How to set up an automatic reply on gmail

Gmail provides the option to autorespond to messages received while you are away. Setting an autoresponder can be useful when you are out of the office. Many small businesses don't have the budgets for support staff to redirect emails, so having a way to let your customers know you are unavailable improves your customer relations. An autoresponder doesn't take much time to set up and can be completed online, even if you use a desktop email client. The emails route through Gmail's online system, so any preferences you set online affect how your desktop email client accepts mail.

1. 1.

   Log in to your online account through Gmail's official website. Enter your username and password to log in to the online email account.

2. 2.

   Click the "Gear" icon in the top right corner of the email interface. Then, click the "Settings" option from the drop-down menu that appears.

3. 3.

   Click the "Vacation Responder On" radio button option located under the "General" tab.

4. 4.

   Select the options for who will receive an automatic message. You can check a box for "Only Send a Response to People in My Contacts" or "Only Send a Response to People in Your Domain." If you don't check either option, all users will receive the message.

5. 5.

   Write your autoresponder text in the "Message" area located in the autoresponder section. Write in a subject in the "Subject" area.

6. 6.

   Enter the begin date in the "First Day" box and then click the checkbox next to the "Ends" option and enter an ending date. If you don't want the autoresponder to end, leave that checkbox unchecked.

   When you're on vacation, traveling, or won't have regular access to email, sending an automated message to anyone trying to contact you can be a helpful tool. 

   On Gmail, this tool is called vacation responder. You can set up this automated message on the Gmail desktop website or mobile app, and even share your out-of-office status with others. Here's how to do it all. 

   When your out-of-office reply is sent

   When you set up vacation responder, Gmail will start sending the auto-reply at 12AM on the start date and stop sending the auto-reply at 11:59PM on the end date, unless you decide to manually end it earlier.

   When someone sends you an email when vacation responder is on, Gmail will typically only send your automatic reply message once. They may see your vacation response more than once if they email you again after four days, or if you edit your vacation response and they email you again.

   Messages that get sent to your spam folder and messages that are sent to a mailing list that you subscribe to will not get your vacation response.

   How to set up Gmail out-of-office message on desktop

   1. Go to Gmail. Log in to your account, if necessary.

   2. Click the gear-shaped Settings icon at the top-right of the screen, then click See all settings.

   The settings icon looks like a gear.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

   3. Scroll down to the vacation responder section. Click the circle next to Vacation responder on.

   4. Set the start and end date by clicking on the respective boxes and selecting a date from the drop-down calendar. Fill out the message section with the information you want to convey.

   5. If you only want your contacts to receive your vacation response, click the box next to Only send a response to people in my Contacts.

   6. When you're finished, click Save Changes.

   Make sure to click "Save Changes" to turn on your vacation responder.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

   How to set up Gmail out-of-office message on mobile

   1. Open the Gmail app.

   2. Tap the icon of three horizontal lines at the top-left of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings.

   Scroll past your Gmail folders to find the Settings icon.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

   3. Tap on your email address, then tap Vacation responder on the next screen.

   You'll find "Vacation responder" under the General section.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

   4. Tap the slider to turn on vacation responder. 

   5. Set the start and end date, and edit the subject line and message.

   6. If you only want your contacts to receive your vacation response, tap the slider next to Send only to my Contacts.

   7. When you're finished, tap Save.

   You can set and edit vacation responder in the Gmail app, just like on desktop.Abigail Abesamis Demarest

   How to find and share your Gmail out-of-office status

   Finding and sharing your Gmail out-of-office status is the same on the desktop website and Gmail mobile app.

   To share your out-of-office status with coworkers, you'll need to share your Google calendar and create an out-of-office event. The out-of-office event needs to span an entire day or at least extend past your working hours.

   If someone you're emailing is out of the office, Gmail will show you their out-of-office status when you're composing an email to them. This will not stop you from being able to send an email. Only people with permission to view your out-of-office event will be shown your out-of-office status.

   Abigail Abesamis Demarest

   Abigail Abesamis Demarest is a contributing writer for Insider based in New York. She loves a good glazed donut and nerdy deep dives into the science of food and how it's made. 

   How do I set up an automatic email reply?

   Try it!.

   Select File > Automatic Replies. ... .

   Select Send automatic replies..

   If you don't want the messages to go out right away, select Only send during this time range..

   Choose the dates and times you'd like to set your automatic reply for..

   Type in a message. ... .

   Select OK..

   How do I set up an automatic reply in Gmail app?

   Turn your vacation reply on or off.

   On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app ..

   In the top left, tap Menu ..

   Scroll to the bottom, then tap Settings..

   Choose your account..

   Tap Vacation responder..

   At the top, turn the "Vacation responder" switch On ..

   Fill in the date range, subject, and message..

   Tap Done..