---
title: "Handle out-of-office & auto-resume | FirstSales"
description: "Turn on out-of-office detection so a contact's sequence pauses when they auto-reply away and resumes when they're back — a Template-mode reply-handling setting."
canonical: "https://firstsales.io/tutorial/handle-out-of-office/"
---

[Home](/)/[Tutorials](/tutorial/)/Handle out-of-office & auto-resume

Inbox & Replies

# Handle out-of-office & auto-resume

Turn on out-of-office detection so a contact's sequence pauses when they auto-reply away and resumes when they're back — a Template-mode reply-handling setting.

5 min read·Intermediate·6 steps

1. 1  
## Use a Template-mode campaign  
Reply Handling — including OOO detection — appears in campaign **Settings** only when the campaign runs in **Template mode**.
2. 2  
## Open campaign Settings  
In the campaign builder, go to the **Settings** tab and find the **Reply Handling** section.
3. 3  
## Enable OOO detection  
Tick **Detect out-of-office replies**.  
![Enable OOO detection](/tutorials/ooo-01-reply-handling.webp)
4. 4  
## Understand the pause  
FirstSales “recognizes OOO auto-replies and pauses the sequence until they return” — no manual return date to enter.
5. 5  
## Spot OOO in the Inbox  
OOO threads carry an out-of-office status, so you can see who's currently paused for that reason.
6. 6  
## Let it auto-resume  
When the contact returns, their sequence continues from where it paused — no action needed from you.

## Pro tips

Hard-won shortcuts that keep warm-up on track.

1

### Pair it with stop-on-reply

Turn on Stop sending when a reply is received in the same section, so genuine replies stop the sequence while vacation auto-replies only pause it.

2

### Template mode only

If you don't see Reply Handling in Settings, your campaign isn't running in Template mode.

3

### No date to enter

Detection reads the auto-reply and resumes on its own — leave it on and forget it.

4

### Check the Inbox before a big push

Scan for OOO-status threads so you're not waiting on contacts who are currently away.

## Frequently asked questions

Where is the out-of-office setting?

Campaign **Settings → Reply Handling**, available in Template-mode campaigns.

What does it do?

Recognizes out-of-office auto-replies and pauses that contact's sequence until they return.

Do I have to set a return date?

No — detection handles pause and resume automatically based on the auto-reply.

Why don't I see Reply Handling in my campaign?

It only shows in Template mode. Autopilot campaigns don't expose this section.

How is this different from stop-on-reply?

Stop-on-reply halts the sequence on any reply; OOO detection only pauses for auto-replies and resumes when the contact is back.

Can I see who's currently paused for OOO?

Yes — OOO threads are flagged with an out-of-office status in the Inbox.

## Ready to put this into practice?

Start your FirstSales trial and launch a warmed, authenticated mailbox in minutes.

[Start for $1](https://app.firstsales.io)

[All tutorials](/tutorial/)