Table of Contents
![](https://www.compsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/How-to-set-up-an-out-of-office-message-in.jpg)
Learn how to set up an automated out of office reply on your Mac using Mail. Even if you don’t have a company email account, you can still let people know when you’re away from your desk or on vacation to avoid missing important emails or conversations.
Setting up an auto-reply might seem complicated, but it’s actually a simple process. Follow these steps to get started:
- Open Mail and select Mail > Preferences from the menu bar.
- Select Rules from the toolbar.
- Click the Add Rule button on the screen.
- Create a name for your rule in the Description field, such as “Auto-answer”.
- Select who the rule applies to, such as all senders or specific groups of people.
- In the “If any of the following conditions are met” field, change “From” to “On”.
- Leave “contains” as is and add your email address to the blank field on the right.
- Under “Perform the following actions”, click “Move message” and select “Reply to message” from the dropdown menu.
- Add your out-of-office message to the pop-up window that appears after clicking “Reply Message Text”.
- Click “OK” to save your changes.
- Test your auto-reply by sending an email to your own account.
- When you return, remember to turn off your auto-reply rule by going back to Mail > Preferences > Rules and unchecking the auto-reply rule you created earlier.
Now, you’re all set to have your Mac send automated out-of-the-office replies while you’re away.
If you’re interested, you can also learn how to set up email on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad and how to send email attachments using Mail on an iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up an auto-reply for my iCloud email address?
No, at the moment, there are no preferences in Mail that let you set up an automated reply for your iCloud email address.
How do I turn off the auto-reply rule when I return to work?
To turn off your auto-reply rule, go back to Mail > Preferences > Rules and uncheck the auto-reply rule you created earlier.