How-To

Enable Automatic Replies with Office Assistant in Outlook 2010 and 2013

By Phillip Krause

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The Out of Office feature in Outlook, also called “Vacation Mode” is one of the best methods to alert people that you are not at work.

Enabling the Automatic Replies (Out of Office) feature in Microsoft Outlook 2010 and 2013®, also called Vacation Mode is one of the best methods to alert co-workers or customers that you are away from the Office (vacationing in the Swiss Alps, a weekend in Paris etc..) And, you will not be available to check email regularly, or if you’re like me, not at all! Turning on the Out of Office feature is very simple both from the Microsoft Outlook Desktop Client (outlook 2000/2003/2007/2010 & 2013 ) and remotely using the Outlook 2013 Web Access client.

Enable Automatic Replies with Out of Office Assistant in Outlook 2010 and 2013

Create, edit, and turn off out-of-office messages, set a time range for them to run, and set different messages for different groups.

1. Open Outlook, Click File to change the Outlook view to Account Information (Info)

Outlook 2013 Toolbar

2. Click Automatic Replies

3. Click Radio Button Send automatic replies

Next, check the box Only send during this time range to create the Start Time and End Time and Dates for your automatic replies.

Next, simply Type the Text you wish to be sent to the people who send you an email (note my example text below) And, if you want to send a modified Out of Office message to people outside your company then click  Outside My Organization tab and then, Copy and Paste or Type the preferred email Text that will be sent to everyone else and Click OK

Your Out of Office Auto-Reply will now respond to anyone who sends you an email.

And, so you don’t forget that your Auto reply feature is enabled, the text Automatic Replies will be displayed on the top left corner of your Outlook client as a reminder that your Out of Office Assistant is enabled and working.

If you’re still running the 2007 version, read our article on how to enable Out of Office Assistant in Outlook 2007.