Use a screen reader to add a signature in Outlook

This article is for people who use a screen reader program with the Office products and is part of the Office Accessibility content set. For more general help, see Office Support home.

For people who aren't using a screen reader, see Create and add a signature to messages (in Windows) or Create and insert a signature in Outlook for Mac.

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Use Outlook 2016 with your keyboard and a screen reader, such as JAWS or Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader, to add a signature. The signature appears automatically at the bottom of new emails, including your replies and emails you forward.

Notes: 

• New Office 365 features are released gradually to Office 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you could get new features faster, visit When do I get the newest features in Office 2016 for Office 365?.

• For keyboard shortcuts, go to Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook.

• This topic assumes that you are using JAWS. To learn about JAWS for Windows, refer to JAWS for Windows Quick Start Guide.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Windows screen reader, Narrator. To learn more about using Narrator, go to Get started with Narrator.

• This topic assumes you are using this app with a PC. Some navigation and gestures might be different for a Windows phone or tablet.

In this topic

• Create a new signature

• Keyboard shortcuts for formatting signatures

• Insert your signature

• Set a default signature

Create a new signature

You don't have to use the same signature for everything. You can use a different signature for each type of email. For example, a business signature might include your name, job title, and contact information, while your home signature might have just a nickname and an image.

1. In Outlook, press Alt+F, T. The Outlook Options window opens, and you hear "Outlook options."

2. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Mail."

3. Press Alt+N, Enter. The Signatures and Stationery dialog box opens, and you hear: "Signatures and Stationery dialog. Email Signature page." In Narrator, you hear: "Signatures and Stationery. OK button."

4. To create a new signature, press Alt+N, Enter. The New Signature dialog box opens, and you hear: "New Signature dialog. Type a name for this signature." In Narrator, you hear "New Signature. Type a name for this signature."

5. Type a name for the signature. Then press the Tab key to go to the OK button, and press Enter.

   Tip: Give signatures descriptive names, such as "business closing." A good name can help you find the signature that you want in the future.

6. The focus returns to the Signatures and Stationery dialog box, in the Select signature to edit box.

7. If you use Outlook for multiple email accounts, choose the account that will use this signature.

   • To change to the email account box, press Alt+A. You hear "Email account colon combo box" and the name of the selected signature. In Narrator, you hear only the name of the selected signature.

   • Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move through the list until you hear your account choice, then press Enter.

8. To select the signature that you want to be added automatically to all new email messages, press Alt+M to go to the New Messages drop-down list. You hear: "Signatures and Stationary dialog. To change the selection, use the arrow keys." Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move to the signature that you want, and then press Enter.

9. To select the signature you want be added automatically (auto sign) when you reply to or forward messages, press Alt+F to go to the Replies/Forwards drop-down list. You hear: "Signatures and Stationary dialog. To change the selection, use the arrow keys." In Narrator, you hear only the signature selected. Use the arrow keys to move to the signature that you want, and then press Enter.

10. To open the Edit signature box and add the signature text, press Alt+T and then the Tab key until you hear: "Not available outside an open message." In Narrator, you hear "Edit signature. Editing text." The focus is in the Signature box.

11. Type the signature text.

    Tip: Besides text, you can also add a picture in the Signature box, such as a logo, or an image of your handwritten signature. To add a picture, press Shift+Tab until you hear "Pictures... button" (in Narrator you hear "Pictures button"), and then press Enter. The Insert Picture dialog opens where you can browse the image you want. When on the picture you want, press Enter.

12. Use the Tab key to navigate to the OK button, and press Enter to close the Signatures box.

13. To close the Outlook Options window, use the Tab key to navigate to the OK button and press Enter.

    The focus returns to where you started.

