CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook - centralized deployment

CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook, co-engineered with Microsoft, adds signatures as users type an email in Outlook for Windows, Mac, Outlook on the web (OWA), iOS & Android. The Web Add-in also allows users to preview the signature that will be added in the cloud (after an email is sent).

The add-in can be easily deployed centrally to all or selected users in your organization through the Microsoft 365 admin center. The deployment is per Microsoft 365 user not per device, so the add-in works in Outlook and OWA on any device the user signs into. No need to install any additional COM/EXE objects.

Read this before the deployment

For instructions on how to use the Web Add-in, see this article.

Deployment instructions

To deploy the Web Add-in, watch our video tutorial or check the instructions below.

  1. Use this link to launch the Web Add-in deployment wizard in your Microsoft 365 admin center (Integrated apps). If necessary, sign in to Microsoft with your organization's Microsoft 365 Exchange admin or global admin account. 

    For an alternative deployment method, via Microsoft AppSource, see this section.

  2. In the wizard, specify which users can access the add-in. Select:
    • Just me to deploy the add-in only for the admin account used to deploy the add-in,
    • Entire organization to deploy the add-in for all users in your Microsoft 365 organization,
    • Specific users/groups to deploy the add-in only for the selected users or groups of users. Use the search box to find and add individual users or groups, as shown in Fig. 1.

      Supported groups

      While the centralized deployment works for most of the group types available in Microsoft 365, it does not support nested groups or groups that have parent groups (non-top-level groups).

CodeTwo for Outlook - deploy for specific users
Fig. 1. Selecting the add-in users.

  1. Click Next to accept permissions required for the add-in to work correctly (Fig. 2.).

CodeTwo for Outlook - add-in permissions
Fig. 2. CodeTwo add-in permissions request.

  1. Click Next and then click Finish deployment.
  2. Once the deployment is completed, click Done to close the pane.

It usually takes up to 6 hours for the add-in to appear and work correctly in Outlook. However, the deployment can take up to 72 hours to complete, depending on the size of your organization.

You will now see the Web Add-in (CodeTwo for Outlook) on the Integrated apps page (Fig. 3.). If you click it, the details pane opens on the right. From here, you can use the provided links to manage the add-in's users, update the add-in, as well as remove the add-in from your Microsoft 365 tenant.

The Web Add-in listed on the Integrated apps page.
Fig. 3. The Web Add-in listed on the Integrated apps page.

Note that by default the add-in will work across all Outlook apps (desktop, mobile and OWA). You can disable adding CodeTwo signatures to emails sent from Outlook for iOS and Android and access other add-in settings in CodeTwo Admin Panel. Learn more

Now you need to create an email signature and assign users who should get it. To do so, create and configure a signature rule by following this guide. For instructions on how to use the Web Add-in, see this article.

Optional: deployment via Microsoft AppSource

You can get the CodeTwo Web Add-in from Microsoft AppSource. To start the deployment, you will be automatically redirected to a deployment wizard in your Microsoft 365 admin center.

Important

If your company uses an endpoint manager or a firewall, be sure to whitelist CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook endpoints. Otherwise, the Web Add-in will not work. If you've already whitelisted the necessary endpoints or intend to do this later, proceed with the deployment.

  1. Open the Web Add-in listing on Microsoft AppSource.
  2. Click the Get it now button, as shown in Fig. 4.

CodeTwo for Outlook in Microsoft AppSource
Fig. 4. Getting the CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook from Microsoft AppSource.

  1. Sign in to AppSource with your organization's Microsoft 365 Exchange admin or global admin account (if necessary, provide some basic profile information and grant the required permission) and click Continue. You'll be redirected to the Microsoft 365 admin center where the add-in deployment wizard will open automatically.
  2. Continue the deployment from step 2, as outlined in the previous section.

