To set out of office in Outlook mobile, open the Outlook app on your iOS or Android device and tap your profile icon, usually in the top-left corner. Then tap the Settings gear icon at the bottom left, select the email account you want to configure, and tap "Automatic Replies" to toggle the feature on.
How to set out of office in Outlook mobile
- Open the Outlook app on your mobile device.
- Tap the menu icon to access settings. This may be in the top-left or top-right corner, depending on the app version.
- Tap the Settings gear icon (usually at the bottom left).
- If you have multiple email accounts linked, you must choose the specific account to tailor the message to the correct email address.
- Tap "Automatic Replies" and toggle the switch to "On" to enable the feature. The 'Automatic Replies' option may be located under 'Mail' or 'Calendar' settings, depending on the app version and device type.
Scheduling your out of office duration
After enabling automatic replies, you can control when the message is active. You can customize the duration for a full-day absence, a specific range of dates, or a recurring schedule. Toggle "Reply during a time period" or "Send replies only during a time period" to on, then set your start and end dates and times. If you do not set a time period, the automatic reply will remain active until you manually turn it off.
Customizing replies for internal and external senders
Outlook Mobile allows you to write separate messages for people inside your organization and external senders. You can modify the tone and language of your message to align with the context of your absence. You can choose to "Reply to everyone" or "Reply only to my organization." This is useful when you want to share more detail with colleagues while providing a general notice to clients or partners. To avoid interruptions during your time away, consider enabling Do Not Disturb and silent mode on your device so you are not distracted by incoming notifications.
Integrating with your calendar
You can automatically update your schedule during your absence. Turn on "Block my calendar" and specify a name for the event to create an entry that shows you as out of office. You can also clear meetings by selecting "Clear my calendar" and choosing which meetings to cancel or decline.
Managing and turning off your out of office status
To manually deactivate the reply, return to the Automatic Replies settings and toggle the switch to "Off." You can also make real-time adjustments to the message or dates at any time. You can update alternative contact information in real-time if your plans change. Note a known issue under investigation: Out of Office replies for an on-premises Exchange mailbox may not work when enabled from Outlook Mobile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I schedule out of office replies in advance using Outlook mobile?
Yes. When setting up automatic replies, you can specify the start and end dates and times. The reply will activate and deactivate automatically according to that schedule.
Can I set different out of office messages for internal and external contacts?
Yes. Outlook Mobile allows you to create separate messages for people inside your organization and external senders, and you can choose whether to reply to everyone or only to your organization.
Can I customize the out of office message based on the recipient's domain?
Yes. You can craft specific responses for different domains, ensuring your out of office messages are relevant to each recipient group.
Does Outlook mobile provide insights into interactions during the out of office period?
Yes. You can view the number of automatic replies sent, which recipients received the messages, and other relevant statistics to understand engagement during your absence.
Which account types support out of office in Outlook mobile?
The feature supports Microsoft 365, Exchange, Exchange (Hybrid), and Outlook.com accounts. On-premises Exchange mailboxes have a known issue where out of office may not work from the mobile app.
Related reading: How To Send High Priority Email In Outlook Mobile App Android and How To Sign Out Of Outlook Mobile App.
