How to Turn on Automatic Email Replies on Gmail

This guide explains how to turn on Automatic Email Replies on Gmail, with clear steps, practical tips, and important checks before you begin.

The automatic email answering feature will start at 12:00 pm on the start date and end at 11:59 pm on the ending date.

In most cases, an automated reply is only sent the first time someone sends you a message.

How to turn on the automatic email reply feature on the computer

Step 1: Open Gmail on the computer.

Step 2: Click the Settings icon in the top right corner, then select See all settings.

Step 3: On the Settings page, select the General tab.

Step 4: Scroll down to Vacation responder, and select the Vacation responder on option.

Step 5: Enter the date you start your vacation and return date, subject, and email content.

Step 6: Click the Save changes button at the bottom of the page.

Note: If you have a Gmail signature, the signature will display at the bottom of the auto responder email.

How to turn off the automatic email reply feature on the computer

After turning on automatic email replies, you'll see a banner appear at the top of your inbox.

After the vacation ends, turn it off by clicking the End now button on this banner.

How to enable / disable automatic email reply feature on Android and iPhone smartphones

Step 1: Open the Gmail app on an Android smartphone / tablet or iPhone.

Step 2: Click the menu button in the top left corner.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom, then select Settings.

Step 4: Select the account you want to set up automatic email answering.

Step 5: Select Vacation responder.

Step 6: Turn off the Vacation responder switch

Step 7: Enter the start date, end date, subject, and body of the message, and then click the Save button.

To turn off the automatic reply feature, do the same thing, but in Step 6 you need to turn off the Vacation responder switch instead of turning it on.