Add-in capabilities (based on signature mode)

The table below shows how the add-in works depending on the signature mode in which CodeTwo Email Signatures 365 operates:

Signature modes: CLOUD
(SERVER-SIDE)
OUTLOOK
(CLIENT-SIDE)
COMBO
Add-in capabilities: Preview signatures added in the cloud after an email is sent in Outlook desktop & OWA Add automatic signatures in Outlook desktop, mobile & OWA as user types
  • Add automatic signatures in Outlook desktop, mobile & OWA as user types (default behavior)
  • Preview signatures added in the cloud after an email is sent in Outlook desktop & OWA (available only if users are allowed to switch between cloud and Outlook signatures in the add-in by using the Outlook/Cloud toggle, and the toggle is set to Cloud – learn more)

When you change the signature mode from cloud to Outlook/combo (or from Outlook/combo to cloud), it can take up to 4 hours before the add-in starts to work as intended for the currently selected signature mode. Learn more about signature modes

Add-in settings

To access Web Add-in settings, sign in to CodeTwo Admin Panel, select your tenant on the Tenants page, and go to Outlook add-in (Fig. 5.).

Changes to these settings may take up to 4 hours to propagate.

The advanced settings shown in Fig. 5. change how the add-in interacts with various Outlook settings. Make sure you understand how they work before enabling them.

Add-in settings in CodeTwo Admin Panel.
Fig. 5. Add-in settings in CodeTwo Admin Panel.

Click Show advanced settings to access more settings (see Fig. 5.). Watch our video tutorial to learn about advanced add-in settings and how to enable them, or continue reading below.

The following settings are available:

Add CodeTwo signatures also in Outlook for iOS and Android

By default, the add-in works with all Outlook apps (desktop, mobile & OWA). A mobile CodeTwo signature is added automatically as soon as users start composing an email in their Outlook mobile app. End users can have a different signature set for new emails and a different one for replies/forwards (just make sure you set the default signature as shown in Fig. 6.). Learn more about using the add-in on mobile devices

You can turn on/off mobile Outlook signatures by using the Add CodeTwo signatures also in Outlook for iOS and Android toggle in CodeTwo Admin Panel (see Fig. 5.).

Note that mobile Outlook apps have some limitations compared to Outlook desktop or OWA (e.g. Outlook mobile does not support the add-in pane or shared mailboxes). See this FAQ for additional information. 

Important info regarding combo mode

In combo mode, emails are not routed through CodeTwo because signatures are added directly in Outlook by the CodeTwo Web Add-in.

Note that if you use the add-in with older versions of mobile Outlook (4.2425.0 and earlier), emails sent from mobile devices may be routed through the CodeTwo service (located in the Azure region of your choice) to avoid double signatures. That's because older Outlook versions have limited Web Add-in support, and our service needs to verify if your message needs a cloud signature or not. In such a case, if you don't want your email to be routed through the CodeTwo service at all, use Outlook (client-side) mode instead. Learn more about signature modes

Always disable end users’ default signatures in Outlook

Watch our quick video below or read on to learn how this setting works.

End users can set up their own local signatures in Outlook (for example, in the Signatures and Stationery settings) that can be automatically added to new emails or to replies and forwards. By default, once you deploy the CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook, these local signatures are disabled for those end users who have their CodeTwo Outlook signatures added automatically by the Web Add-in. To get automatic email signatures, the options marked in Fig. 6. need to be enabled for at least one Outlook (client-side) signature rule. Learn more about these options

Signature adding options for an Outlook (client-side) signature rule.
Fig. 6. Signature adding options for an Outlook (client-side) signature rule.

However, if you turn on Always disable end users’ default signatures in Outlook in CodeTwo Admin Panel (see where to find this setting), the default Outlook signatures will be disabled for all end users for whom the Web Add-in was deployed, no matter, if they actually get any CodeTwo signatures (Fig. 7.). This setting is especially useful in cloud (server-side) mode, when the Web Add-in is used to preview signatures added in the cloud, as it can prevent sending an email with two email signatures: a cloud signature added by the CodeTwo service after an email is sent, and a local signature added by Outlook. This also works with mobile signatures (if this setting is enabled).

