Apple Mail Signatures continue to be deleted...

I got help from our IT dept and it solved my issue. Here's what they had me do...

Quit Mail

Open System Preferences>Apple ID>iCloud Drive - click Options

*Important - you want Mail under iCloud Drive Options, NOT "iCloud Mail" from the main menu

Uncheck Mail

Open Mail and add/adjust signatures

Quit Mail to save changes

Open Mail again to make sure signatures saved, then quit Mail again

Open System Preferences again >Apple ID>iCloud Drive - click Options

Recheck Mail

Open Mail to confirm changes saved

After many other suggestions tried, this one actually worked. I also noticed that some of my rules had disappeared so while I was adding my signatures back in, I entered those as well and everything saved.

Hope this helps someone else!

ap_kp_1021 wrote:

I can't speak for the original poster but safe mode reboot did not help me. Turning off Mail in iCloud drive, adding signatures, and then turning Mail back on in iCloud drive fixed the issue.

Thanks for the feedback.

I can't speak for the original poster but safe mode reboot did not help me. Turning off Mail in iCloud drive, adding signatures, and then turning Mail back on in iCloud drive fixed the issue.

I tried everything on this thread, and nothing worked for me. Here's what did:

1. Open Mail
2. Verify your signature is missing
3. Hit ⇧⌘G (or Go > Go to Folder... in the Finder) and enter ~/Library/Mail/V10/MailData/Signatures/
4. Move AllSignatures.plist to the trash
5. Return to Mail, create signature, and assign to appropriate account
6. Quit mail, reopen (which creates a new AllSignatures.plist file), and test to ensure the signature is working

I did this one time, my signatures returned, and I haven't had problems with them disappearing since.

I hope this helps you!

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

Same problem here, when I looked at the Library/Mail/MailData there was no map Signatures.

I closed Mail.

I copied the map Signatures with the contents from my TimeMachine Back-up and placed it under the Library/Mail/MailData and it still works. All my signatures are back.

This Signature function in Apple Mail is designed to support " Text Based Signatures "

refer to below link

Create and use email signatures in Mail on Mac - Apple Support (CA)

Add on, my Text Based Signatures in Apple Mail on 3 different Apple Computers, 2 with Ventura and 1 High Sierra all work fine after closing the Mail Application.

ap_kp_1021 wrote:

P. Phillips - The link provided explains how to create and use signatures but does not at all explain how to prevent them from disappearing. I am having the same issue as the original post. I create and use signatures with no issue so long as I do not close the Mail app. If the app is closed (either by me closing it manually or by restarting my machine), any signatures I have created are no longer saved - all signatures are completely wiped from my Mail preferences and need to be recreated again.

This is a new problem for me, just starting in 2023. I have not installed Ventura yet, currently using Monterey v12.6.

Looking for responses from people who have actually had this problem, not "how to use" articles (unless they specifically address some known issue that results in signatures being wiped once the app is closed).

Under such narrow constrains, it is best to recuse oneself

Get Support Choose a product and we’ll find you the best solution.Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are Apple Employees to deal will these types of issues . 

It didn't initially work for me but then I realized that I'd been turning "Mail" off under "iCloud Drive" but had not been turning off "iCloud Mail."

When I turned off BOTH, and then followed the rest of the directions, and then turned BOTH back on, it worked.

P. Phillips - The link provided explains how to create and use signatures but does not at all explain how to prevent them from disappearing. I am having the same issue as the original post. I create and use signatures with no issue so long as I do not close the Mail app. If the app is closed (either by me closing it manually or by restarting my machine), any signatures I have created are no longer saved - all signatures are completely wiped from my Mail preferences and need to be recreated again.

This is a new problem for me, just starting in 2023. I have not installed Ventura yet, currently using Monterey v12.6.

Looking for responses from people who have actually had this problem, not "how to use" articles (unless they specifically address some known issue that results in signatures being wiped once the app is closed).

I have been on the phone with Apple support some months ago at various levels for one day and a half (not kidding). They do not know how to fix this. It worked at first, but now with the new upgrade, they have disappeared again.....

This solved the problem for me too, thank you!

Have been using Mac Books for the last 10 years - this has never happened to me. Upgraded to the new M2 MacBook and have been dealing with this issue.

I just upgraded my OS (Ventura) a few minutes ago, and the signatures all disappeared.

This has been going on for many months whenever I quited mail or restarted my computer.

Very annoying!

This has not worked for me. I tried it several times to be sure I followed exact directions! I am nervous to update to Ventura until I find a fix for my issue!

Thank you so much! It worked. And I've been frustrated about this for a long time.