Are you going on vacation or taking a break from work? Setting up an out of office message in Outlook is a great way to let your colleagues and clients know that you will not be available. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to set up an out of office message in Outlook.
Step 1: Open Outlook
The first step is to open Outlook on your computer. Once it is open, click on the “File” tab in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 2: Click on “Automatic Replies”
In the “Info” section, click on “Automatic Replies”. This will open a new window where you can set up your out of office message.
Step 3: Select “Send automatic replies”
In the “Automatic Replies” window, select the option “Send automatic replies”. This will enable the out of office message.
Step 4: Set the time period
Next, choose the dates and times for when you will be out of the office. You can select a specific time period or choose “Send replies only during this time period” and set the start and end dates.
Step 5: Write your out of office message
Now it’s time to write your out of office message. In the “Inside My Organization” tab, you can create a message that will be sent to your colleagues within your organization. In the “Outside My Organization” tab, you can create a message that will be sent to people outside of your organization.
Step 6: Optional settings
There are some optional settings that you can choose to customize your out of office message. You can choose to only send the message to people in your contacts list, or you can set different messages for people inside and outside of your organization.
Step 7: Save your changes
Once you have finished writing your out of office message and have selected your desired settings, click on “OK” to save your changes.
Step 8: Turn off automatic replies
When you return to work, you will need to turn off the automatic replies. Simply go back to the “Automatic Replies” window and select the option “Do not send automatic replies”.
Tips for setting up an effective out of office message
- Keep it short and simple: Your out of office message should be brief and to the point. Include the dates you will be out of the office and when you will return.
- Provide an alternative contact: If there is someone who can handle your work while you are away, include their contact information in your out of office message.
- Be professional: Even though you are out of the office, your out of office message should still maintain a professional tone.
- Test it out: Before you leave, send a test email to make sure your out of office message is working correctly.
Now that you know how to set up an out of office message in Outlook, you can enjoy your time away from work without worrying about missing important emails. Happy vacationing!
