If you find that you repeatedly send the same message, you may want to create a Signature file in Outlook. You can create a signature containing any information which will remain constant, save the signature, and then use the signature to send a new message or to reply to a message. NOTE: In order to select between multiple signatures, you must create a default signature file (e.g., a business, personal or even blank).

 

To create an institutional signature showing your affiliation with the University of Iowa, see Email Signatures for information.

See Create and add a signature to messages for more information. 

Outlook Windows

  1. Choose File | Options Mail and then click on the Signatures button.
  2. Click the New button on the Signatures and Stationery window.
  3. Enter a name for your new signature (e.g., "invite") and click OK.
  4. Enter any text in the Edit signature text box that will not change. You may also change the message font and style if you would like.  Note: You must set default signatures for new messages and replies/forwards
  5. Click the OK button to return to the Options menu.
  6. Click the OK button to close the Options menu.

Outlook Mac

  1. Click Outlook (on the upper left) | Preferences Signatures
  2. Click the "+" at the bottom left of the screen to add a new signature
  3. The window on the right side of the screen will now be active and you can draft the signature

Outlook on the web

  1. Login to Outlook on the web
  2. Click Outlook
  3. Click Settings (gear icon)
  4. Click View all Outlook settings
  5. Choose Mail
  6. Choose Compose and Reply
  7. In the Email Signature box, click the + New Signature link
  8. Type the name of the signature in the Edit signature name box
  9. Click in the box to type the text of the signature
  10. Select your preference using the down arrow in the For New Messages: box
  11. Select your preference using the down arrow in the For Replies/Forwards: box 
  12. Click Save.

 

Creating From an Existing Message

  1. Open the message and choose Select | Select All in the Editing section
  2. Right click on the highlighted text and select Copy
  3. Follow Steps 1-6 above.
  4. In Step 4 instead of typing in the message text, right click in the Edit signature text box and choose Paste.
  5. Continue with Step 5 above.

Outlook Windows

  1. Create a new message or reply to an existing message.
  2. Click down arrow of Signature icon
  3. Select the signature you wish to use
  4. Click the Send button.

Outlook Mac

  1. Create a new message or reply to an existing message.
  2. Click the Signature dropdown icon that is to the right of the picture icon on the taskbar. 
  3. Choose which signature you wish to send
  4. Click the Send button. 

Outlook on the web

If you didn't select "Automatically include my signature in messages I send" when you created the signature, do the following:

  1. Create a new message or reply to an existing message.
  2. Click the
    owa signature icon
     icon and select Outlook Web Signature (or the name you gave your signature)
  3. Click the Send button. 

 

Outlook Windows

  1. Select File | Options | Mail and then click on the Signatures button.
  2. Select the signature file you want to modify.
  3. Make any changes in the Edit signature text box and then click the OK button.
  4. Click on the OK button.

Outlook Mac

  1. Click Outlook (on the upper left) | Preferences Signatures
  2. Highlight the signature you wish to modify by clicking on it
  3. You can now edit the signature by typing in the window on the right side of the screen

Outlook on the web

  1. Click Settings (gear icon)
  2. Click View all Outlook settings
  3. Choose Mail
  4. Choose Compose and Reply
  5. Edit the text of the signature.
  6. Click Save.

Outlook Windows

  1. Select File | Options | Mail and then click on the Signatures button.
  2. Select the signature file you want to delete, and click the Delete button.
  3. When prompted 'Are you sure you want to delete the selected signature? All e-mail accounts using the signature will no longer have a signature'. click the Yes button.
  4. Click the OK button.
  5. Click the OK button.

Outlook Mac

  1. Click Outlook (on the upper left) | Preferences Signatures
  2. Highlight the signature you wish to delete by clicking on it
  3. Click the "-" at the bottom left of the screen to delete the signature

Outlook on the web

  1. Click Settings (gear icon)
  2. Click View all Outlook settings
  3. Choose Mail
  4. Choose Compose and Reply
  5. Select the Delete button next to Outlook Web Signature
  6. Click Save.
Article number: 
100703
Last updated: 
February 16, 2023