Create a Gmail Signature With Images & Links — Start Now

Introduction — A polished Gmail signature builds trust: your name, role, company, and a clickable logo or social icon are often the last thing recipients read — and the first thing they use to contact you. This guide gives a practical, step-by-step walkthrough to create a Gmail signature that includes images and links, plus design best practices, troubleshooting tips, and how to make your signature work across desktop and mobile. By following the instructions below you’ll have a clean, clickable signature that loads reliably and doesn’t trigger spam filters.

What a Gmail signature can — and cannot — include

Gmail’s signature editor supports formatted text, hyperlinks, and images inserted via upload, Google Drive, or a public image URL. You can create multiple signatures and set defaults for new messages and replies/forwards. However, some limitations exist: images are loaded externally (which can be blocked by some clients), mobile apps often only support plain-text signatures, and very large images may fail to upload or display correctly. For official setup steps refer to Google’s signature help.

Key constraints to keep in mind

• Signature character limit (text): Gmail allows substantial text (thousands of characters), but long signatures hurt readability — keep it concise.
• Image handling: Gmail copies uploaded images into your signature, but the image must be sized and hosted appropriately to avoid display issues. If an image is hosted via Drive, ensure the sharing is set to “anyone with the link can view.”
• Mobile differences: Gmail mobile apps (Android/iOS) commonly support only plain-text signatures or strip some formatting, so test mobile behavior separately.

Step-by-step: Create a signature in Gmail (web)

Follow these exact steps to add a signature with images and clickable links in Gmail’s desktop/web interface.

1) Open Gmail signature settings

1. Sign in to Gmail on your computer.
2. At the top-right, click the Settings (gear) icon → See all settings.
3. Under the General tab, scroll down to the Signature section. Click Create new and give your signature a name.

This is the canonical flow described by Google Support for adding and editing signatures.

2) Add text fields (name, title, contact)

1. Type your name on the first line, then your role/title and company on the next line.
2. Add contact details: phone, email (if different), and website. Use short lines and avoid crowding.

Keep the visible portion of the signature to around 3–5 lines for desktop and 1–3 lines for mobile preview purposes (more on mobile below).

3) Insert an image (logo, headshot, or social icon)

1. Place your cursor where you want the image. Click the Insert image icon (picture icon) in the signature editor.
2. Choose one of the options: Upload (from your computer), Web address (URL), or My Drive (Google Drive). If using Drive, set the file’s sharing to “Anyone with the link can view.”
3. After inserting, click the image once and choose a size option (Small, Medium, Large) or drag to resize to a reasonable dimension.

Tip: Use small images (about 80–150 px height) and optimize file size to under ~100 KB to avoid causing large message sizes or slow loads. Many signature design guides recommend keeping images compact to reduce display issues.

4) Make an image clickable (link the image)

1. Select the inserted image (click and drag until it highlights or appears selected).
2. Click the Link icon in the editor toolbar (chain link icon).
3. Paste a full URL (including https://) and click OK. The image becomes a clickable link that opens the specified page when recipients click it.

Common uses: link your logo to your homepage, a headshot to your bio page, or social icons to profiles.

5) Add text links (website, calendar bookings, email)

1. Highlight text (e.g., your website URL), click the Link icon, and paste the destination URL.
2. For phone numbers, prefer using tel: links for mobile users (e.g., tel:+1234567890), but note desktop clients may simply show the text.

6) Set defaults and save

1. Below the signature editor, choose the signature defaults for “For new emails use” and “On reply/forward use” so you control where which signature appears.
2. Scroll to the bottom and click Save Changes.

Image size, format, and hosting best practices

Correct image sizing and hosting prevent broken images, slow loads, and spam flags.

Recommended image size & formats

• Height: 70–150 pixels is a safe range for logos/headshots so they fit nicely in most clients.
• Width: Keep width under 300–400 pixels for full-width signatures; icons should be ~24–48 px square.
• Formats: PNG is preferred for logos with transparency; JPG is fine for photos. Use SVG only if supported by your workflow (many email clients don't render SVG consistently).
• File size: Aim for under 100 KB per image; smaller is better to reduce email size and loading time.

Hosted vs embedded images — which to use

Hosted (linked) images: Stored on a web server and fetched by the recipient’s client when the email is opened. Pros: smaller email size, easier to update centrally. Cons: images may be blocked by clients or proxied (some services proxy to protect privacy).

Embedded images (CID/inline): Included inside the email body; they increase email size and may be treated as attachments. For signatures, hosted images are generally recommended for ease of management and lower message size. Industry guides favor hosted images for signatures.

Design best practices and deliverability tips

A strong Gmail signature is readable, accessible, and avoids spam signals.

Design rules of thumb

• Keep it concise: 3–5 visible lines on desktop; 1–3 lines for mobile previewers.
• Use readable fonts and contrast: Stick to system fonts and avoid tiny sizes.
• Limit images: One logo + 1–3 social icons is safe. Too many images or large banners can trigger spam filters or slow load time.
• Include plain-text fallback: If possible, ensure critical info (name, phone, link) is present as text — some clients block images. This improves accessibility and deliverability.
• Use HTTPS links: Always link to secure (https://) destinations to avoid mixed-content warnings and to improve trust.