Keyboard shortcuts for formatting signatures

Here are some keyboard shortcuts that you can use to format an email signature:

To do this	Press
Apply bold formatting	Ctrl+B
Apply underline formatting	Ctrl+U
Remove text formatting	Ctrl+Spacebar
Change font	Alt+T
Align left	Ctrl+L
Center text	Ctrl+C
Align right	Ctrl+R

Insert your signature

1. While composing your message in Outlook, press Alt+N to go to the Insert tab, and then AS to open the Signature option.

2. If there's only one signature available and you'd like to add that one, press Enter. If you have more signatures, press the Down arrow key to choose between the signatures. The screen reader announces the signatures as you move. When on the one you want to use, press Enter.

   The signature is added to your message, and the focus returns to the message.

Set a default signature

1. In Outlook, press Alt+F, T. The Outlook Options window opens.

2. If needed, press the Down or Up arrow key until you hear: "Mail." Press Alt+N. The screen reader announces: "Signatures, button." Press Enter. The Signatures and Stationery dialog opens.

3. If you have several email accounts in use, press Alt+A to go to the E-mail account list. Use the arrow keys to navigate the list, and press Enter when on the account for which you want to set signatures.

4. To add a default signature to new messages that you compose using this account, press Alt+M to go to the New messages list. You hear the current selection. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move to the signature you want, and press Enter.

5. To add a default signature to messages that you reply to or forward, press Alt+F to go to the Replies/forwards list. You hear the current selection. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move to the signature you want, and press Enter.

6. To save your changes, press the Tab key until you hear "OK button," and press Enter. The Signatures and Stationery dialog closes and you return to the Outlook Options window. To close the window and return to your inbox, press Esc.

Remove a default signature

1. If you use Outlook for multiple email accounts, in the Signatures and Stationery dialog, select the email account containing the signature you want to delete.

2. To go to the Select signature to edit box, press the Tab key or Shift+Tab until you hear "Select signature to edit," followed by the name of the currently selected signature.

3. To select a signature, use the Up or Down arrow keys until you hear the signature you want.

4. To delete a signature, press Alt+D. A notification window opens, and you hear: "Yes button." Then press Enter.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Office 365

Learn how to navigate in Outlook using accessible features

In Outlook 2016 for Mac, you can add a signature using a keyboard and VoiceOver, the built-in Mac OS screen reader. You can set the signature to appear automatically at the bottom of new email messages, replies, and emails you forward.

Notes: 

• New Office 365 features are released gradually to Office 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you could get new features faster, visit When do I get the newest features in Office 2016 for Office 365?.

• For keyboard shortcuts, go to Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook for Mac.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Mac OS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, go to VoiceOver Getting Started Guide.

In this topic

• Create a new signature

• Insert your signature

• Set a default signature

Create a new signature

You don't have to use the same signature for everything. You can use a different signature for each type of email. For example, a business signature might include your name, job title, and contact information, while your home signature might have just a nickname and an image.

1. In Outlook, press Control+Option+M to go to the menu bar.

2. Press the Right arrow key once. You hear: "Outlook." Press Control+Option+Spacebar to open the menu.

3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Preferences, ellipsis." Press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

4. The Outlook Preferences dialog opens. Press the Tab key repeatedly until you hear: "Signatures, button." Press Control+Option+Spacebar.

5. The Signatures dialog opens. Press the Tab key repeatedly until you hear: "Add signature, button." Press Control+Option+Spacebar.

6. The focus moves to the Signature field, and you can type the signature text.

   Tip: Besides text, you can also add a picture in the Signature field, such as a logo, or an image of your handwritten signature. To add a picture, copy it from a folder or Desktop, and place it where you want to appear in the signature field.

7. To give a descriptive name for the signature, press Shift+Tab repeatedly until you hear: "Untitled, contents selected, edit text." You're in the Signature name field, where you can type the new name.

8. Press Shift+Tab repeatedly until you hear VoiceOver announce your email account.

   If you use Outlook for multiple email accounts, choose the account that should default to this signature. To open the list of accounts, press Control+Option+Spacebar. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move through the list until you hear the account you want, and press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

9. To automatically include this signature to all new messages that you compose and send from this email account, press the Tab key once. The focus is on the New messages list. By default, the option None is selected. VoiceOver announces: "None, pop up button."

