Outlook Scheduling Assistant
What is Outlook Scheduling Assistant?
Scheduling Assistant in Outlook allows you to easily schedule meetings by displaying the times when a person is busy or free on their calendar. This is referred to as Free/Busy Time. A few things to know about Scheduling Assistant:
- By default, all users are able to view your personal Free/Busy time (no appointment details are visible)
- You can customize permissions so only certain groups/users can view your free/busy time
- It allows you to easily view the availability of colleagues, coworkers, etc.
- Unlike when using online polling services, you don't have to send out additional emails, wait for responses, and worry about changes in availability while waiting for responses
- This feature can be used in the Outlook app and in Outlook on the web
- Make the most of it - add appointments to your calendar for recurring events like lunch breaks, or any other task that you want to dedicate time to so that other users know you won't be available (Busy)
- Make sure all-day events are set to Busy/Out (default setting is Free)
- Mark specific calendar items as Private, to hide details from anyone viewing the calendar entry
Windows Settings
Allow everyone to view Free/Busy time on your calendar (DEFAULT)
- File > Options > Calendar tab > Free/Busy Options...(under Calendar Options)
- Select My Organization in the name column and set Permissions to Can view when I'm busy
- Click OK to save
Allow only specific groups and/or users to view Free/Busy time on your calendar
(for example, allow only faculty and staff to view free/busy time)
- File > Options > Calendar tab > Free/Busy Options...
- Select My Organization in the name column and set Permissions to None
- Click Add... and search for user or group; add and click OK
- Select user or group; verify Permissions is set to Can view when I'm busy, click OK
- Repeat for any users or groups that you want to view your free/busy time
- Click OK to save
Mac Settings
Allow everyone to view Free/Busy time on your calendar (DEFAULT)
- Select the calendar you want to change permissions for
- Organize > Calendar Permissions
- Select Default or My Organization in the name column and set Permissions to Can view when I'm busy
- Click DONE to save
Allow only specific groups and/or users to view Free/Busy time on your calendar
(for example, allow only faculty and staff to view free/busy time)
- Select the calendar you want to change permissions for
- Organize > Calendar Permissions
- Select Default in the name column and make sure Permissions is set to Not shared
- Click + to add a user, and search for user or group
- Select user or group; change Permissions to Can view when I'm busy and click Add
- Repeat for any users or groups that you want to view your free/busy time
- Click Done to save