How to Set up Your Hotmail Signature in Outlook.com

Hotmail users have the same options as other Outlook.com users

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Updated on July 14, 2020

In early 2016, Microsoft phased out Windows Live Hotmail and moved Hotmail email accounts to Outlook.com, its free web interface. Outlook.com email users with Hotmail addresses can set up and format their Hotmail signature the same way as everyone else who uses Outlook.com.

Here's how to set up your email signature at Outlook.com, whether or not you're using a Hotmail address, and automatically add it to all the emails you write.

Instructions in this article apply to the Microsoft Outlook.com webmail service.

Stamp and wax seal with email mark depicting Hotmail signature in Outlook.com
Palto / Getty Images

How to Set up Your Signature in Outlook.com

Here's how to create an email signature for any email address you use in Outlook.com, including a Hotmail email address.

  1. Sign in at Outlook.com.

  2. Go to Settings (the gear icon) and select View all Outlook settings.

    View all Outlook settings in Outlook

  3. In the Settings dialog box, select Mail.

    The Mail heading in Outlook settings

  4. Select Compose and Reply.

    Compose and Reply settings in Outlook

  5. 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.

    Email Signature field in the Outlook Compose and Reply settings

  6. Select the Automatically include my signature on the new messages that I compose check box.

    The Automatically include signature option in Outlook

  7. If you want to include your signature in replies and forwarded messages, select the Automatically include my signature on messages I forward or reply to check box.

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

    The Save button in Outlook settings

Outlook.com includes your signature automatically when you compose a message. If you don't want to add your email signature to a particular message, delete it as you would delete regular text.

Tips for an Effective Email Signature

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