How to add an HTML email signature to Gmail
Gmail accepts rich HTML signatures, you just have to paste them the right way. Here's the whole process on desktop, plus fixes for the things that usually go wrong.
Step 1 — Build and copy your signature
Use the GlowSig generator, fill in your details, then click Copy signature. This copies formatted HTML to your clipboard, not plain text, which is what makes the layout and links survive the paste.
Step 2 — Open Gmail's signature settings
- In Gmail, click the gear icon (top right) → See all settings.
- Stay on the General tab and scroll down to Signature.
- Click Create new, give it a name (e.g. "Main"), and click Create.
Step 3 — Paste it in
Click into the signature edit box and paste with Cmd+V (Mac) or Ctrl+V (Windows). Your full signature, photo, colors, links and all, should appear formatted.
Step 4 — Set it as default
Just below the box, under Signature defaults, choose your new signature for both FOR NEW EMAILS USE and ON REPLY/FORWARD USE so it appears every time.
Step 5 — Save
Scroll to the bottom and click Save Changes. Send yourself a test email to confirm it looks right.
Fixing the common problems
The formatting pasted as plain text
You likely copied the raw code instead of the rendered signature. Go back to the generator and use the Copy signature button (not "view raw HTML"), which puts formatted HTML on your clipboard.
My photo or logo isn't showing
Two causes. First, the recipient may have images turned off, normal Gmail behaviour. Second, if you uploaded the image, it's embedded directly, which is reliable; if you linked to an image URL, make sure that URL is public and uses https://.
It looks fine for me but broken for others
That's usually Outlook, which renders email differently. Stick to table-based, inline-styled signatures (what GlowSig outputs) and avoid modern CSS. See our best practices guide.
Can I add video or music?
Not inside the email itself, Gmail strips those. Add a Signature Page link instead: the email stays clean, and your video, music and rotating quotes live on a page that actually plays them.
On mobile
The Gmail mobile app only supports plain-text signatures. Set your rich HTML signature on desktop, it will still apply to emails you send from desktop. For a consistent mobile signature, keep a simple text version in the app's settings.