How To Change Work Week and Working Hours In Outlook Calendar - Easy Fix

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Published on Feb 06, 2026 This response is partially generated with the help of AI. It may contain inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

Introduction

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide on how to change your work week and working hours in Outlook Calendar. Customizing these settings is essential for professionals, teams, and businesses to plan meetings and appointments effectively, reducing scheduling conflicts. This guide covers adjustments for Outlook 365, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 2016, along with instructions for Mac users.

Step 1: Access Calendar Options

  1. Open Outlook on your computer.
  2. Navigate to the File menu in the top left corner.
  3. Select Options from the sidebar to open the Outlook Options window.

Step 2: Modify Work Week Settings

  1. In the Outlook Options window, click on Calendar in the left-hand menu.
  2. Find the section labeled Work time.
  3. Adjust the following settings:
    • Start time: Set the hour you begin working each day.
    • End time: Set the hour you finish working each day.
    • Work week: Check the boxes for the days you want to include in your work week (e.g., Monday to Friday).

Step 3: Set Custom Working Hours

  1. Still in the Calendar settings, confirm the Start time and End time accurately reflect your schedule.
  2. If you have non-standard working hours (e.g., starting at 10 AM), adjust these accordingly.

Step 4: Save Changes

  1. After making your adjustments, click OK to save your settings.
  2. Close the Outlook Options window.

Step 5: Verify Changes

  1. Go back to your calendar view.
  2. Check that the new work hours and days are displayed correctly.
  3. To ensure these changes are reflected in meeting invitations, create a test meeting and confirm the working hours are applied.

Step 6: Troubleshoot Common Issues

  • If changes don’t save:

    • Restart Outlook and try again.
    • Ensure you have the necessary permissions if you’re using a work account.
  • To reset to default settings, return to the Calendar options and click on the corresponding reset button.

Conclusion

Customizing your work week and working hours in Outlook Calendar is vital for effective time management. By following these steps, you can ensure your calendar reflects your actual schedule, helping to avoid conflicts and streamline your planning. If you encounter any issues, refer to the troubleshooting tips provided. For further personalization, explore additional settings within Outlook to enhance your scheduling experience.