Auto reply in Outlook works the same way across web, desktop, and mobile — the setting lives in the same place. You’ll be done in under two minutes. And if you want an auto responder that keeps working after you’re back from holiday, there’s an AI-drafted upgrade worth knowing about.
How do I set up an auto reply in Outlook on the web?
Click the gear icon (top right) → View all Outlook settings → Mail → Automatic replies → toggle on, set the time range, and write your message. Save.
How is the desktop app different?
Click File → Automatic Replies (Out of Office). You’ll get the same time-range and message settings, plus two extra options: one message for people inside your organization, and a different one for external senders. If you work for a company where those two audiences need different tone, use both.
How do I turn it on from mobile?
Open the Outlook mobile app → your account icon (top left) → the gear icon → Automatic Replies for that account. Same fields. Same behavior.
Can I turn on auto reply for only some people?
Yes. In the desktop client, use rules — a Server Reply Using… rule with a condition like “from a specific person” or “sent only to me” gives you a per-sender or per-list auto reply. Outlook on the web supports this too but the UI is buried under Rules.
What does the built-in Outlook auto reply not do?
Anything specific to the sender. It cannot:
- Answer a question they asked
- Book a meeting into your live calendar
- Reference what you discussed the last time you emailed
- Sound like you actually wrote it
Every recipient gets the same words. For a one-week OOO, that’s fine. For everyday inbox management, it’s the wrong shape of tool.
What does an AI email auto responder like Konnector add?
Konnector reads each incoming email in your Outlook inbox and drafts a specific, personalized reply in your voice — for every message, not just when you’re out. It connects with OAuth in 30 seconds, and your existing rules, folders, and signatures stay where they are. [YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE — the first-week outcome for a typical Outlook user, ideally with time-saved numbers.]
When should I use each?
Use Outlook’s built-in auto reply for a defined absence (holiday, parental leave, focus week). Use an AI auto responder like Konnector for the rest of the year — the emails you’d otherwise take three days to get to.
Try Konnector on your Outlook
14 days free. Sign in with Microsoft, add Konnector, and your first drafts are ready inside your inbox.
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