There is no Auto Reply on my Outlook.

Hi Cat,

Thanks for reaching out. I get how frustrating it is when a feature like Auto Reply isn’t showing in Outlook. You’re not alone this happens often, and there’s a clear reason for it.

First, the Auto Reply (Out of Office) feature is only available for accounts connected to Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft 365. Since your accounts are IMAP and Yahoo, Outlook doesn’t show that option because those account types don’t support server-side auto replies.

Second, the best workaround within Outlook is to create a rule. You can do this by going to File > Manage Rules & Alerts, then setting a rule to reply using a specific template. This will mimic auto-reply functionality, but keep in mind Outlook must remain open for the rule to work.

Third, another option is to set up auto-replies directly in your email provider’s web settings. For example, Gmail and Yahoo have vacation responder features that work even when Outlook is closed.

Last, if having the built-in Auto Reply feature is essential, consider using an Exchange-based account or Microsoft 365 subscription, as these accounts fully support the feature.

I hope you find this information helpful. Please let me know if you have any further questions If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer".

Regards,

Carlo