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How to set “out of office” in the Outlook app?

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Microsoft Outlook is one of the oldest email client software that started shipping with Windows in the Office 97 bundle. Since then the email client has come a long way in both functionality, application and cross-platform availability. Currently, Outlook can run not only on Windows but also Mac, Android and iOS as well as can be accessed online. If you keep busy all day and don't have long to reply to every email, it makes sense to automate some of the tasks in your workflow that are bound to remain the same and feel like a repetition every time you've to perform them. One such thing in emails is your signature that goes at the end of your email and will remain the same in most cases.  Similar to several other services, Outlook comes with a default signature setup, which is something generic that you're unlikely to include in your emails as signing off with style is important. In this article, we're going to walk you through changing your signature in Outlook on the PC as well as mobile app. How to change signature in Outlook on PC? Open the Outlook app on PC and follow the steps below. These might also work on Outlook live. Step 1: Click on the File option at the top-left of the app window.Step 2: Click on Options from the left-sidebar menu.Step 3: A dialogue box will pop-up on the screen .Click on Mail from the left-sidebar menu and then click on the Signatures... button beside Create or modify signatures for messages under Compose messages sub-heading. Step 4: Either click on the New button to create a new signature for your emails or select and edit an existing one. Then type the new or modified signature in the Edit signature text box below. Click on the OK button to save the changes. Make sure to choose the correct email account for the respective signature if you have more than one email address configured on your Outlook app.  Also read: 7 tips and tricks that will make your Edge (Chromium) experience better How to change signature in Outlook on the mobile app? Launch the Outlook app on your smartphone and follow the steps mentioned below.  Tap on the three horizontal bar (hamburger) menu icon at the top-left of the display. Then tap on the Settings (gear) icon at the bottom-left on the next page. Then tap on Signature under Mail sub-heading with the default app signature below. On the next page, edit the Signature and then tap on the tick-mark icon at the top-right of the display. The new signature will be saved, and you'll see the change reflected under the Signature option. The same steps should also work on Outlook for iOS. Let us know in the comments below if they don't. Also read: How to setup a Gmail account?

When it comes to maintaining a work-life balance, Microsoft Outlook’s “Out of Office” status can be a lifesaver. Whether you’re heading out on vacation, attending a conference, or simply need some focused time away from your inbox, this feature allows you to communicate your unavailability to your colleagues and clients effectively.

In this article, we have discussed how to set out of the office in the Outlook desktop app and in Outlook mobile app.

Set “out of office” in Outlook through Automatic replies on the desktop app

If you want to set Out of Office through automatic replies on your desktop Outlook app then follow the steps below.

Step 1: Open the Outlook app on your desktop and click on the File tab in the toolbar ribbon.

Step 2: Click on the Automatic Replies icon.

Step 3: In the Automatic Replies window, click on the Send automatic replies option to enable automatic replies.

Step 4: If you want to set a time range for the automatic replies then check mark the box beside the Only send during this time range and set the time and date as you desire. Type the message that you want to send as a reply, you can mention the time you will stay on vacation or out of the office, the reason to be out of the office and other information that you want to convey to people sending you an email.

Also read: How to move the Outlook toolbar from side to bottom?

Set “out of office” in Outlook through Automatic replies on the mobile app

If you want to set Out of Office through automatic replies on your Outlook mobile app then follow the steps below.

  • Open the Outlook app on your phone and tap on the Home icon at the top left corner of the screen.
  • Tap on the Settings (Gear) icon at the bottom left corner of the screen.
  • In settings, Under the Email accounts section tap on the Outlook email.
  • Under Account settings, tap on the Automatic replies option.
  • Turn the toggle on beside the Automatic replies.
  • Checkmark the box beside the reply during a time period to set a time range then set the date and time to send the automatic replies, you can also checkmark the box beside the Block my calendar, which will create an event in your calendar for the time range you have set above. Lastly, type in the message that you want to send as a reply and then tap on the Save (tick mark) button at the top right corner of the screen.

Also read: How to delay sending an email on Outlook?

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Akash Singh

Akash is a law graduate who likes to go for bike rides on the weekends soul-searching for answers to his many existential questions. You can contact him here: [email protected]

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