Creating an HTML signature in Mozilla Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird email client allows you to create a signature for each identity you have created. The signature can be either plain text, or HTML, which can include various formatting. The box that Thunderbird provides to type your signature into, is a tiny little thing. The best way to create the signature, is not to try to use that little box for entering it.

These are the steps you should follow to create a simple HTML signature:

  1. Start writing a new email by clicking the “Write” button.
  2. In the blank email form that comes up, enter the signature of your choice. Use the text formatting buttons to get it looking how you like it – font sizes, colours, bold, italic etc.
  3. Once the signature looks right, select it using the mouse.
  4. The non-intuitive step involves selecting Insert->HTML from the top menu of the email. This will open a small window showing the HTML of the signature you selected.
  5. Select all the HTML in the window, and copy it (press Ctrl-C from the keyboard or right-click the mouse and select “Copy”).
  6. Close the “Insert HTML” box by cancelling it.
  7. Go back to the main Thunderbird window and select Tools->Account Settings from the top menu.
  8. Select the account on the left-hand side of the “Account Settings” window for which you want to set the signature. You will see the “Signature text” box with the “Use HTML” tickbox above it.
  9. Tick the “Use HTML” box.
  10. Click in the “Signature text” box then paste the signature – either Ctrl-V using the keyboard or right-click then “Paste” using the mouse.
  11. Click “OK” to close the “Account Settings” window.
  12. Now try creating a new email. The signature should appear, with “–” just before it.

If you need to change the signature or tweak it, then go back to step 1. Each time you will start with the last signature you created as a starting point.

You can even include an image or logo in the signature if you wish. You can link to an image on your local hard drive or copy and paste an image into the signature. Either way will work, even though they operate in different ways. When you copy the HTML, just make sure you copy it all exactly as it appears in the Insert->HTML box. It will appear to be complicated codes, but that is what carries the formatting and the images.

5 Responses to Creating an HTML signature in Mozilla Thunderbird

  1. Nick Leonard 2014-03-03 at 15:55 #

    You Rock! this was a big help.Thanks

  2. Benjie 2014-03-11 at 10:08 #

    Wow!! This is the best method on how to add logo in signature and easy to follow. Thanks a lot.

  3. john mayger 2016-01-13 at 04:03 #

    Excellent thanks. This is the best method I’ve found.

  4. Doug 2016-10-11 at 03:11 #

    My version 45.4.0 on my laptop does not offer an “Account Settings” on the Edit drop-down. But my 45.3.0 does on my PC. How can I create a signature on the laptop?

    • Jason Judge 2016-10-11 at 17:36 #

      Doug, that sounds a bit strange. It has to be there somewhere, so you can set up email accounts in the first place. “Account Settings” is under the “Tools” menu.

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