# How to create an email signature in Apple Mail on Mac: steps for macOS 27

> How to create an email signature in Apple Mail on Mac: open Mail > Settings > Signatures, add an account signature, and set a default for replies.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-an-email-signature-in-apple-mail
Updated: 2026-11-07

To create an email signature in Apple Mail on Mac, choose Mail > Settings, click Signatures, select an account, and click Add. Name the signature, type it in the preview, then pick it from the Signature pop-up menu when you write a new message.

## Quick answer

- Open Mail > Settings > Signatures, select an account in the left column, and click Add below the middle column.
- Name the signature. The name appears in the Signature pop-up menu when you write a message.
- Write the signature in the right-hand preview. Use the Format menu for fonts, colors and lists.
- Set a default under Choose Signature, and uncheck Place signature above quoted text if you want replies to put it below the quote.
- If you use Mail at icloud.com, signatures are plain text only.

Applies to: Apple Mail 16.0 on macOS 27, using the menus in Apple's signature guide. Time: 10 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac with Apple Mail set up and at least one email account added
- Access to Mail > Settings on that Mac
- An image file for your logo, if you want one (optional)

## How to Create an email signature in Apple Mail on Mac in Apple Mail on a Mac

1. **Open Mail's Settings window.** (Mail > Settings) Click Mail in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then choose Settings. The Settings window opens. Signatures is one of the panes inside it. Tip: Apple's keyboard shortcut list has no shortcut for Settings, so start from the menu.
2. **Click Signatures.** (Mail > Settings > Signatures) In the Settings window, click Signatures. The left column lists your accounts, the middle column lists signatures, and the right side is the preview where you write. Tip: The layout is accounts on the left, signatures in the middle and the preview on the right.
3. **Select the account.** Click the email account in the left column. Pick the account that will send mail with this signature. If All Signatures is selected, the new signature is not attached to any account. Tip: If you already made a signature under All Signatures, drag it onto the account before you use it.
4. **Click Add and name the signature.** Click Add below the middle column. Mail creates a new signature and asks for a name. Type a name you will recognize later, such as Work or Short, then press Return. Tip: The name appears in the Signature pop-up menu when you write a message, so a clear name saves time.
5. **Write the signature in the preview.** (Format) Click in the right-hand preview and type your name, title, phone number and website. Select text to format it, then use the Format menu for font, color, alignment and lists. Tip: Keep the first version simple. You can add lines later without starting over.
6. **Add links and check spelling.** (Edit) Shortcut: ⌘V. Use the Edit menu for paste, links and spelling. Paste your link with Command V, then check the result in the preview before you move on. Tip: Read the link text out loud once. A typo in a link label is easy to miss.
7. **Drop in a logo.** Drag an image file from Finder into the preview. Keep the file small so the signature stays easy to read. Check the image in a test message, because image display depends on your privacy settings. Tip: If the image is missing in the test, see the privacy section below.
8. **Choose a default.** Find the Choose Signature option in the Signatures pane. Set one signature as the default for the selected account. You can also choose sequential or random order if you rotate between several signatures. Tip: Choose one approach per account, so you always know which signature will appear.
9. **Set the reply placement.** Find the Place signature above quoted text checkbox and uncheck it. Replies and forwards then place the signature after the original text. Tip: Leave the box checked if you prefer the signature above the quoted text.
10. **Pick the signature in a new message.** Shortcut: ⌘N. Press Command N to start a new email. Click the Signature pop-up menu and choose the signature you named. Check the spacing, then write your message. Tip: Each new message can use a different signature, so you can switch for short replies.
11. **Send a test message.** Send yourself a test message from each account. Open it on your Mac and, if you can, on your phone. Check the links, spacing and images before you rely on the signature for client mail. Tip: Test each signature once after you change it, not only the first time.

This guide follows Apple's own steps for Mail on Mac. Apple's signature guide is labeled macOS 27 and its links point to Mail 16.0, so the menu names here match that release. If your window looks a little different, look for the same path: the Mail menu, then Settings, then Signatures. Apple's sources do not say when these menus were first introduced or changed, so check them against your own screen.

## Open the Signatures pane in Mail

Start in the Settings window. Click Mail in the menu bar, then choose Settings. Click Signatures to open the pane. You will see three areas. The left column lists your accounts. The middle column lists the signatures for the account you picked. The right side is a preview where you write.

Keep this window open while you set up each account. You can select a different account in the left column at any time, so you do not need to close Settings between accounts.

## Attach the signature to an account

Every signature belongs to an email account. The left column decides which account gets the signature. If All Signatures is selected when you create a signature, you must drag it onto an email account before you can use it. Many people skip this step and then wonder why the signature is missing.

