How to set your out of office message

Set-up your email account to automatically reply to emails while you are away from the office.

Exchange users

Follow the steps below to set your out of office message through Outlook Web Access


We recommend that faculty and staff use the Outlook Web App (opens a new window) to set their vacation / out of office message as it allows them to easily change automatic replies from home or the office.

  1. Log into the Outlook Web Access (opens a new window)
  2. Click on Options (top right corner), and select Set Automatic Replies... from the drop-down menu.

    Outlook web access - choose options

  3. In the Automatic Replies window, select Send automatic replies. (See image below- higlighted in red)
  4. You can place a check mark next to Send replies only during this time period in order to enter a Start time and End time for your automatic replies.
  5. Enter your vacation/out of office message in the first message box.
  6. If you would like senders from outside uOttawa to receive your vacation/out of office message, place a check mark next to Send automatic reply messages to senders outside my organization.

    Outlook Web Access Set Automatic Replies

  7. Select Send replies to all external senders, copy your vacation/out of office message from the first message box, and paste it in the second message box. (See image above text highlighted in red)
  8. Click on Save (bottom right corner).

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