Support Articles

How to set up an email auto responder in cPanel

13 December 2010

Step by step instructions on how to set up (and cancel) an automated reply email on your web server (out of office message).

The following instructions are applicable if you have a domain based email account on your webserver and cPanel access.

Auto responders are an essential service for any professional business, they are applied to any existing email addresses that you have set up on your server. They are most widely used when you are away from your office and emails for more than a few days, for example when travelling or on holidays. They can also be set up permanently on certain email accounts that sends a generic message (eg support email addresses).

When someone sends an email to your address with an auto responder set up on it, that person will automatically receive a return email with your chosen message. Their email will remain in your inbox ready for you to action upon your return.

Login to cPanel and the Auto Responder section

  • Login to your cPanel account : www.yourdomain.com.au/cpanel (replacing 'yourdomain.com.au' with your own URL)
    For example for my website it would be: www.darwinwebdesign.com.au/cpanel
  • Login to the popup screen which will then appear (I have supplied you with your cPanel login with your email instructions)

cPanel login screen

  • Your cPanel screen will now be loaded and click the 'Auto Responders' icon underneath the 'Mail' heading.

Auto Responders icon in cPanel

Set up your autoresponder

  • Click 'Add an Auto Responder'

  • Complete the auto responder form example shown below, select utf-8 for the Character Set.

Auto Responder form in cPanel

  • Click Create/Modify to save your auto responder.

Autoresponder created in cPanel

  • You will see the auto responder listed on cPanel, so you know it is active

Current autoresponders shown in cPanel

  • You can now test your email, and see if you want to edit the message (see next step)
  • When you are satisfied with your message, you can logout of cPanel at the top right section of the screen and enjoy the break from your emails for awhile !

cPanel logout icon

Edit or cancel your autoresponder

If you would like to change your auto responder message or cancel it altogether when you are back in the office:

  • Login to your cPanel account and click on the 'Auto Responders' icon again as per the first set of instructions above.
  • The 'Current Autoresponders' list will be displayed (as per screenshot above), click either 'Edit' or 'Delete' underneath the Functions tab.
  • If you deleted your auto responder, this will be confirmed and you will notice there will be a message saying that there are no autoresponders.

No autoresponders in cPanel

  • You can now logout of cPanel and your emails will operate as usual.

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