---
title: "Creating automatic replies in OWA"
description: "Find out how to set up automatic replies in OWA"
url: https://docs.ovhcloud.com/en/guides/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/using-the-outlook-web-app-webmail/owa-automatic-replies
lang: en
lastUpdated: 2026-06-08
---
# Creating automatic replies in OWA

## Objective

This Exchange feature allows you to set up automatic responses to emails sent to your account for various use cases, for example out-of-office messages.

**Find out how to enable automatic replies using the Outlook Web App (OWA).**

## Requirements

- an [OVHcloud Exchange solution](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/emails/hosted-exchange/) or [OVHcloud Email Pro](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/emails/email-pro/) already set up


- access to your email account (email address and password)

## Instructions

:::warning

If your email address is linked to an **MX Plan** solution (included with [web hosting plans](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/web-hosting/) and [free hosting plans](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/domains/free-web-hosting/)), your Control Panel will contain a section called <code className="action">Manage auto-replies</code>. You will then need to create an automatic response via the OVHcloud Control Panel. You can do this using the documentation ["MX Plan - Create an automatic response via an email address"](/en/guides/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/mx-plan/feature-auto-responses.md).


:::

### Activating the feature

Log in to your Exchange account via the [OVHcloud webmail](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/mail/)
. Click on the gear symbol on the top right to unfold the "Options" menu and select `Automatic replies
`.
![owaoptions](/images/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/using-the-outlook-web-app-webmail/owa-automatic-replies/exchange-autorep-step1.png)
In this interface, simply activate the feature by selecting `Send automatic replies
`. You can set an exact time period in the fields below or enable it indefinitely.
:::info
If you do not specify a start and end time, you will need to disable automatic reply manually.
:::

Compose your message in the editor box and confirm with the `Save
` button on the top left.
![owaautoreply](/images/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/using-the-outlook-web-app-webmail/owa-automatic-replies/exchange-autorep-step2.png)
### Response types

The instructions above apply to emails sent by users on your Exchange service. You can prepare a separate message for everyone else if you check the box called "Send automatic reply messages to senders outside my organisation". You will then have two more options for automatic replies:

- **"Send replies only to senders in my contact list"**: Only your contacts will receive a message.

- **"Send automatic replies to all external senders"**: Everyone sending emails to you during your absence will receive a message.

An alternative message for external senders can be entered into the second editor box. A typical use case would be to respond with the first message to your co-workers and with the second one to friends, clients or anyone else who may contact you.

![owaaddreply](/images/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/using-the-outlook-web-app-webmail/owa-automatic-replies/exchange-autorep-step3.png)
### Additional information

- With automatic replies enabled, you will receive emails as usual in your inbox.

- To avoid spamming and email loops, each sender will receive only one automatic reply.

## Go further

[Using the Outlook Web App with an Exchange account](/en/guides/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/using-the-outlook-web-app-webmail/email-owa.md)

[Delegating permissions on an Exchange account](/en/guides/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/microsoft-exchange/permissions-delegation.md)

[Sharing calendars in OWA](/en/guides/web-cloud/email-and-collaborative-solutions/using-the-outlook-web-app-webmail/owa-calendar-sharing.md)

For specialised services (SEO, development, etc.), contact [OVHcloud partners](https://partner.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/directory/).

If you would like assistance using and configuring your OVHcloud solutions, please refer to our [support offers](https://www.ovhcloud.com/en-gb/support-levels/).

Join our [community of users](https://community.ovhcloud.com/community/en).