This article explains how to create an email signature for any email address you use in Outlook.com, including a Hotmail email address.

What to Know

  • Select Settings > View All Outlook Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply > Email Signature.Next: Enter and format signature, or select Rename to change default.Select drop-down arrow next to For New Messages > select Outlook Web Signature to set as default.

How to Set up Your Signature in Outlook.com

Outlook.com email users with Hotmail addresses or any email address can set up and format their Outlook.com signature.

  • Launch Outlook.com and select Settings (gear icon).
  • Select View all Outlook settings.
  • In the Settings dialog box, select Mail.
  • Select Compose and Reply.
  • In the Email signature text box, enter your signature.
  • Use the formatting tools to change the look of the text, format quotes, add pictures, and insert hyperlinks.
  • The default signature name is Outlook Web Signature. Select Rename if you want to name it something else.
  • Under Select Default Signatures, select the drop-down arrow next to For New Messages and choose Outlook Web Signature. Your signature will be added to all new messages.
  • Select No Signature if you don’t want to include a signature in your new messages. Select a different signature if you have more than one.
  • Select the drop-down arrow next to For Replies/Forwards and choose Outlook Web Signature. Your signature will be added to all replies and forwarded messages.
  • Select No Signature if you don’t want to include a signature in your replies and forwarded messages. Select a different signature if you have more than one.
  • Select Save when you’re finished. Your new email signature will now accompany your messages.
  • Select New Signature at any time to add a new customized signature.

Tips for an Effective Email Signature

Every email you send is an opportunity to market yourself or your business. Keep the following tips in mind when creating your email signature:

In early 2016, Microsoft phased out Windows Live Hotmail and moved Hotmail email accounts to Outlook.com, its free web interface.

Launch Outlook.com and select Settings (gear icon).

Select View all Outlook settings.

In the Settings dialog box, select Mail.

Select Compose and Reply.

In the Email signature text box, enter your signature.

Use the formatting tools to change the look of the text, format quotes, add pictures, and insert hyperlinks.

The default signature name is Outlook Web Signature. Select Rename if you want to name it something else.

Under Select Default Signatures, select the drop-down arrow next to For New Messages and choose Outlook Web Signature. Your signature will be added to all new messages.

Select No Signature if you don’t want to include a signature in your new messages. Select a different signature if you have more than one.

Select the drop-down arrow next to For Replies/Forwards and choose Outlook Web Signature. Your signature will be added to all replies and forwarded messages.

Select No Signature if you don’t want to include a signature in your replies and forwarded messages. Select a different signature if you have more than one.

Select Save when you’re finished. Your new email signature will now accompany your messages.

Select New Signature at any time to add a new customized signature.

  • Limit your email signature to five lines of text.Include your contact information.Use dividers to minimize lines. For example, Address | City | Phone.Keep the use of color simple.Insert live links to your website or business.Include social icons that link to your social profiles.Format the signature to make it mobile-friendly. Add space between icons and choose a font size that can be read on small screens.

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day