What Autoresponders Do
An autoresponder automatically sends a reply to anyone who emails a specific address. Common uses include out-of-office messages, holiday notices, and acknowledgement replies for support addresses.
Autoresponders are managed in Hosting Mode → Email → Autoresponders.
Creating an Autoresponder
- Navigate to Hosting Mode → Email → Autoresponders.
- Click Add Autoresponder.
- Fill in the form:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Email address | The address that triggers the autoresponse (must be an existing mailbox) |
| From name | Display name shown in the automated reply (e.g. Jane Smith — Out of Office) |
| Subject | Subject line for the reply (e.g. Re: Out of office until April 15) |
| Message body | Plain text body of the reply |
| Start date | Date the autoresponder becomes active (leave blank to activate immediately) |
| End date | Date the autoresponder stops (leave blank for no end date) |
| Interval | Minimum hours between replies to the same sender |
- Click Save.
[!TIP] Set an interval of at least 24 hours. Without an interval, a busy mailing list or automated system could trigger hundreds of replies from your address in a single day.
Send Interval
The interval setting controls how often the same sender receives your autoresponse. Once someone has received an automated reply from you, they will not receive another one until the interval has elapsed, even if they send you multiple messages.
Recommended values:
- 24 hours — standard out-of-office
- 72–168 hours — for extended absences where daily reminders would be excessive
Editing an Autoresponder
- Find the autoresponder in the list.
- Click Edit.
- Modify the fields.
- Click Save.
Changes take effect immediately.
Deleting an Autoresponder
- Find the autoresponder in the list.
- Click Delete.
- Confirm your account password in the confirmation dialog.
Once deleted, no further automated replies are sent. Existing messages in the mailbox are unaffected.
Autoresponders and Mailing Lists
[!IMPORTANT] Autoresponders should never reply to mailing lists, newsletters, or bulk mail. Doing so generates noise for every list subscriber and can get your address unsubscribed or flagged.
Opterius suppresses autoresponses when any of the following headers are present in the incoming message:
List-IdList-UnsubscribePrecedence: bulkorPrecedence: listX-Mailervalues associated with known bulk senders
Autoresponses are also suppressed for messages that Rspamd scores as spam, so your out-of-office reply is not sent to spammers.
Autoresponders and DMARC
An autoresponse is sent from your address using your server. As long as your domain has valid SPF and DKIM records, DMARC alignment is maintained and the automated reply will not be treated as spoofed mail.
See SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for setup details.