Free out-of-office generator
Pick why you're out and how you want to sound. Your dates, your backup and the right wording fill in as you type, along with your Slack status, a calendar block and the steps to turn it on.
Automatic reply: Re: Quick question before you go
You
to Sam Rivera · just now
Slack or Teams status
29/100 characters, Slack's limit. Set it to clear on Mon, Oct 19.
Subject line (Gmail)
Gmail's vacation responder asks for one. Outlook writes its own: “Automatic reply: …”.
Block your calendar
Out of office: On vacation
Mon, Oct 12 to Sun, Oct 18 · all day · shows as Out of office
Tell your team lead
Hi! Heads-up: I'll be on vacation from Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16, and back on Monday, October 19. My out-of-office reply is on.
Open Settings (the gear at the top right), then Accounts › Automatic replies.
Turn on the Automatic replies toggle.
Check Send replies only during a time period. Start: Fri, Oct 9, 5:00 PM. End: Mon, Oct 19, 8:00 AM.
Optional: check Block my calendar for this period and Automatically decline new invitations for events that occur during this period.
Paste your message into the box.
Work account? Check Send replies outside your organization, then Send replies only to contacts, and paste the outside version.
Select Save.
You'll paste
Turning it on the evening before and off the morning you're back means it switches itself off. No forgetting.
For team leads
Auto-replies tell the people emailing you. Your team lead finds out who's out from the bounce-backs. Forgot puts everyone's time off, holidays and release dates on one calendar, so a clash shows up while there's still time to plan around it.
Free for 14 days, no card. Then $9 once, no subscription. Not your call? Send it to your team lead.
Copy one as it is, or open it in the generator to fill in your dates and backup. Bracketed bits are yours to fill in.
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm on vacation from [start date] through [end date] and will be back in the office on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Otherwise, I'll respond to your message as soon as possible after I return. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! Thanks for your email. I'm on vacation and (hopefully) somewhere with bad Wi-Fi. I'll be back on [return date] and will reply then. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Thanks, [Your name]
I'm on vacation until [return date], somewhere sunny, pretending email was never invented. If it's urgent, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. If it's not urgent, it will still be not urgent on [return date]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm out for Thanksgiving from [start date] through [end date] and will be back on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Otherwise, I'll respond to your message as soon as possible after I return. Happy Thanksgiving! Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! Thanks for your note. I'm out for Thanksgiving and back on [return date]. I won't be checking email while I'm away. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Happy Thanksgiving! Talk soon, [Your name]
Hi, this is [Your name]'s inbox. [Your name] is out of the office until [return date] and left me in charge, which was a bold choice, because I'm an inbox. For anything urgent, [colleague's name] is an actual human and can help at [their email]. Yours in storage, The inbox
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm out sick on [start date] and expect to be back on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Otherwise, I'll respond to your message as soon as possible after I return. Thank you, [Your name]
Hi, I'm out sick and resting up so I can get back to you properly. I'll reply when I'm back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Thanks for understanding, [Your name]
I'm out sick. My immune system is in a meeting with a virus, and it's running long. I expect to be back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] is healthy and can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm currently on undefined leave and will return on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. I look forward to reconnecting when I'm back. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! I'm on undefined leave, getting to know the newest member of our family. I'll be back on [return date]. I won't be checking email while I'm away. While I'm out, [colleague's name] is covering for me and can help at [their email]. Thanks for understanding, [Your name]
I'm on undefined leave, reporting to a new boss who is very small, very loud and doesn't believe in sleep. I'll be back on [return date]. Until then, [colleague's name] is covering for me at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm traveling for work from [start date] through [end date]. I will have limited access to email during this time. I'll reply as soon as I can, and no later than [return date]. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! I'm on the road for work until [return date], so my replies will come between flights and meetings. I'll be checking email now and then, so my reply may be slow. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Thanks, [Your name]
I'm traveling for work, which means I'm in the air, in a taxi, or in a hotel lobby asking for the Wi-Fi password. I'll reply when I'm back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm attending a conference from [start date] through [end date]. I will have limited access to email during this time. I'll respond when I'm back in the office on [return date]. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! I'm at a conference, soaking up new ideas (and free coffee). I'll be back on [return date] and will reply then. I'll be checking email now and then, so my reply may be slow. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Thanks, [Your name]
I'm at a conference, collecting lanyards, tote bags and, occasionally, knowledge. I'll be back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm attending a training course from [start date] through [end date]. I will not have access to email during this time. I'll reply when I'm back on [return date]. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Best regards, [Your name]
