Add a signature in three steps
A Gmail signature is a block of text that appears at the bottom of every email you send. It usually contains your name, job title, phone number, or a closing phrase. Gmail adds it automatically once you set it up, so you do not have to type it each time.
To add a signature, open Gmail in your web browser, click the gear icon in the top right corner, select "See all settings," go to the "Signature" tab, and type or paste your signature text into the box. Then scroll down and click "Save Changes." Your signature will now appear on all new emails you compose.
The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you use Gmail on a computer or access it through a browser on a tablet. Mobile apps have a different method, which is covered in the section below.
Key Takeaways
- Your signature appears at the bottom of every email you send once you set it up in Gmail settings.
- You can create different signatures for different email addresses if you have multiple Gmail accounts linked to the same browser.
- The Gmail mobile app does not support signatures, but you can still use them if you access Gmail through a mobile web browser.
- You can include formatting like bold text, links, or line breaks in your signature by using the text editor that appears in the signature box.
Step-by-step: Setting up your signature on a computer
Step 1: Open Gmail settings. Log into your Gmail account. In the top right corner, you will see a gear icon. Click it, then click "See all settings" from the menu that drops down.
Step 2: Find the Signature tab. At the top of the settings page, you will see several tabs: General, Labels, Inbox, and others. Click the tab labeled "Signature." If you do not see it, scroll right across the tabs until you find it.
Step 3: Create your signature. Under "Signature," you will see a text box. Click inside it and type your signature. This might be your name, your name and job title, a phone number, or any closing phrase you want to appear on your emails. You can type as much or as little as you want.
Step 4: Format your signature (optional). Above the text box, you will see formatting buttons: Bold, Italic, Underline, and others. Highlight any text in your signature and click these buttons to change how it looks. You can also add a link by clicking the link icon and pasting a web address.
Step 5: Save your changes. Scroll down to the bottom of the settings page. Click the blue "Save Changes" button. Your signature is now active and will appear on every new email you send.
How to use different signatures for different email addresses
If you have more than one Gmail account and you have signed into both of them in the same browser, you can create a different signature for each one. This is useful if you have a work email and a personal email, or if you manage multiple accounts.
To do this, sign into the first Gmail account, go to Settings > Signature, and create a signature for that account. Then sign into the second account in the same browser window (Gmail will ask you to switch accounts), go to Settings > Signature again, and create a different signature for that account. Each account will keep its own signature, and Gmail will use the correct one depending on which account you are sending from.
If you only have one Gmail account, you only need to set up one signature, and you can skip this section.
Adding a signature on mobile devices
The Gmail app on phones and tablets does not have a built-in signature feature. If you want to use a signature on a mobile device, open Gmail in your mobile web browser instead of the app. Go to gmail.com in Safari, Chrome, or whatever browser you use on your phone, sign in, and follow the same steps as you would on a computer.
When you compose an email in the mobile browser version of Gmail, your signature will appear at the bottom just as it does on a computer. The mobile browser version works the same way as the desktop version, though the screen is smaller and may take a moment to load.
If you prefer to use the Gmail app on your phone, you will have to type your signature manually at the end of each email, or copy and paste it from a notes app. This is slower but still possible if you only send a few emails from your phone.
What to include in your signature
Your signature should include information that helps the person reading your email contact you or know who you are. The most common items are your full name, job title, company name, phone number, and email address. You can also add a website, social media handle, or a short phrase like "Best regards" or "Thank you."
Keep your signature brief — usually three to five lines is enough. A very long signature can make your emails look cluttered, especially if the person you are emailing has a slow internet connection or reads email on a small screen. If you work in a professional setting, check with your manager or HR department to see if your company has a signature template you should use instead.
You can also add a small image or logo to your signature, though this is less common. Click the image icon in the signature editor, upload a file from your computer, and it will appear in your signature. Keep the image small so it does not make your emails too large.
Editing or removing your signature later
Your signature is not permanent. You can change it at any time by going back to Settings > Signature, editing the text in the box, and clicking "Save Changes" again. The new signature will appear on all emails you send from that point forward, but it will not change signatures on emails you already sent.
If you want to remove your signature completely, go to Settings > Signature, delete all the text in the box, and click "Save Changes." Gmail will stop adding a signature to your emails. You can always add a new one later by following the same steps.
Troubleshooting: Signature not appearing on emails
If you set up a signature but it is not showing up on your emails, check these things. First, make sure you clicked "Save Changes" after typing your signature — if you did not save, Gmail will not remember it. Second, check that you are composing a new email, not replying to an existing one — signatures sometimes do not appear on replies, depending on your Gmail settings. Third, clear your browser cache and reload Gmail, as old settings sometimes stay in your browser's memory.
If your signature still does not appear, try signing out of Gmail completely and signing back in. This forces Gmail to reload all your settings. If it still does not work, try a different web browser to see if the problem is specific to the browser you usually use. Most signature problems are solved by one of these steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a different signature for replies versus new emails?
Gmail does not have a built-in way to use different signatures for replies and new emails. Your signature will be the same for both. If you need a different signature for replies, you would have to edit it manually each time, which is not practical for most people.
Will my signature appear on emails I send to people outside Gmail?
Yes. Your signature appears on every email you send from Gmail, whether the person you are emailing uses Gmail or any other email service. They will see your signature exactly as you created it.
Can I add HTML code or special formatting to my signature?
The Gmail signature editor does not accept raw HTML code. You can use the formatting buttons in the editor (Bold, Italic, Underline, links, and images) to style your signature, but you cannot paste in custom HTML. If you need advanced formatting, you may need to use a different email service.
What happens to my signature if I change my Gmail password?
Your signature is stored separately from your password, so changing your password will not affect it. Your signature will remain the same and will continue to appear on your emails.
Can I schedule when my signature appears on emails?
No. Once you create a signature, it appears on every email you send. Gmail does not have a feature to turn your signature on or off for specific emails or at specific times. You would have to manually delete it from individual emails if you did not want it on a particular message.