Deliverability considerations

• Avoid adding tracking parameters or many redirecting links in signatures — they can increase spam scores.
• Don’t attach large files in the signature area; keep attachments separate from signature content.
• For company-wide signatures, use centralized signature-management tools (CodeTwo, Exclaimer) to maintain consistency and compliance.

Mobile & multiple-signature behavior

Mobile clients behave differently — test and adapt.

Mobile app constraints

Gmail’s mobile apps typically support a separate, plain-text signature setting and may strip images or advanced formatting. If many recipients open mail on phones, ensure essential information (name, phone, link) exists in plain text so mobile users can act even if the image is hidden. For mobile-specific instructions, the Gmail mobile signature area is found in Settings → account → Mobile signature.

Multiple signatures & defaults

Gmail allows you to create several signatures and set defaults for “new email” and “on reply/forward.” Use a shorter signature for replies/forwards to avoid long repeated footers in long threads.

Testing & troubleshooting your signature

Real-world testing is essential: send messages to different clients (Gmail web, Outlook, Apple Mail, mobile) and check image visibility and link behavior.

Common problems and fixes

• Image not showing: If a signature image doesn’t appear, confirm the image source URL is public (if hosted) or that Drive sharing is set correctly. Try re-uploading the image directly into the signature.
• Broken link on image: Re-select the image, click the Link icon, and ensure the full URL (including https://) is entered.
• Signature too large: Compress images and use lower-width/resolution copies, or replace multiple images with fewer icons.
• Signature not showing on mobile: Remember the mobile signature setting is separate — set a simplified mobile signature in the Gmail app and include essential contact text only.

Tools, templates, and example signatures

If you prefer a template or want visually polished icons and layouts, use reputable signature builders (WiseStamp, NewOldStamp, Mail-Signatures templates) or a company signature manager for teams. Many tools export a signature ready to paste into Gmail’s editor.

Sample signatures by role (copy & adapt)

Simple professional (3 lines):
John Doe
Product Manager — Acme Co
john.doe@acme.com | +1 555-0100 | acme.com

With logo + website link:
Jane Smith — Head of Sales
Acme Co — acme.com
Visit website

Compact mobile-friendly (text only):
Ola A. Ogun — Founder, Cryptego
ola@cryptego.com | +234 800 000 0000

Accessibility tips

• Use descriptive alt text for images (e.g., alt="Acme logo") so screen readers convey meaning if images are blocked.
• Keep link text descriptive (avoid “click here”) so assistive tech users know link purpose.
• Make sure color contrast is sufficient for readability.

Legal & brand compliance (teams)

For companies, standardize signatures with policy rules: include legal disclaimers only if required, centralize logo assets, and ensure privacy-friendly links. Use an email signature management tool for consistent updates across employees and to remove outdated promotions or disclaimers easily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I add an image to my Gmail signature and make it clickable?

A: Yes. Insert an image via the signature editor, select it, then use the Link icon to paste the destination URL (include https://). Ensure any Drive-hosted images are shared publicly so recipients can view them.

Q: What is the ideal size for Gmail signature images?

A: Keep signature images small: aim for 70–150 px in height and keep width under ~300–400 px for logos; file sizes under 100 KB are recommended to avoid large email payloads. Use PNG for logos and JPG for photos.

Q: Why doesn’t my signature image show for some recipients?

A: Recipients may block remote images, use text-only clients, or your image URL may not be publicly accessible. Test by sending the email to different accounts and check Drive-sharing or hosting permissions. Re-uploading the image or hosting it on a reliable web server often fixes visibility issues.

Q: Does Gmail mobile app support images and clickable links in signatures?

A: The Gmail mobile app typically supports a separate, simpler signature setting and may limit formatting; images and complex HTML often are not preserved. For mobile users, include essential contact details as plain text in the mobile signature and keep the desktop signature more visual.

Q: Should I host signature images on my own server or use Drive/Image hosts?

A: Hosting images on your own server (or a trusted CDN) gives you control and reliability; Google Drive can work but requires public sharing settings. Avoid unreliable free hosts; prefer a stable URL to prevent broken images. Industry guidance favors hosted images for signatures for manageability and smaller email size.

Q: Will images in my signature trigger spam filters?

A: Images alone don’t guarantee spam classification, but heavy use of images, large image sizes, or many redirecting links may increase spam scores. Always combine images with plain-text contact details, minimize image file sizes, and avoid suspicious link patterns to reduce risk.

Conclusion

Creating a Gmail signature with images and links is straightforward once you follow the right steps: design a concise layout, use optimized hosted images, link images properly, and test across desktop and mobile. For teams, use a centralized signature manager to ensure brand consistency and compliance. Start by creating one polished desktop signature, then set a short plain-text mobile signature so every recipient gets the necessary contact details. Test with a few different mail clients and update as needed.

Call to action: Open Gmail now, create your new signature using the steps above, and send a test message to three different email clients (Gmail web, Outlook, mobile Gmail) to confirm images and links display correctly.