Hello! I'm in training right now, so your email will have to wait a little. I'll be back on [return date] and will get back to you then. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Thanks for your patience, [Your name]
I'm in training until [return date], getting even better at my job. My inbox, sadly, did not sign up for the course. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm out of the office on [start date] and will be back on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Otherwise, I'll respond to your message as soon as possible after I return. Best regards, [Your name]
I'm taking a personal day. That's all I'll say, which is exactly what makes it personal. Back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm on medical leave and will return on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Thank you for your patience while I'm away. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi, I'm on medical leave and focusing on getting better. I'll be back on [return date] and will reply then. While I'm out, [colleague's name] is covering for me and can help at [their email]. Thank you, [Your name]
I'm on leave until [return date], without email. Urgent? Contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm out of the office due to a death in the family and will return on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Thank you for your understanding. [Your name]
Hi, I'm away from work after a loss in my family, and I'll be back on [return date]. I won't be checking email until then. While I'm out, [colleague's name] is covering for me and can help at [their email]. Thank you for your patience, [Your name]
I'm out of the office until [return date]. Urgent? Contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm on jury duty from [start date] through [end date] and expect to be back on [return date]. Court schedules can change, so I may return a little earlier or later. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! I've been called for jury duty, so I'm out of the office and away from my phone for most of the day. I expect to be back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Thanks, [Your name]
I've been summoned for jury duty. I'll be back on [return date], or whenever my fellow jurors and I reach a verdict, whichever comes later. In the meantime, the court recognizes [colleague's name], who can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm out of the office for my wedding and honeymoon and will return on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. Otherwise, I'll respond to your message as soon as possible after I return. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! I'm out of the office getting married! I'll be back on [return date] with a new ring and a lot of thank-you notes to write. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Thanks, [Your name]
I'm off getting married and then honeymooning, which I'm told takes priority over email. I'll be back on [return date]. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] has agreed to love, honor and answer my email at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. My last day at the company was [last day], and this inbox is no longer monitored. For anything I used to handle, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. It's been a pleasure working with you. Best regards, [Your name]
Hi! I've moved on to a new adventure, and [last day] was my last day here. I won't be checking this inbox anymore. [colleague's name] is taking over my work and would be happy to help at [their email]. Thank you for everything. It was great working with you! [Your name]
I've left the building. And the company. [last day] was my last day, so this inbox is now a museum. For anything current, [colleague's name] is the curator: [their email]. [Your name]
Hello, Thank you for your email. I retired on [last day], and this mailbox is no longer monitored. [colleague's name] has taken over my responsibilities and can help at [their email]. It has been a privilege to work with you, and I wish you all the best. Warm regards, [Your name]
Hi! After many wonderful years, I've retired. I'm not checking this inbox anymore (that's sort of the point). Please reach out to [colleague's name] at [their email] for anything you need. Thank you for being part of the journey! [Your name]
I've retired. My new schedule is golf, naps and not reading this. [colleague's name] would love to help you instead, at [their email]. [Your name]
The day you're back
A date, not "next week". People plan around it. Some give the day after they're really back, to get a quiet day to catch up.
Who to ask instead
A name and an email, so urgent things don't wait. Ask them first, and tell them when you're back.
Whether you'll see email
"No access" or "checking now and then" sets the right expectations, and stops people waiting on a reply you won't send.
Nothing that's not their business
Auto-replies go to everyone, spammers included. Leave out your phone number, where you're going and why you're out, if it's private.
Three things: that you're away, the day you're back, and who to contact if it can't wait. Add whether you'll see email if that helps people decide. Keep the rest out: auto-replies go to everyone who writes, including strangers.
In new Outlook and Outlook on the web, open Settings (the gear), then Accounts › Automatic replies, turn it on, set the dates and paste your message. In classic Outlook it's File › Automatic Replies. The steps for every version are on our Outlook page.
Gmail calls it the vacation responder. Click the gear › See all settings, stay on the General tab, scroll to Vacation responder, turn it on, set the first and last day, add a subject and your message, then Save Changes.
For a vacation or a holiday, it's friendly and harmless. For anything private, like a sick day or medical leave, "I'm out of the office" is enough. The generator's "Outside" version leaves private reasons out for you.
Outlook and Teams let you send people outside your company a different reply. It's a good place for a more formal message without internal names or private reasons. Toggle the preview to "Outside" to get one.
The evening before your first day out, with an end time on the morning you're back, so it switches itself off. The steps under the generator fill in those times for you.
No. Everything happens in your browser. Your name and backup are remembered on this device so next time is quicker, and nothing is sent to us.