How to add an email signature in Gmail (2026 guide)
· 4 min read
Gmail keeps signatures in Settings rather than in the compose window, which is why people often can't find them. Here is the whole process, including the two settings that cause most 'my signature looks wrong' problems.
Add a signature in Gmail on the web
The web version is where you should create the signature, because it is the only place Gmail accepts formatted HTML.
- Open Gmail and click the gear icon, then See all settings.
- Stay on the General tab and scroll to Signature.
- Click Create new, give it a name, and paste your signature into the box.
- Under Signature defaults, choose it for both new emails and replies.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Save changes — Gmail discards edits if you navigate away first.
Why pasted signatures sometimes lose their formatting
Gmail preserves formatting only when the clipboard carries rich HTML. Copying from a plain-text editor, or using Paste as plain text, strips the layout and leaves bare lines.
Copy the signature from a tool that puts real HTML on the clipboard, then paste normally with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V.
The 10,000 character limit
Gmail truncates signatures that exceed roughly 10,000 characters of HTML. Large embedded images encoded directly into the markup are the usual cause.
Host images at a URL and reference them instead of embedding them, and the limit stops being a problem.
Signatures on Android and iPhone
The Gmail mobile apps only support a plain-text mobile signature, set under Settings, your account, then Signature settings. They do not sync the formatted desktop signature.
On iPhone, mail sent through Apple Mail uses a separate signature at Settings, Apps, Mail, Signature.
Frequently asked
Why does my Gmail signature show a broken image icon?＋
The image is either hosted somewhere that requires a login, or it was deleted. Signature images must be at a public URL that anyone can load without signing in.
Can I have different signatures for different Gmail accounts?＋
Yes. Gmail stores signatures per send-as address, so each alias or connected account can have its own, chosen from the same Signature settings screen.
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