Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Turn Vacation Responder On and Off Automatically in Gmail

Posted: 27 Feb 2010 03:56 AM PST

Going on vacation is a a big deal. We look forward to it, plan for it weeks in advance…then rush around our houses at the last minute, knowing we are going to forget something in our final mad-dash. Well, thanks to the folks over at Gmail Labs, setting your Vacation Responder won't be forgotten!

We can now set our vacation responders to respond for a specific date range. This means we do not need to remember to turn on the responder at the last minute…nor do we need to remember to turn it off. To borrow from an over-played American infomercial: Set it and Forget it.

First, click Settings at the top right of your Gmail screen.

Scoll to the bottom of the page. You will see the Vacation Responder settings.

Click the selection bullet next to Vacation Responder On. Don't worry—it won't turn on until the date you tell it to start.

Click the date menu where it says First Day. A calendar will appear. Click the day of your vacation departure.

Put a check next to the box beside End Date. Click the date selection box to choose your vacation return date.

In the message box, write a message that you want your contacts to receive if they try to email you while you are away from the computer. Be sure to include your return date in your message, so your contacts understand how long you plan to be absent from your email.

Gmail also offers the option to send a response only to people in your contact list. If this seems right for you, put a check in the box next to Only send a response to people in my Contacts.

Finally, click the Save Changes button at the very bottom of the screen.

There! Now you can leave for vacation, knowing your email is well tended. Yes, we know you are going to sneak and check it anyway…but no one else has to know since your vacation responder is set!