How to create a Gmail signature
This guide walks you through creating a signature in Gmail — the block of text (name, job title, contact details, etc.) that appears at the bottom of emails you send. These steps use Gmail in a desktop browser.
Open Gmail in your browser and sign in if prompted.
Click the Settings cog icon near the top right of the page.
Click See all settings in the panel that appears. This opens the full Settings page.
Make sure you're on the General tab (it's selected by default).
Scroll down to the Signature section. Click Create new.
Type a name for this signature in the box that appears — something like Work or Default. This name is just for your reference; it won't appear in the signature itself. Click Create.
Type your signature text in the editor box on the right. You can use the formatting toolbar to change the font, size, colour, or add links.
Under Signature defaults, choose when this signature should appear using the two dropdown menus:
- For new emails use — sets the signature on fresh messages you compose.
- On reply/forward use — sets the signature (or no signature) when replying or forwarding. Many people prefer no signature on replies to keep threads clean.
Scroll to the bottom of the Settings page and click Save Changes. Gmail won't save anything until you do this.
To check it worked, click Compose to open a new message. Your signature should appear automatically in the message body.
Variations
Adding a second signature
You can create multiple signatures — useful if you have a formal work sign-off and a shorter personal one. Go back to Settings › General › Signature and click Create new again. When composing an email, click the pen icon at the bottom of the compose window to switch between them.
Adding an image or logo
In the signature editor, click the image icon in the formatting toolbar. You can upload an image from your computer, paste a URL, or insert one from Google Drive. Keep images small — large ones can cause your email to be flagged as promotional or end up broken for recipients whose email client blocks remote images.
Setting up a signature on the Gmail mobile app
Mobile signatures are set separately and are plain text only. Open the Gmail app, tap the Menu (three horizontal lines), scroll to the bottom and tap Settings, select your account, then tap Mobile Signature. Type your sign-off and tap OK.
Troubleshooting
The signature isn't appearing in new emails
Check that you've set a signature under Signature defaults › For new emails use — it's easy to create a signature but forget to assign it. Also confirm you clicked Save Changes at the bottom of the Settings page before closing it.
The signature appears twice
This usually happens if you've also got a signature set in the Gmail mobile app and you're viewing a draft started there. The two signature systems don't always stay in sync. Check your mobile app's signature setting and clear it if you only want to manage one signature from the desktop.
Formatting looks different when recipients receive the email
Gmail's signature editor uses HTML, but not every email client renders it the same way. Fancy fonts and colours are the most common culprits. If consistent display matters, stick to a standard font (Arial, Georgia, or similar), and avoid unusual colours or heavy formatting.
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