Dragging is simple. Click the signature in the middle column, hold the mouse button, and drag it onto the account in the left column. Let go when the account is highlighted. The signature is now attached to that account.

![Person typing an email on a laptop at a desk, the everyday setting for an email signature in Apple Mail on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/create-an-email-signature-in-apple-mail/how-to-create-an-email-signature-in-1-6714ca.jpg)

## Name the signature and write it

Click Add below the middle column. Mail creates a new entry and asks for a name. Choose names you can recognize later, such as Work, Personal or Short. The name is what you see in the Signature pop-up menu when you write a message.

Now write in the preview. Type the text you want, then format it. The Edit menu handles paste, links and spelling. The Format menu handles fonts, colors, alignment and lists. Images go in by dragging them into the preview.

| Where | What it does | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Edit | Paste, links, spelling | Paste your booking link, then check the spelling of your job title |
| Format | Font, color, alignment, lists | Make your name bold and list the services you offer |
| Drag from Finder | Images and logos | Drop a small logo file into the preview |

_Where each part of the signature editor lives in Mail on Mac._

Keep the signature short. A name, a title, one phone number and one link is enough for most readers. Every extra line is something a reader has to scroll past, and big images push the rest of the message down.

## Set a default and choose how signatures rotate

Open the Signatures pane and look for Choose Signature. This option sets which signature an account uses by default. It can also use the account's signatures in sequential or random order. Pick the option that fits how you write. A single default is the simplest choice.

Fonts follow a separate option. Turn on Always match my default message font if you want the signature to use the font from Fonts and Colors settings. Leave it off if you want the font you chose in the preview.

## Replies and forwards: where the signature sits

By default, the signature can appear above the quoted text in a reply. That looks odd when a thread is long. Uncheck Place signature above quoted text, and the signature moves below the original message in replies and forwards.

Here is a quick example. A client writes three paragraphs and you reply with one line. With the box checked, your sign-off sits above their words. With the box unchecked, your sign-off comes after the quote, so the reply reads from top to bottom.

## A worked example for a two-account setup

Say you have a work account and a personal account in Mail. You want a full signature at work and a one-line sign-off at home. Select the work account in the left column, click Add, and name the signature Work. Write your name, title, phone and company link in the preview.

Then select the personal account, click Add, and name the second signature Personal. Under Choose Signature, set Work as the default for the work account and Personal for the personal account. Open a new message from each account and check which signature appears.

## Use the signature in a new message

Press ⌘N to start a new email. Click the Signature pop-up menu and choose the signature you named. The text appears in the body of the message. Check the spacing before you type, because an extra blank line is easy to miss.

Each message can use a different signature. Pick the short one for quick replies and the full one for first contact with someone new.

![MacBook on an office desk, the kind of Mac where you set up an email signature in Apple Mail](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/create-an-email-signature-in-apple-mail/how-to-create-an-email-signature-in-2-82ff20.jpg)

## Why Apple Mail matters for your signature

Apple Mail is the largest email client by opens in Litmus's September 2026 report. Those figures count opens, not people who use signatures. Read them as context for who might see your signature, not as a measure of how many people set one up.

- **76.56%** of email opens in September 2026 came from Apple Mail, the largest share in Litmus's report ([source](https://www.litmus.com/email-client-market-share))
- **55 to 60%** of all email opens are affected by Apple's Mail Privacy Protection, according to Litmus ([source](https://www.litmus.com/email-client-market-share))

## Test your signature before it matters

Send a test message from each account to an address you check on your phone. Open it on the Mac too. Check the links, the spacing, the font and any images. A quick test catches problems that would otherwise reach a client.

![Man working on a laptop in an office, checking messages before he sends a reply in Apple Mail on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/create-an-email-signature-in-apple-mail/how-to-create-an-email-signature-in-3-816c82.jpg)

## Why signature images may not show

A third-party signature vendor reports that a recent Apple Mail update blocks external images by default, so signature images may not display. Its fix is to open Mail > Settings > Privacy and turn off Block All Remote Content. Then check Load Remote Content in Messages under Mail > Settings > Viewing.

Two privacy options sit in the same pane. Protect Mail Activity hides your IP address and downloads remote content in the background. Hide IP Address turns on automatically when Protect Mail Activity is on. Turning these off reduces your privacy, so weigh that trade-off yourself.

Apple's privacy page does not confirm a change to the default, so confirm the behavior on your own Mac before you rely on it.

## Mail on iCloud.com works differently

If you use Mail in a browser at icloud.com/mail, the steps change. Click the gear-shaped Settings button above the Mailboxes list, choose Settings, select Composing, check Add a signature, and type the text. That signature is plain text, so it does not support bold, colors or images.

If you use both versions, set up each one on its own, because the steps are different.

