Apple's native Mail app for macOS does not offer an automatic reply or out-of-office option for standard email accounts. However, if you use an iCloud email address, you can set up automatic replies via the iCloud website. Keep reading to learn how it works.
Surprisingly, Apple's Mail app still doesn't feature an auto-reply option. The only exception to this state of affairs is if you have an Exchange or Office 365 account, in which case you should be able to find the option in Mail Settings ➝ Accounts, under the "Account Information" section.
For anyone who sends and receives emails from a standard iCloud account, there's another solution that exists on the iCloud website. These simple steps guide you through the process of setting up auto-replies for the holidays or whenever you're out of the office.
- Open a browser and navigate to icloud.com.
- Log in using your iCloud credentials, then click the Mail icon.
- Click the cog icon at the top of the Mailboxes side column, then click Settings.
- Select Auto-Reply (the airplane icon).
- Check the box beside "Automatically reply to messages when they are received."
- Enter the dates/times that you want auto-replies to start and end.
- Compose your auto-reply response in the Message input field.
- Click the X in the top-left corner of the panel to finish.
Obviously, this solution will only be useful to Apple users who use an iCloud email address. Other account holders looking for an out-of-office solution are better off using the web mail interface provided by their account service or an email client app for Mac such as Mozilla Thunderbird.
