Create a vacation notice on Thunderbird

If you want to create a vacation note with Thunderbird, you are unfortunately faced with a major problem: Your computer must be running continuously to answer emails automatically. Only Outlook allows you to set up an out-of-office message that is sent without a computer running. The instructions for Outlook can be found here. Let your computer run while you are away, we will show you here how to set up the absence assistant.

Create a suitable template

First write a universal text that includes, for example, the reason and duration of your absence. This text will then be sent to everyone who writes you an email. To save the writing as a usable template, pay attention to the following:

1. Enter your email address as the sender. Leave the recipient line blank. The best way to title the subject is "Absence" or something similar.
2. You must then save the message as a template. To do this, simply go to File -> Save As -> Template.

Create filters in Thunderbird

In order for Thunderbird to answer your emails automatically, you have to set the appropriate filter:

1. To do this, go to Tools -> Filters and select your desired email account under "Filters for".
2. You can freely title the filter. The title would be "Absence notice" or "Absence".
3. Now select "no condition". This means that all of your emails (including spam emails) will be answered.
4. Under "Executing action" click "Answer with template" and select the template that has already been saved. Then confirm with "Ok".
5. You have now set up the vacation notice. Finally, check whether the filter you just created is active in the filter dialog box.

If you do not have the option to keep your computer running all the time, you can usually create a vacation notice directly through your provider. You will find this function under "automatic reply" (Web.de), "send and receive" (Freenet), "option absence" (GMX) or "general - absence notice" (Gmail).