In this article, we will show you how to set working hours in Google Calendar to let people know when you are unavailable if they want to schedule a meeting with you. Simply follow the process below.
To change working hours on Google Calendar, it is essential to have a Google Workspace account that is typically provided by your employer or educational institution. Follow the simple steps below to manage your availability.
Open the Settings menu by clicking the gear icon, usually found in the top right corner of your calendar page. This menu offers various customization options for your calendar.
In the Settings menu, find and select the "General" section on the left sidebar. Look for the "Working Hours and Location" subsection, where you can adjust settings related to your working hours and work location.
Within the "Working Hours & Location" subsection, toggle on the "Enable Working Hours" option to set your working hours. Then, for each day of the week, click on the time fields to customize your start and end times according to your schedule. You can select or deselect specific days based on your typical workweek. You also have the option to specify your working location.
Your changes to the calendar settings are saved automatically. A confirmation message saying "Settings Saved" will appear to confirm that your adjustments have been applied.
Keep in mind that your working hours and location are only visible to people who have permission to view your calendar's free/busy availability. This ensures that your schedule and location details are shared appropriately and securely.
Follow the steps below to decline meetings in Google Calendar when you are out of the office.
Begin by clicking the "Create" button, found in the top left corner of your Google Calendar. Select 'Out of office.' This will open a new window for event creation.
In the event title field, enter "Out of Office." Then, fill in the specific start and end dates and times for your absence. This ensures your calendar reflects the exact duration you're unavailable.
In the event options, select the option to "Automatically decline meetings." This will automatically reject new meeting requests during the specified out of office period.
If available, you can write an auto-reply message in the provided field. This message will be automatically sent to people who invite you to meetings while you're out of the office, informing them of your absence.
Once all details are set, click the "Save" button. This action confirms and activates your out of office status on your Google Calendar, letting others know when you are unavailable.
We hope that you now have a better understanding of how to set working hours in Google Calendar. If you enjoyed this article, you might also like our article on how to make your Google Calendar private or our article on how to forward a Google Calendar invite.
