Overview
An autoresponder automatically sends a pre-written reply to anyone who emails you. This is useful for vacation notices, support acknowledgments, or letting customers know when to expect a reply. Autoresponders are created directly in cPanel and work even if you're not logged in.
Accessing the Autoresponder Tool
- Log into your cPanel account.
- Scroll to the Email section.
- Click on Autoresponders.
Creating a New Autoresponder
- Click the Add Autoresponder button.
- Fill in the following fields:
- Character Set: Leave as
utf-8 - Interval: Set how often the server replies to the same sender (e.g., once every 8 hours)
- Email: Enter just the username part (e.g.,
info) - Domain: Choose your domain (e.g.,
yourdomain.com) - From: Your name or department (e.g.,
Support Team) - Subject: The subject of the reply email (e.g.,
Out of Office) - Body: Type your message (plain text or HTML — see below)
- Character Set: Leave as
- If you're using formatted text or links, tick the This message contains HTML checkbox.
- Set a Start and Stop time if the autoresponder is temporary.
- Click Create.
Can I Add Styling or Links to My Autoresponder?
Yes! The autoresponder supports HTML, so you can use formatting like bold text, links, and line breaks. However, cPanel does not have a visual editor — you must paste raw HTML manually.
Example: Basic HTML Autoresponder
<html>
<body>
<p>Hi there,</p>
<p>Thanks for contacting us. We're currently away and will respond after <strong>Monday, May 6</strong>.</p>
<p>In the meantime, visit our <a href="https://yourwebsite.com/help">Help Center</a> for quick answers.</p>
<p>Regards,<br>The ArchGriffin Team</p>
</body>
</html>
Not Comfortable Writing HTML?
Use this free tool to create a formatted message and copy the HTML:
- wordtohtml.net – Paste from Microsoft Word and convert to HTML
Paste the HTML into the Body field in cPanel and check the This message contains HTML box before saving.
Editing or Deleting an Autoresponder
- Return to the Autoresponders page in cPanel.
- Locate the autoresponder next to the relevant email address.
- Click Edit to make changes, or Delete to remove it.
Tips
- Use the Interval setting to avoid repeat responses to the same person too frequently.
- Set clear start and end dates if the message is only for a temporary absence.
- Autoresponders work at the server level, so they respond even if you don’t have your email client open.
Need Help?
If you're unsure how to use HTML formatting or need help configuring your autoresponder, submit a support ticket and our team will assist you.