10. To open the list of options, press Control+Option+Spacebar. Press the Down arrow key to move to the signature. When you hear the signature, press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

11. If you want to automatically include the signature to all the messages you reply to and forward, press the Tab key once. The focus is on the Replies/forwards list. By default, the option None is selected. VoiceOver announces: "None, pop up button."

12. Press Control+Option+Spacebar to open the list. Press the Down arrow key to move to the signature. When you hear the signature, press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

13. Press Command+W to close the Signatures dialog and return to where you started.

Insert your signature

1. While composing a message in Outlook, press Shift+Tab until VoiceOver announces: "Signature, menu button." Press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

2. The signatures submenu opens. Press the Down or Up arrow keys to move through the list items. When you hear the signature you want to use, press Control+Option+Spacebar.

   The signature is added to the message. The focus stays on the Signature button on the ribbon. To move the focus to the message body, press the Tab key repeatedly.

Set a default signature

1. In Outlook, press Control+Option+M to go to the menu bar.

2. Press the Right arrow key once. You hear: "Outlook." Press Control+Option+Spacebar to open the menu.

3. Press the Down arrow key until you hear "Preferences, ellipsis." Press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

4. The Outlook Preferences dialog opens. Press the Tab key repeatedly until you hear: "Signatures, button." Press Control+Option+Spacebar.

5. The Signatures dialog opens. Press Shift+Tab until you hear VoiceOver announce your email account.

6. If you have several email accounts in Outlook, choose the account that will use this signature. To open the list of accounts, press Control+Option+Spacebar. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move through the list until you hear the account you want, and press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

7. To add a default signature to new messages that you compose using this account, press the Tab key once to go to the New messages list. You hear the current selection. To open the list of options, press Control+Option+Spacebar. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move to the signature you want, and press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

8. To add a default signature to messages that you reply to or forward, press the Tab key once to go to the Replies/forwards list. You hear the current selection. To open the list of options, press Control+Option+Spacebar. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to move to the signature you want, and press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

9. Press Command+W to save your changes and close the Signatures dialog.

Remove a default signature

1. To go to the Signature name list, press the Tab key or Shift+Tab until you hear "Select signature name table," followed by the name of the currently selected signature.

2. To select a signature, use the Up or Down arrow keys until you hear the signature you want.

3. To delete a signature, press the Tab key until you hear "Delete selected signatures button," and then press Control+Option+Spacebar. A notification window opens.

4. Press the Tab key once. You hear: "Delete default button." Then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts for Outlook for Mac

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Office 365

Learn how to navigate in Outlook using accessible features

In Outlook for iOS, you can add a signature using VoiceOver, the built-in iOS screen reader. You can set the signature to appear automatically at the bottom of new email messages, replies, and emails you forward.

Notes: 

• New Office 365 features are released gradually to Office 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you could get new features faster, visit When do I get the newest features in Office 2016 for Office 365?.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in iOS screen reader, VoiceOver. To learn more about using VoiceOver, visit Apple accessibility.

• This topic assumes that you are using an iPhone. Some navigation and gestures might be different for an iPad.

By default, the "Get Outlook for iOS" message appears at the end of your emails as your signature. Instead of having the default message, you can create a personalized signature for all your messages.

1. From your Inbox, to go to the Settings menu, swipe left until you hear "Show navigation pane, button," double-tap the screen, swipe right until you hear "Settings, button," and then double-tap the screen.

2. In the Settings menu, swipe right until you hear "Signature <current signature>, button," and then double-tap the screen. The Signature menu opens.

3. To create a signature, swipe right until you hear "<current signature>, text field," double-tap the screen, and edit the current signature using the on-screen keyboard.

