.

2. Can I set different out of office messages for internal and external contacts in Microsoft Outlook?

Yes, you can set different out of office messages for internal and external contacts in Microsoft Outlook. Here's how:

Step 1: Follow the steps mentioned above to access the Automatic Replies window in Outlook.

Step 2: Check the box next to "Only send during this time range" if you want to set specific hours for the out of office message to be sent.

Step 3: Click on the "Inside My Organization" tab.

Step 4: Enter the message you want to send to internal contacts in the text box provided.

Step 5: Click on the "Outside My Organization" tab.

Step 6: Enter the message you want to send to external contacts in the text box provided.

Step 7: Click "OK" to save your settings.

3. Can I set up the out of office reply in Microsoft Word or Excel?

No, the out of office reply feature is only available in Microsoft Outlook, which is primarily an email client. Microsoft Word and Excel do not have this specific feature.

4. Can I set up the out of office reply on my mobile device?

Yes, you can set up the out of office reply on your mobile device if you have the Microsoft Outlook app installed. Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Outlook app on your mobile device.

Step 2: Tap on the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap on "Settings."

Step 4: Tap on your email account.

Step 5: Tap on "Automatic Replies."

Step 6: Toggle the switch to turn on automatic replies.

Step 7: Enter your out of office message in the text box provided.

Step 8: Tap "Save" to save your settings.

5. How do I turn off the out of office reply in Microsoft Outlook?

To turn off the out of office reply in Microsoft Outlook, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.

Step 2: Click on the "File" tab in the top-left corner of the window.

Step 3: Select "Automatic Replies" from the drop-down menu.

Step 4: In the Automatic Replies window, uncheck the box next to "Send automatic replies."

Step 5: Click "OK" to save your settings.



In this article, we have discussed how to set up an out of office message in Microsoft Office. By following these simple steps, you can easily let your colleagues and contacts know that you are away and when you will be back.

First, you need to open your Microsoft Outlook application and navigate to the File tab. From there, select the Automatic Replies option and choose the duration for which you will be away. Next, you can customize your out of office message, including the start and end date, as well as any additional information you want to include.


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