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How to Add an Email Signature in Gmail: Complete Guide 2026

A step-by-step guide to creating, adding, and managing email signatures in Gmail. Works for personal and Google Workspace accounts.

January 8, 20267 min read

Why You Need an Email Signature in Gmail

An email signature is more than just contact information at the end of your messages—it's a professional touch that builds credibility and makes it easy for recipients to reach you. A well-designed signature can:

  • Make your emails look more professional
  • Save time by auto-including contact details
  • Promote your business or personal brand
  • Drive traffic to your website or social profiles
  • Ensure legal compliance (required in some industries)

Step-by-Step: Adding a Signature in Gmail (Desktop)

1

Open Gmail Settings

Click the gear icon in the top right corner of Gmail, then click 'See all settings'.

2

Navigate to Signature Section

Scroll down to the 'Signature' section in the General tab.

3

Create a New Signature

Click '+ Create new' and give your signature a name (e.g., 'Work Signature').

4

Design Your Signature

Use the editor to add your text, format it, and insert images or links.

5

Set Default Signature

Choose which signature to use for new emails and replies/forwards.

6

Save Changes

Scroll to the bottom and click 'Save Changes'.

Adding Your Signature to Gmail on Mobile

Android

  1. Open the Gmail app
  2. Tap the menu icon (three lines)
  3. Scroll down and tap Settings
  4. Select your account
  5. Tap Mobile Signature
  6. Enter your signature text
  7. Tap OK to save

iPhone/iPad

  1. Open the Gmail app
  2. Tap the menu icon (three lines)
  3. Tap Settings
  4. Select your account
  5. Tap Signature settings
  6. Toggle on Mobile Signature
  7. Enter your signature text

Mobile Signature Limitations

Gmail mobile signatures only support plain text—no images, links, or formatting. For a rich HTML signature, you'll need to set it up on desktop, and it will appear when you access Gmail through a web browser on mobile.

How to Add Images to Your Gmail Signature

Adding images like your photo or company logo makes your signature more visually appealing:

  1. In the signature editor, click the image icon in the toolbar
  2. Choose how to add your image:
    • Upload: Select an image from your computer
    • Web address (URL): Paste the URL of an image hosted online
    • Google Drive: Select from your Drive files
  3. Click Select to insert the image
  4. Resize by clicking the image and using the size options (Small, Medium, Large, Original)

Pro Tip: Image Hosting

For the most reliable results, host your signature images on a dedicated service or use Google Drive with public sharing enabled. Images hosted on your own website may not display if the recipient's email client blocks external images.

How to Add Links to Your Gmail Signature

  1. Select the text you want to turn into a link
  2. Click the link icon in the toolbar (or press Ctrl/Cmd+K)
  3. Enter the URL in the "Web address" field
  4. Click OK to apply

Common links to include:

  • Your website or portfolio
  • LinkedIn profile
  • Scheduling/booking link (Calendly, etc.)
  • Company social media pages

Managing Multiple Gmail Signatures

Gmail allows you to create multiple signatures—useful if you need different signatures for different purposes:

  • Work vs. Personal: Professional signature for clients, casual for friends
  • Different roles: Separate signatures for different business functions
  • New emails vs. Replies: Full signature for new emails, abbreviated for replies

To create multiple signatures, simply click "+ Create new" in the Signature section and name each one. Then set your defaults for new emails and replies/forwards.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Signature Not Appearing

  • Make sure you've selected a default signature for new emails
  • Check if "Insert signature before quoted text" is enabled for replies
  • Clear your browser cache and refresh Gmail

Images Not Displaying

  • Ensure the image is hosted publicly (not behind a login)
  • Try using a different image hosting service
  • Keep images under 100KB for better loading

Formatting Issues

  • Avoid copying signatures from Word—use the Gmail editor
  • Use web-safe fonts (Arial, Verdana, Georgia)
  • Keep layouts simple for maximum compatibility

Gmail Signature Best Practices

  • Keep it concise—4-6 lines maximum
  • Include essential contact info only
  • Use a professional photo or company logo
  • Make phone numbers and emails clickable
  • Use consistent branding colors
  • Test your signature by sending to yourself

Next Steps

Now that you know how to add a signature in Gmail, you can create a professional signature that reflects your personal or business brand. If you want to save time and ensure your signature looks great, use our free signature generator to create a perfectly formatted signature ready to paste into Gmail.

Create Your Gmail Signature

Use our free Email Signature Generator to create a professional, beautiful signature ready to paste into Gmail.

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