Last Updated: June 26, 2025
ISSUE
When using a shared mailbox added as an additional account or primary account in an Outlook profile and you try to open the Automatic Replies setting, you get the following error message:
“Your automatic reply settings cannot be displayed because the server is currently unavailable. Try again later.”
This issue was first observed with Current Channel Version 2505 (Build 18827.20128). The bug will happen starting with builds 18510.10000+.
STATUS: INVESTIGATING
This issue has been escalated to the Outlook Team for a fix. We will update when the fix status is available.
WORKAROUND
Set automatic replies for the shared mailbox using Outlook Web Access (OWA). You can use the option “Open the shared mailbox in a separate browser window” in this article, Open and use a shared mailbox in Outlook. Select the Settings cog on the top and then select Account > Automatic replies.
To work around the issue with classic Outlook, switch Office to Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. This will ensure you are on the latest build with security updates, and you will not get the bug. The Outlook Team estimates the fix will be available before the bug gets to Semi Annual Channel. You can use the Office Deployment Tool (ODT), or a simpler option is to use a registry key to switch channels. For more information, please go to Use a registry command to install Microsoft 365 Insider on Windows devices. After you run the registry key, select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now to get Office to start the change. We get the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel distribution channel from this article, Update Microsoft 365 using administrative templates in Microsoft Intune.
Here is the registry key to switch to Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel:
reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate /v updatebranch /t REG_SZ /d Deferred
If you want to test and confirm that this is the issue you are seeing you can revert to the build before the issue starts, Version 2501 (Build 18429.20158). For reference, builds are available on Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps (listed by date).
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Open a Command Prompt window in administrator context (Run as administrator)
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Paste the command below and press Enter to revert."%programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.18429.20158
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After you are done testing you can update back to the latest build by select File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now.
Additional Resources
Send automatic replies (out of office) from Outlook
Add a shared mailbox as an additional account in Outlook Desktop
More Resources
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See Also
Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook for Windows
