How to create an Outlook ‘Out of Office’ calendar entry
If you plan to take a few days off, use this guide to create a calendar event to let colleagues know you won’t be around.
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If you plan to take days off from work (or school), in addition toconfiguring automatic email replies, it’s a good idea to update your Outlook calendar to ensure no one tries to drag you into meetings or projects during your time away.
Thisguidewill walk you through creating an out-of-office calendar event to remind people you’ll be taking a few days of vacation using the Outlook desktop app, Outlook.com, the classic Mail app, and even the new Outlook client onWindows 11.
How to create an ‘Out of Office’ calendar event from Outlook app
If you use Outlook 2021, 2019, or 2016 on Windows 11 (or 10), you can quickly create an event to let people in your circle know you won’t be around for several days by creating an out-of-office calendar event.
To create an out-of-office calendar event on the desktop version of Outlook, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, people who have access to the calendar will see you won’t be available for several days.
How to create an ‘Out of Office’ calendar event from Outlook web
It’s also possible to create an out-of-office calendar event when you plan to vacation using Outlook on the web.
To create an out-of-office calendar event on the web, use these steps:
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After completing the steps, those with access to the calendar, whether they use Outlook.com or a supported email client, will see you’re in vacation.
How to create an ‘Out of Office’ calendar event from Mail app
If you use the default Mail & Calendar app on Windows 11 (or 10), you can also create an out-of-office event to let family, friends, or colleagues know you’ll take some days off during the holidays.
Once you complete the steps, your time away schedule will appear to everyone with access to the shared calendar.
How to create an ‘Out of Office’ calendar event from new Outlook app
If you have switched to the new Outlook app for Windows 11, the new experience also includes the ability to create an out-of-office calendar event.
To create a calendar event on the new Outlook app, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, people with access to the calendar will be able to notice you will be out of reach for some time.
More resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:
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Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