## Mistakes people make with Mail signatures

- Creating the signature while All Signatures is selected. Drag it onto an account before you use it.
- Forgetting to pick it. In each new message, choose the signature from the Signature pop-up menu.
- Leaving Place signature above quoted text checked, so your sign-off sits above the thread in replies.
- Pasting a full-size logo. Use a small file so the signature stays easy to read.
- Expecting bold text or images on iCloud.com. That version is plain text.
- Assuming images always show. Check the privacy settings, then send yourself a test.

## Next steps after your signature is set

If the account is Gmail, add it to Apple Mail before you build the signature. [How to add Gmail to Apple Mail on Mac: step by step for macOS 27](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/use-gmail-in-apple-mail-in-gmail) walks through that setup.

If a message goes out with the wrong signature, [How to undo send in Gmail on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/undo-send-in-gmail) covers the browser and Apple Mail steps. For questions about a specific message, see the [AI assistant for Apple Mail on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/apps/apple-mail).

## Shortcuts

- New email: ⌘N
- Send email: ⇧⌘D
- Reply: ⌘R
- Reply All: ⇧⌘R
- Forward: ⇧⌘F
- Archive: ⌃⌘A

## If it does not work

- **The signature is missing from the Signature pop-up menu** It was probably created under All Signatures. Open Mail > Settings > Signatures, select the account in the left column, and drag the signature from the middle column onto that account.
- **Images in my signature do not show** A third-party vendor's guide says to open Mail > Settings > Privacy, turn off Block All Remote Content, and turn off Protect Mail Activity and Hide IP address. Then check Load Remote Content in Messages under Mail > Settings > Viewing. Turning these off lowers your privacy, and Apple's privacy page does not confirm the default change, so test it first.
- **My signature sits above the quoted text in replies** Open the Signatures pane and uncheck Place signature above quoted text. Replies and forwards will then place it after the original message.
- **Bold text and colors disappear on iCloud.com** The browser version of Mail stores signatures as plain text. Use the Mail app on your Mac if you need bold text, colors or images.
- **The signature font does not match my other messages** Turn on Always match my default message font. It uses the font from Fonts and Colors settings in Mail.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Walk me through adding a signature in Mail”: Lazur guides you one click at a time and waits for each click, starting at the Signatures tab. (Walks you through it)

## FAQ

### Why does my new signature not appear in messages?

A common cause is that the signature was created while All Signatures was selected. Open Mail > Settings > Signatures, drag the signature onto the account in the left column, and then choose it from the Signature pop-up menu in a new message.

### Can each account have its own signature?

Yes. Signatures are set up per account. Select the account in the left column, add or choose the signatures for it, and use Choose Signature to set a default for that account.

### Can I use bold text, colors and images in a Mail signature on Mac?

Yes, in the Mail app on Mac. Use the Format menu for fonts, colors, alignment and lists, and drag images into the preview. The iCloud.com version is plain text, so it does not support bold, colors or images.

### Why is my signature above the quoted text in replies?

The Place signature above quoted text option is checked. Open the signature settings and uncheck it. Apple's guide says this places the signature after the original text in replies and forwards.

### Why can I not see the images in my signature?

A third-party vendor says a recent Apple Mail update blocks external images by default. Check Block All Remote Content and Load Remote Content in Messages under Mail > Settings. Confirm the behavior on your own Mac, because Apple's privacy page does not confirm a change to the default.

### Is there a keyboard shortcut for Mail Settings or Signatures?

Apple's keyboard shortcut list does not include one for Settings or Signatures, so open them from the Mail menu. The list does include Command N for a new email, which you need to start a message with your signature.

### Do I need to set up the signature again on iCloud.com?

Yes, if you use the browser version. Its signature lives in the Settings menu at icloud.com/mail, under Composing, and it is plain text only.

## Sources

1. [Create and use email signatures in Mail on Mac - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/create-and-use-email-signatures-mail11943/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Change Signatures settings in Mail on Mac - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/cpmlprefsig/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Create and edit signatures - Apple Mail User Guide](https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/create-and-edit-signatures-mlhlp1046/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
4. [Keyboard shortcuts in Mail on Mac - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/mail/mlhlb94f262b/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Create an email signature in Mail on iCloud.com - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/create-an-email-signature-mm6b1a3290/icloud), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
6. [Change Privacy settings in Mail on Mac - Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/change-privacy-settings-mlhlae4a4fe6/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
7. [Litmus Email Client Market Share Report](https://www.litmus.com/email-client-market-share), Litmus, checked 2026-11-07
8. [Signature images not showing in Apple Mail - HTML Signature support](https://support.htmlsig.com/en/articles/11625255-signature-images-not-showing-in-apple-mail), HTML Signature (third party), checked 2026-11-07