Add a signature in the Mail app settings

Open Settings on your iPhone, then scroll down and tap Mail. Scroll to the bottom of the Mail settings and tap Signature. You will see options for All Accounts or individual account names. Choose which account or accounts should use the signature, then type the text you want to appear at the end of your emails.

The signature you create here will automatically appear on every email you send from that account. You can use multiple lines, include your name, phone number, job title, or any other closing text. There is no character limit, though very long signatures can make short emails look cluttered.

If you have more than one email account on your iPhone, you can set a different signature for each one. Tap the account name instead of All Accounts, then enter a signature specific to that email address.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings, then Mail, then scroll to Signature to add or change your email closing text.
  • You can set one signature for all accounts or a different signature for each email account you use.
  • The signature appears automatically on every email you send and can include your name, phone number, title, or any text you choose.
  • Signatures work the same way whether you use iCloud, Gmail, Outlook, or another email provider on your iPhone.

What appears in the signature field by default

When you first open the Signature setting, you may see Sent from my iPhone already filled in. This is Apple's default signature. You can delete it and write your own, keep it as is, or edit it to include additional information.

If you delete the default text and leave the signature field blank, your emails will have no signature at all. Some people prefer this for quick messages or informal emails.

Formatting limits and what you cannot do

The Mail app signature field accepts plain text only — you cannot make text bold, italic, or colored, and you cannot insert images or logos. If you need a formatted signature with a company logo or special fonts, you would need to type it manually into each email or use a third-party email app that supports HTML signatures.

Line breaks work fine, so you can arrange your signature across multiple lines to make it more readable. Pressing Return creates a new line within the signature.

Signature behavior when replying and forwarding

Your signature appears on new emails you compose. When you reply to or forward an existing email, the signature still appears at the bottom, after your reply text. This is the standard behavior in the Mail app and cannot be changed in settings.

If you want to avoid adding a signature to a particular reply, you would need to delete it manually before sending that specific email.

Syncing signatures across your Apple devices

If you set a signature on your iPhone, it does not automatically appear on your Mac or iPad unless they are all signed into the same iCloud account and you have Mail syncing turned on. To check this, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud and make sure Mail is toggled on.

Even with iCloud syncing enabled, signature changes can take a few minutes to appear on your other devices. If you use the Mail app on a Mac, you can also set signatures there independently through System Settings.

Troubleshooting: signature not appearing

If you set a signature but it does not appear on your emails, first check that you saved the signature by going back to Settings > Mail > Signature and confirming the text is still there. If it is, try closing the Mail app completely and reopening it.

If the signature still does not appear, restart your iPhone. Occasionally the Mail app needs a fresh start to explore new settings. If you are using an email account that requires special authentication (like Gmail with two-factor authentication), make sure your account is still signed in and active in the Mail app.

Using different signatures for work and personal accounts

If you have both a work email and a personal email on your iPhone, you can set a professional signature for your work account and a casual one for your personal account. Go to Settings > Mail > Signature, tap the work account name, and enter a work signature. Then tap the personal account name and enter a different signature.

This way, when you send an email from your work account, your professional signature appears automatically. When you send from your personal account, your personal signature appears instead. The Mail app remembers which signature belongs to which account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a signature to emails on iPhone if I use Gmail?

Yes. When you add a Gmail account to the Mail app on your iPhone and set a signature in Settings > Mail > Signature, it will appear on emails you send through Gmail. The signature is stored on your iPhone, not in your Gmail account settings.

What if I want a signature only on some emails, not all?

The Mail app signature setting applies to all emails from that account. To send an email without a signature, you would need to delete the signature text manually before sending that specific email. Some third-party email apps offer more control over when signatures appear.

Will my signature appear the same on the recipient's phone?

Yes. Your signature is plain text, so it will look the same on any device or email app the recipient uses. They will see exactly what you typed, without any special formatting or styling.

Can I include my email address or website in my signature?

Yes. You can type your email address, website URL, phone number, or any other contact information directly into the signature field. The Mail app will not automatically turn these into clickable links, but recipients can copy and use them.

Does the signature count toward the email size limit?

Signatures are part of the email body, so they do count toward the total email size. For most emails, a short signature of a few lines makes no practical difference. Very long signatures with repeated contact details might add a small amount to file size, but this rarely causes problems.