Email, Messaging, & Video Calls Email How to Set up a Vacation Reply in Windows Live Hotmail by Heinz Tschabitscher Writer A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997. our editorial process Heinz Tschabitscher Updated on July 31, 2019 Tweet Share Email Matt Dutile / Getty Images Email Yahoo! Mail Gmail Don't you like those emails that just disappear? You send them and... well, that's about it. Did the intended recipient ever receive it? Will they reply later or do they not reply intentionally? Have they just forgotten? Behind on email? Or are they on vacation maybe? You don't want to be on either end of such a disappearing email message — and while you cannot deal with incoming emails promptly (because you're traveling, say, or busy with a project that requires deep and prolonged thinking), Windows Live Hotmail can let expecting senders know. Of course, you can tell them when you'll be able to get back to them personally — or when they should re-send their message if they still haven't gotten a reply not automated. Set up a Vacation Reply in Windows Live Hotmail To make Windows Live Hotmail reply to incoming emails in your absence: Select Options | More options... from the Windows Live Hotmail toolbar.Follow the Sending automated vacation replies link under Managing your account.Make sure Send vacation replies to people who email me is selected.Type your desired out-of-office message under Enter the message you'd like to send while you're away:Possibly include approximate info on when you will be able to reply personally.Who to contact in the meantime or an alternative way of reaching you might also be appropriate.In general, keep the message simple. Something like "I'm currently unable to read my mail, sorry! Come February, I'll get back to you. In the meantime, you can..." shall do.The subject Windows Live Hotmail uses for automatic replies is "Vacation reply", by the way.If you frequently get mail from people not yet in your Windows Live Hotmail address book, make sure Only reply to your contacts is not checked.Click Save. Windows Live Hotmail will now reply to all incoming emails (or just those from people already in your address book) — but only once for each four-day period per contact. Turn Off the Windows Live Hotmail Auto-Responder To disable your auto-reply when you return, follow the steps above but make sure Don't send any vacation replies is selected. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up. Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit