Microsoft Automated Meeting Shortener

Summary

Microsoft has released a feature that makes it easy for you to make meetings end a few minutes early or start them a few minutes late. This feature can help build in travel time between events or buffer time. You can choose a different duration for events under one hour and over one hour.

Body

Email Setup (Classic Outlook)

  • Go to File > Option > Calendar > Calendar options.
  • Check the Shorten appointments and meetings check-box.
  • In the drop-down menu, select End early or Start late.Screenshot of Outlook Calendar Options settings showing meeting preferences, including options to add online meetings, set default duration to 30 minutes, shorten meetings automatically, set default reminders to 15 minutes, and allow attendees to propose new meeting times.
  • Once those selections are made, use the drop-down to set how early the meeting will start or how early the meeting will end.
  • Click Ok after your selection.

Email Setup (New Outlook)

  • Go to Settings > Calendar > Events and invitations.
  • Check the Shorten duration for all events check-box.
  • In the drop-down menu, select End events early or Start events late.

Screenshot of Outlook Settings with “Calendar” selected and “Events and invitations” open. The section highlights the “Shorten duration for all events” option, including settings to end events early by 5 minutes for meetings under one hour and 10 minutes for meetings one hour or longer.

Note: Once these settings are made, they will be used across all the Outlook platforms.

Details

Details

Article ID: 888
Created
Tue 8/2/22 2:47 PM
Modified
Mon 6/15/26 5:08 PM