   Note: To go to the keyboard, swipe right until you hear a keyboard element.

   Tip: You can also find the keyboard by exploring the items on the screen. To explore, place a finger on the screen and drag it around. VoiceOver announces the items as you land on them. To select an item, lift your finger and double-tap the screen.

4. After creating the new signature, to close the Signature menu, swipe left until you hear "Settings, back button," and then double-tap the screen.

   Note: If you don't want to have any signature at the end of your email messages, simply delete the signature text in the Signature menu.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Office 365

Learn how to navigate in Outlook using accessible features

In Outlook for Android, you can add a signature using TalkBack, the built-in Android screen reader. You can set the signature to appear automatically at the bottom of new email messages, replies, and emails you forward.

Notes: 

• New Office 365 features are released gradually to Office 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you could get new features faster, visit When do I get the newest features in Office 2016 for Office 365?.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Android screen reader, TalkBack. To learn more about using TalkBack, go to Android accessibility.

• This topic assumes you are using this app with an Android phone. Some navigation and gestures might be different for an Android tablet.

By default, the "Get Outlook for Android" message appears at the end of your emails as your signature. Instead of having the default message, you can create a personalized signature for all your messages.

1. From your Inbox, to go to the Settings menu, swipe left until you "Open navigation drawer, button," double-tap the screen, swipe right until you hear "Settings," and then double-tap the screen.

2. In the Settings menu, swipe right until you hear "Change your default signature, your default signature is <current signature>," and then double-tap the screen. The Signature menu opens and the focus moves to the signature text field.

3. Edit the current signature using the on-screen keyboard.

   Tip: You can find the keyboard by exploring the items on the screen. To explore, place a finger on the screen and drag it around. TalkBack announces the items as you land on them. To select an item, when on the item, lift your finger. Depending on your device settings, you may need to double-tap the screen to insert the character.

4. After typing the new signature, swipe left until you hear "Save," and then double-tap the screen. The Signature menu closes and the focus moves to Settings.

   Note: If you don't want to have any signature at the end of your email messages, simply delete the signature text in the Signature menu.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Office 365

Learn how to navigate in Outlook using accessible features

In Outlook, you can add a signature using Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader. You can set the signature to appear automatically at the bottom of new email messages, replies, and emails you forward.

Notes: 

• New Office 365 features are released gradually to Office 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you could get new features faster, visit When do I get the newest features in Office 2016 for Office 365?.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Windows screen reader, Narrator. To learn more about using Narrator, go to Get started with Narrator.

• This topic assumes you are using this app with a Windows phone. Some navigation and gestures might be different for a tablet or PC.

By default, the "Sent from my Windows 10 phone" message appears at the end of your emails as your signature. Instead of having the default message, you can create a personalized signature for all your messages.

1. From your Inbox, to go to the Settings menu, swipe right until you "More options, button collapsed," double-tap the screen, swipe right until you hear "Settings button," and then double-tap the screen.

2. In the Settings menu, swipe right until you hear "Signature button," and then double-tap the screen. The Signature menu opens.

3. To edit the current signature, swipe right until you hear "Signature, editable text, <current signature>," double-tap the screen, and type the new signature using the on-screen keyboard.

   Note: To go to the keyboard, swipe right until you hear a keyboard element.

   Tip: You can also find the keyboard by exploring the items on the screen. To explore, place a finger on the screen and drag it around. Narrator announces the items as you land on them. To select an item, lift your finger and double-tap the screen.

4. After typing the new signature, place a finger on the screen and drag it around at the bottom left of the screen until you hear "Back, button collapsed," and double-tap the screen. The on-screen keyboard closes.

   Note: If you don't want to have any signature at the end of your email messages, in the Signature menu, swipe right or left until you hear "On, Use an email signature, toggle switch," and double-tap the screen to disable the signature. You hear: "Off, Use an email signature, toggle switch."

