Set an auto-reply or out-of-office

The prompt

There are two ways to handle replies while you’re busy: OOO mode (your provider’s own responder, date-bounded, replies to everyone) and a rule that drafts the answer to one kind of email for you to approve.

OOO mode (date-bounded)

The classic vacation responder. Give alfred_ start, end, and the message body.

“Set an automatic reply on my email from now until May 8. ‘I am traveling until May 8 and will have limited ability to check emails. For parts and service, please reach out to Donnie Boyd at dboyd@iconicmachinery.com. For Sales, please reach out to Tim Cantu at tcantu@iconicmachinery.com.’”

alfred_ sets it up directly in your provider (Gmail or Outlook). To turn off:

• “Turn off my OOO”
• “End my auto-reply”
• “Cancel the vacation responder”

A rule that drafts the answer

For inboxes that get the same question over and over, write a rule that drafts the reply when a matching email arrives:

“When someone asks for our opening times, draft a reply saying we open at 8am and close at 6pm every day.”

The draft waits for your OK, like every reply alfred_ writes. The rule stays on until you turn it off. An email rule can forward, file or text you on its own; it never sends a reply by itself.

Multi-account

If you have multiple email accounts connected, be specific:

• “Set OOO on my work account only”
• “Auto-reply on my @get-alfred.ai account”

What alfred_ won’t do

• Won’t set OOO retroactively: it kicks in from when you set it forward
• Won’t reply to every single email if you don’t want that: use a rule that drafts the answer instead
• Won’t send a rule’s reply on its own: the draft waits for your approval
• Won’t bypass your provider’s spam filters: emails in spam never trigger the out-of-office reply

Related

• Create an inbox rule
• Forward an email with added context

Variations

Best for

Trips, vacations and parental leave, plus a ready answer for the question a support inbox gets every day.