How to Fix Outlook Signature Not Showing: 8 Simple & Effective Solutions
Outlook signatures are undoubtedly a great marketing tool. However, recently, many users have claimed that their Outlook signature not showing.
So, if this error is bothering you as well, you can check out this practical guide.It introduces you to the factors responsible for the Outlook signatures not working error and its proven solutions.
So, let’s start moving forward. And if you want to recover deleted emails and other Outlook items, you can use the Outlook Deleted Items Recovery Tool for 100% data recovery results.
Must Check Out: How to Create, Set & Add Default Email Signature in Outlook Messages?
How to Fix Outlook Signature Not Showing? 8 Simple Fixes

Here are the potential fixes that you can apply to get rid of the Outlook signature not showing error:
Configure Outlook Signature Settings
The foremost reason behind the Outlook signature not showing is incorrect Outlook signature settings.
So, what are the correct signature settings? Let’s see:
Outlook.com
- Go to Outlook.com >> sign in >> click “Settings” (top of the screen).
- Next, hit “View all Outlook Settings” (Settings menu)
- Now, hit “Compose and reply” located under the Mail category.
- Lastly, review your signature and check if it’s the same one that you want to use or not. If not, you can always edit or create a new signature and hit “Save” to apply the changes.
Outlook Application
- Open Outlook App >> click “File”( top left corner).
- Now, hit “Options” from the drop-down menu.
- Next, click “Mail” from the list on the left side.
- Select the “Signatures” tab under the “Compose Messages” section.
- Lastly, in the new dialog box “Signature & Stationery”. Then, verify your signature matches the one you planned to use.
Same as the Outlook web version, you can also edit or create a new signature.
Check Email Format
Email signatures in Outlook only appear in HTML format. So, if your Outlook email format is selected as Rich Text or Plain text, signatures will not appear.
Additionally, with HTML, you get access to use all the formatting options. It includes fonts, colors, and styles, including images and hyperlinks.
Note: It is important to keep in mind that your email signature can still appear as plain text to the recipient due to different email programs.
Here are the simple steps to switch the email format to HTML:
Outlook.com
- Go to File > Options > Mail.
- Next, under “Compose Message,” ensure that HTML is selected in the Compose messages in the format list.
- You can also switch to HTML when replying or forwarding a message. Simply, on the Outlook Ribbon, go to the “Format Text ” option and select “HTML”.
Outlook Application
- Open the Outlook application and click “File” >> Options.
- Now, select “Mail” (on the left side).
- Next, click on HTML from the drop-down menu (under the “Compose Messages” section).
- Lastly, click “OK” to apply and save the changes
Manage Add-Ins
It is a lesser-known fact, but installed add-ins can also interfere and cause Outlook signature-disappearing issues.
However, you can easily resolve it by managing add-ins by navigating to File >> Options >> Add-ins.
But first, it is important to find out whether an add-in is the culprit or not.
For that, you can run Outlook in Safe mode.
The Steps to run Outlook in Safe Mode:
- Start by closing Outlook and launching the Run Dialog box (Win +R).
- Next, insert “ outlook/safe” and hit Enter.
- Lastly, if the signature appears fine in Safe mode, then it is probable that an add-in is causing the issue.
Repair MS Office Programs
In our thorough research, we have also found that corrupted or misbehaving office programs can also trigger this signature-missing situation, and repairing the MS Office programs can obliterate this error.
So, here’s a quick guide to repair/reinstall MS Office Programs:
- On your desktop, go to “Control Panel”.
- Next, select “Programs”, then choose “Programs and Features”.
- Now, find your Office Installation and select it.
- Lastly, hit “Change” >> “Repair” and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the MS Office program repairing process.
Additionally, if during the repairing process, you end up losing some crucial emails and other important data, always choose the expert-trusted SysTools Outlook Recovery Tool.
Configure Navigation Pane to Default Settings
Configuring the Navigation Pane to the default settings also holds the potential to fix the Outlook email signature not working error. To do so, simply mimic the steps cited below:
- On the Windows home screen, open the Run Dialog Box (Win+R).
- Next, insert outlook.exe/ resetnavpane and hit Enter.
And that’s how you can reset the Navigation Pane to default settings.
Check and Update Your Outlook Account
You have noticed that when you install an update, it fixes existing bugs in the program. Similarly, if your Outlook account is running on an old version, it could develop bugs.
Also, some Outlook users have claimed on different forums that updating their Outlook account has fixed the problem.
So, here’s how you can review and update your Outlook account:
- Navigate to your Outlook Account.
- Go to File >> Office Account >> Update Options.
- Lastly, hit “Update Now”.
It will check and install the latest version to your Outlook account.
Create and Add a New Outlook Profile
Another practical solution to deal with this issue is to create a new Outlook profile temporarily. Your previous profile will not be removed or lost, and can be accessed anytime.
To create a new Outlook profile, you can follow the steps below:
- Go to the Control Panel >> Mail >> Show Profiles.
- Next, add a name for your new profile.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the profile.
- Choose your new profile from the dropdown menu.
- Lastly, select “Always use this profile” >> click “OK” after
Contact Microsoft Support
If all the mentioned troubleshooting tips fail to fix the Outlook not showing issue. The ultimate solution to rub off this signature-vanishing issue is to contact Microsoft Support.
Also, Check Out: How to Add Signature in Thunderbird- Complete Walkthrough
Conclusion
If you’re experiencing the Outlook signature not showing issue, you can assume the following reasons:
- Incorrect Outlook Signature Settings
- Misconfigured Outlook Email Format
- Add-ins Conflicts
- Corrupted MS Programs
- Outdated Outlook account
This is a common Outlook issue, but it can turn into a headache if ignored for too long. manifesting in inconsistent professionalism and business communication.
Fortunately, there are some helpful measures to rub out this “why Outlook signature not showing up in new emails” error.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q.1 Why is my email signature not showing up?
You aren’t seeing the email signature in Outlook because of the following factors:
- Incorrect email signature settings.
- Email formatting issues.
- Browser caching errors.
Q.2 Why is my email signature not automatically appearing in Outlook?
If your email signature is not automatically appearing in Outlook, you can fix this by following the simple instructions given below :
For Classic : Go to Files >> Options >> Mail >> Signatures
For New: Navigate to Settings >> Accounts >> Signature
Lastly, set the desired signature as the “Default Signature.”
Q.3 How to enable email signature?
To add and change the email signature in Outlook, go to Settings/File >> Accounts >> Mail >> Compose and Reply >> + New Signature.
Q.4 How to resolve Outlook signature not showing on mobile?
You have to set up an Outlook signature in the mobile app individually. Because on desktop and mobile devices, Outlook signatures don’t sync often.
To fix this, open the Outlook App >> Settings >> Signature.
Then enter your signature manually for both new messages and replies.
Q.5 How to fix Outlook signature not showing up in new emails?
To make sure the email signature shows up in your new email, follow the given simple steps.
To do so, go to File >> Options >> Mails >> Signatures and choose the default signature for new messages and replies.