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How to Set an Automatic Reply for a Mail-Enabled Security Group in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user wants to configure an automatic reply message for a mail-enabled security group in Microsoft 365.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Setting up auto-responders for emails sent to a specific security group.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs the steps to set up the automatic reply, and guidance on what to do if the 'Reply with' option is unavailable in the admin center.
Ensure you have Exchange Administrator or Global Administrator privileges in Microsoft 365 before attempting to modify group email settings.
Configure Automatic Replies via Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Use the official admin center interface to locate your security group and enable automatic replies.
The standard method for configuring out-of-office or automatic replies for groups is through the Microsoft 365 admin center. Note that Exchange mail flow rules do not typically provide a direct 'Reply with' action for this group type.
Navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center and expand the left-hand menu to find the 'Groups' section.
Click on 'Active groups', locate the specific mail-enabled security group you want to configure, and select it to open its properties panel.
In the group's properties panel, navigate to the 'Email settings' or 'Settings' tab depending on your admin center layout.
Select the 'Automatic replies' option, enter your desired response message, and click 'Save' to apply the changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use mail flow rules to set up automatic replies for mail-enabled security groups?
Exchange mail flow rules typically do not provide a direct 'Reply with' action for mail-enabled security groups. It is recommended to use the standard Automatic replies feature within the group settings instead.
Why is the Automatic replies option missing for my security group?
The option might be missing due to browser cache issues, insufficient admin permissions, or because the specific configuration of your group does not support automatic replies. Try using a different browser or checking your Exchange admin roles.
Do automatic replies work for external senders mailing the security group?
Yes, provided that your Microsoft 365 organization settings allow automatic replies to external senders. You may need to configure the group to accept external emails and ensure external auto-replies are permitted globally.
