Gmail’s vacation responder sends an automatic absence message during the dates you select. Set both the dates and the content deliberately: an open-ended response can continue after you return, and a detailed absence notice can disclose more than correspondents need.
Set the period and message
- In computer Gmail, open the full settings and find Vacation responder under General.
- Turn the responder on.
- Choose the start date and, when you want an automatic stop, the end date.
- Enter a clear subject and concise message.
- Review any recipient restriction offered, then save changes.
Google says the responder starts at 12:00 AM on its start date and ends at 11:59 PM on its end date, unless stopped earlier. Review the dates you actually saved rather than treating the end date as the morning you return.
Check the active state and stop it when needed
When the responder is on, Gmail displays a banner across the inbox. Use End now to stop it early, or return to settings to review its configuration.
If replies appear to continue after your return, inspect the account that sent them and its saved responder state. Another signed-in mailbox or a separate filter-based automatic reply may have a different setting. Turning off the vacation responder does not establish that every other automatic-response system is disabled.
Keep the notice useful and restrained
Give a realistic return date or an approved alternative contact where appropriate. Avoid unnecessary travel locations, private telephone numbers, or commitments that a colleague has not agreed to handle. Google notes that an existing signature appears below the vacation reply, so inspect the combined content.
In the mobile apps, use the account’s vacation responder setting rather than looking for the computer’s General tab. After saving, verify the dates and active state again. When testing delivery, remember that Gmail does not normally send another vacation reply for every message from the same sender; repeated-test limits are a separate issue from whether the responder is on.
Browse Gmail & Google Account help
References
- Send an automatic reply when you're out of office
- Send an automatic reply when you're out of office
- Send an automatic reply when you're out of office
Reviewed against the linked official and developer guidance on October 27, 2026. Available options and screen labels can vary by account, device, region, and organization policy.