Going away for a few days, or just need people to know you will reply later? Gmail’s Vacation responder sends an automatic reply when someone emails you. This guide shows how to turn it on, set the dates and message, choose who gets a reply, and turn it off early, with real screenshots from Gmail on the web.
Quick answer
Open Gmail, click the gear icon, then See all settings. On the General tab, scroll to Vacation responder, select Vacation responder on, fill in the dates, subject and message, optionally limit replies to your contacts, then click Save Changes at the bottom. While it is on, an inbox banner lets you click End now to stop it early.
Vacation responder at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Where to set it | Settings (gear) > See all settings > General > Vacation responder |
| What you fill in | First day, optional Last day, Subject, Message |
| Who gets a reply | Everyone by default, or only people in your Contacts (and, on Workspace, optionally only people in your domain) |
| When it runs | From 12:00 AM on the start date through 11:59 PM on the end date |
| Turn off early | Click End now on the inbox banner, or set Vacation responder off and Save Changes |
Step 1: Open all Gmail settings
- Open Gmail on your computer at mail.google.com.
- Click the gear icon at the top right to open Quick settings, then click See all settings.
Step 2: Find Vacation responder
- Stay on the General tab.
- Scroll down to the Vacation responder section near the bottom of the page (above the Save Changes button).
Step 3: Turn it on and write your message
- Select Vacation responder on.
- Choose a First day. Optionally tick Last day and pick when it should stop. Without a last day, it stays on until you turn it off.
- Enter a Subject (for example, “Out of office”) and a short Message explaining when you will be back and who to contact instead, if anyone.
- Optional: check Only send a response to people in my Contacts if you do not want strangers or newsletters to get the auto-reply. On a Google Workspace account you may also see an option limited to people in your domain.
For example, use the subject “Out of office” and message “Thanks for your email. I am away and will reply when I return.” These are sample words, not saved account settings.
Step 4: Save your changes
- Scroll to the bottom of the General settings page and click Save Changes. If you leave without saving, Gmail keeps the old setting.
Step 5: Turn it off early (optional)
- While the responder is active, Gmail shows a banner across the top of your inbox with the subject of your vacation reply.
- Click End now on that banner to stop it immediately, or open settings again, select Vacation responder off, and click Save Changes.
How Gmail sends the auto-reply
- It usually replies only the first time each person emails you during the period.
- The same person can get another reply if they email you again after four days, or if you edit the vacation message (editing resets the cycle).
- Messages in Spam and mail addressed to a mailing list you subscribe to do not get a vacation reply.
- If you use a Gmail signature, it appears under the vacation message.
- Adding a subject line makes the auto-reply arrive as its own email instead of inside the same conversation thread.
Tips
- Keep the message short. Say you are away, when you return, and an alternate contact if you have one.
- Test it. Ask a colleague or a second address of yours to email you after you save, and confirm they get one reply.
- Using Thexyz Webmail? It has a separate vacation / auto-reply setting; see how to set a vacation message in Thexyz Webmail.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Vacation responder in Gmail?
Settings (gear) > See all settings > General tab > scroll to Vacation responder.
Does every email get an auto-reply?
No. Gmail normally sends one reply per person for the period. The same person may get another after four days, or after you edit the message.
Can I send the reply only to my contacts?
Yes. Check Only send a response to people in my Contacts before you save.
How do I turn Vacation responder off early?
Click End now on the inbox banner, or set Vacation responder off in settings and click Save Changes.
Does Vacation responder work in the Gmail app?
Yes. In the Gmail app, open the menu, tap Settings, choose your account, then Vacation responder. Turn it on, fill in the dates and message, then save using the control shown in your app version.
Sources
- Gmail Help: Send an automatic reply when you're out of office — turn Vacation responder on, set dates, subject and message, optionally limit to Contacts, Save Changes; End now on the inbox banner; first-time and four-day rules; spam and mailing lists skipped.
- Gmail settings screenshots captured November 7, 2026, cropped to remove account and mailbox details. The captured Vacation responder setting is Off; the Save Changes button is disabled in the unchanged-settings screenshot. The on-state and active inbox banner are described using Gmail Help, not pictured here.
Last checked November 7, 2026.
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