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SignatureSmith / How to add a signature in Word

How to add a signature in Word

The quickest way to sign a Word document is to insert an image of your signature with a transparent background and place it on the signature line. Make the image below, then follow the steps.

Skip to the Microsoft Word steps ↓

Step 1 · Make your signature image

Name form
Ink
Finishing stroke
Handwriting (27 fonts)

Download

Step 2 · Insert a signature image (recommended)

Works in Word for Windows, Mac, the web and mobile.

  1. Create your signature above and press PNG (transparent) to download it.
  2. In Word, click where the signature should go, then choose Insert › Pictures › This Device (on a Mac: Insert › Pictures › Picture from File) and pick the PNG.
  3. With the picture selected, open Layout Options (or Picture Format › Wrap Text) and choose In Front of Text so you can drag it freely onto the line.
  4. Drag a corner handle to resize it. Corners keep the proportions; side handles stretch it.

Option 2 · Save it for reuse with AutoText

Word for Windows. Saves you inserting the file every time.

  1. Insert your signature image as above. If you like, add your typed name and job title underneath.
  2. Select the image (and text).
  3. Choose Insert › Quick Parts › AutoText › Save Selection to AutoText Gallery, give it a name such as “mysig”, and press OK.
  4. Next time, type the name and press F3, or pick it from Insert › Quick Parts › AutoText.

Option 3 · Draw directly in Word

Touch screens and pens, in Word versions with a Draw tab.

  1. Open the Draw tab and choose a pen.
  2. Sign on the page with your finger or stylus.
  3. Select the ink and drag it into place. Ink drawn with a mouse usually looks shaky, so a cleaned image normally looks better.

Good to know

  • Insert › Signature Line (Microsoft Office Signature Line) is a different feature. It sets up a certificate-based digital signature and needs a digital ID. For an everyday signed letter or form, the image method is what people expect.
  • If you save as PDF afterwards (File › Save As › PDF), the signature becomes part of the page and is harder to move by accident.
  • Don't email the editable .docx with your signature image in it if you can avoid it. Send a PDF instead.

Signing a PDF instead? Use Sign a PDF. It places your signature on the page without uploading the file. For the other app, see how to add a signature in Google Docs.

Microsoft Word signature questions

How do I insert a handwritten signature in Word?

Sign on white paper, photograph it, and clean it into a transparent PNG with our background remover. Then use Insert › Pictures in Word and set the picture's wrapping to In Front of Text.

Why does my signature have a white box around it in Word?

The image is a JPG or a PNG without transparency. Download the transparent PNG instead. As a workaround, Picture Format › Color › Set Transparent Color and clicking the white area also works, but the edges look rough.

Can I create an electronic signature in Word for free?

Yes. Make the signature image with a free generator, insert it as a picture and save the document as PDF. That is an electronic signature, which the US ESIGN Act and the EU eIDAS regulation generally accept for ordinary contracts.

How do I add a signature in Word on iPhone or Android?

Download the PNG to your phone. In the Word app, tap where you want it, choose Insert › Pictures and pick the image. Then drag it into place.