5. To close the Signature menu, swipe right until you hear "Back, button collapsed," and double-tap the screen.

6. To close the Settings menu and go back to your Inbox, swipe right until you hear "Back, button collapsed" and double-tap the screen.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Outlook

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Learn how to navigate in Outlook using accessible features

In Outlook Web App, you can add a signature using Narrator, the built-in Windows screen reader. You can set the signature to appear automatically at the bottom of new email messages, replies, and emails you forward in Mail.

Notes: 

• New Office 365 features are released gradually to Office 365 subscribers, so your app might not have these features yet. To learn how you could get new features faster, visit When do I get the newest features in Office 2016 for Office 365?.

• For keyboard shortcuts, go to Keyboard shortcuts in Outlook on the web.

• This topic assumes that you are using the built-in Windows screen reader, Narrator. To learn more about using Narrator, go to Get started with Narrator.

• This topic assumes you are using this app with a PC. Some navigation and gestures might be different for a Windows phone or tablet.

• This topic assumes that the Reading pane is off.

• When you use Outlook Web App, we recommend that you use Microsoft Edge as your web browser. Because Outlook Web App runs in your web browser, the keyboard shortcuts are different from those in the desktop program. For example, you'll use Ctrl+F6 instead of F6 for jumping in and out of the commands. Also, common shortcuts like F1 (Help) and Ctrl+O (Open) apply to the web browser – not Outlook Web App.

In this topic

• Create a new signature

• Insert your signature

Create a new signature

1. In Mail, press Ctrl+F6 until you hear "App launcher," press the Tab key until you hear "Open the Settings menu to access personal and app settings," and then press Enter. The Mail Settings context menu opens and you hear: "Context menu."

   Note: If you are using a work or school account, the steps may be slightly different.

2. To open the Options menu, press the Down arrow key until you hear "Menu item, options," and then press Enter.

3. In the Options menu, press the Tab key until you hear "Options, Mail," press the Down arrow key until you hear "Email signature," and then press Enter. The Email signature menu opens.

4. To go to the signature text box, press the Tab key until you hear "Editing." Type the signature you want to use.

5. Do one of the following:

   • If you want your signature to automatically display at the bottom of all new messages, press the Tab key or Shift+Tab until you hear "Unchecked, Automatically include my signature on messages I send, checkbox," and then press Enter.

   • If you want your signature to automatically display at the bottom of all replies and forwards, press the Tab key or Shift+Tab until you hear "Unchecked, Automatically include my signature on messages I forward or reply to, checkbox," and then press Enter.

   Tip: If you don't select any of those options, you can also manually add your signature to any new message you want. To learn more, refer to Insert your signature.

6. When done, press the Tab key until you hear "Save," and then press Enter.

7. To close the Options menu and go back to Mail, press the Tab key until you hear "Back," and then press Enter.

Insert your signature

If you've created a signature, but didn't choose to automatically add it to outgoing messages, you can manually add it to specific messages.

1. While composing a message in Outlook, place the cursor where you want to insert your signature.

2. Press the Tab key until you hear: "More actions, button collapsed." Then, press Spacebar to open the context menu.

3. To insert the signature, press the Up arrow key until you hear "Menu item, insert signature," and press Enter.

4. Your signature is added to the message, and the focus moves to the email message body.

See also

Use a screen reader to format text in your email in Outlook

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Outlook

Keyboard shortcuts in Outlook on the web

Basic tasks using a screen reader with email in Outlook

Learn how to navigate in Outlook using accessible features

Technical support for customers with disabilities

Microsoft wants to provide the best possible experience for all our customers. If you have a disability or questions related to accessibility, please contact the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk for technical assistance. The Disability Answer Desk support team is trained in using many popular assistive technologies and can offer assistance in English, Spanish, French, and American Sign Language. Please go to the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk site to find out the contact details for your region.

If you are a government, commercial, or enterprise user, please contact the enterprise Disability Answer Desk.