How to Block Non-Working Hours in Outlook Calendar

By Tricia Goss

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When you allow others to access your Outlook calendar, they may be able to add appointments or view the times that you are available for meetings. To prevent people from scheduling you for work or inviting you to meetings during times that you are not working, you have two options: change your work hours, which allows other to see when you are free or busy, or add a recurring appointment to your calendar, blocking others from scheduling you during those periods.

Change Your Work Hours

Step 1

Start Outlook, select "File," click "Options," and then select "Calendar."

Step 2

Select your work hours in the "Start Time" and "End Time" drop-down lists. Select the check boxes for the days that you work during those times. Choose different days for "First Day of the Week" and "First Day of the Year," if desired.

Step 3

Click "OK" to apply your changes.

Schedule a Recurring Appointment

Step 1

Start Outlook, select "Calendar" in the folders pane or press "Ctrl-2", and then select "New Meeting" in the New group of the Home tab.

Step 2

Type your name in the Subject box, followed by "Non-Working Hours" or another message that describes the time you are blocking.

Step 3

Enter the dates and times your non-working hours begin and end. For instance, enter "Monday (date) 5:00 PM" in the Start Time box and "Tuesday (date) 8:00 AM" in the End Time box.

Step 4

Click the "Show As" drop-down list in the Options group of the Home tab and select "Out of Office." Click "Recurrence," select "Daily," and then choose "Every Weekday." Click "OK," and then click "Save and Close."

Step 5

Create an additional meeting to block your weekend time, if desired. Set the recurrence to weekly instead of daily.

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