Request Responses

Question

Hi everyone,

I have a question about Outlook meeting settings. Whenever I create a new meeting, the “Request Responses” option is automatically enabled. I have to manually switch it off every single time, which is inconvenient—especially when sending informational meetings or large distribution invites where responses are not needed.

My question: Is there a way to set “Request Responses” to be disabled by default for all new meetings in Outlook (desktop or web)?

I couldn't find any setting for this in Outlook options. If this is currently not supported, are there any reliable workarounds (e.g., custom forms) that actually work with Microsoft 365/Outlook modern versions?

Thanks in advance for your help!

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Moved from Microsoft 365 and Office | Other

Answer 1

Hi Nuray,

It seems like this is by design and there is no option to turn the option off globally I am afraid:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Outlook/comments/wfr0u9/unable_to_turn_off_responses_required_for_a/

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/1109368/how-do-i-turn-off-or-disable-the-default-request-r

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Answer 2

I wish I had a better answer for you :( Have a great day!

Answer 3

Outlook does not provide any setting (in either the desktop client or Outlook on the web) to make “Request Responses” disabled by default for all new meetings.

Available controls are limited to how responses are processed and displayed after they are sent, not whether responses are requested by default:

• In Outlook desktop, under File > Options > Mail > Tracking, it is possible to:
  • Automatically process meeting requests and responses so they do not clutter the Inbox.
  • Update tracking information and then delete responses that do not contain comments.
• In Outlook on the web, under Settings > Calendar > Events and invitations, it is possible to:
  • Control how invitations, responses, and notifications are handled (for example, deleting updated invitations and responses automatically).

These options help reduce or hide response messages but do not change the default state of “Request Responses” when creating a meeting.

The context provided does not document any supported method (including admin or policy-based configuration) to globally default “Request Responses” to off, nor any supported workaround such as custom forms that reliably changes this behavior in Microsoft 365/modern Outlook.

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References:

• Change how Outlook processes read receipts and meeting responses
• Calendar settings in Outlook on the web
• Scheduling meetings with hundreds of attendees
• Update adds a Group Policy to disable the Do Not Send a Response option in Outlook 2013 or hide it in Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019 and Outlook for Office 365
• New Outlook tips for executive admins and delegates