Default Outlook signatures disabled by the Web Add-in (cloud mode).
Fig. 7. Default Outlook signatures disabled by the Web Add-in (cloud mode).

Important

This option works only with OWA and supported versions of Outlook.

To disable end users’ default signatures in Outlook mobile (iOS & Android), first make sure this setting is enabled.

Show add-in notifications displayed above emails in compose mode in Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac & OWA (not available in cloud mode)

The Web Add-in's notifications appear above emails in Outlook. By default, only critical notifications are shown (e.g. if something goes wrong and Outlook signatures are not added correctly). If you want to receive non-critical notifications as well (e.g. when the Web Add-in inserts a signature, as shown in Fig. 8.), you can enable them by turning on Show add-in notifications displayed above emails in compose mode in Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac & OWA in CodeTwo Admin Panel (see where to find this setting).

Web Add-in's notifications can be disabled in CodeTwo Admin Panel.
Fig. 8. Non-critical Web Add-in's notifications can be enabled in CodeTwo Admin Panel.

Show add-in notifications displayed above emails in compose mode in Outlook for iOS and Android (not available in cloud mode)

By default, CodeTwo Web Add-in shows only critical notifications (if something goes wrong) in Outlook mobile. If you want to receive non-critical notifications as well (as shown in Fig. 9.), enable Show add-in notifications displayed above emails in compose mode in Outlook for iOS and Android in CodeTwo Admin Panel (see where to find this setting).

Tip

Email signatures are not shown in the quick reply box in Outlook mobile apps – you need to open the full compose view to see them. If you enable CodeTwo Web Add-in notifications for Outlook for iOS and Android, you will always be notified when a CodeTwo signature is added (Fig. 9.).

An example of a notification shown by CodeTwo Web Add-in in Outlook for Android.
Fig. 9. An example of a notification shown by CodeTwo Web Add-in in Outlook for Android.

Change CodeTwo Outlook (client-side) signatures to match the email address in the From field (not available in cloud mode)

The Change CodeTwo Outlook (client-side) signatures to match the email address in the From field (instead of the default address) setting in CodeTwo Admin Panel (see where to find this setting) allows you to specify how the Web Add-in interacts with Outlook when an end user sends an email from an alias address, or as / on behalf of another person or shared mailbox. Watch our quick video below or read on to learn how this works.

If the setting is:

  • Enabled (the default setting), and the end user selects a different email sender (alias address or mailbox) in the From field, the Web Add-in always shows signatures configured for the new sender (Fig. 10. A). The end user can then manually add a new signature to their email by clicking Use this signature in the Web Add-in's pane.

    See how to configure email signatures for alias addresses or shared mailboxes.

  • Disabled, the Web Add-in pane always shows signatures configured for the original sender, even if the end user selects a different sender in the From field (Fig. 10. B). This setting is useful for sending an email as or on behalf of a group mailbox, as described in this article

Note that in Outlook for iOS and Android, changing the sender in the From field will remove a signature from an email. This is a limitation of Outlook mobile apps and is not related to CodeTwo's Web Add-in. 

The Web Add-in can show signatures set for either the account selected in the From field (A) or for the original sender only (B).
Fig. 10. The Web Add-in can show signatures set for either the account selected in the From field (A) or for the original sender only (B).

Important info regarding cloud (server-side) mode

In the cloud signature mode, the Web Add-in always shows a signature set for the user/email address selected in the email's From field.

Allow users to switch between CodeTwo cloud (server-side) and Outlook (client-side) signatures in Outlook (available in combo mode only)

When CodeTwo Email Signatures 365 operates in combo signature mode, the Web Add-in works the same way as in the Outlook signature mode – it automatically adds signatures to emails in Outlook. However, the Web Add-in can also be used to preview CodeTwo cloud signatures.

Turn on Allow users to switch between CodeTwo cloud (server-side) and Outlook (client-side) signatures in Outlook in CodeTwo Admin Panel (see where to find this setting) to enable a toggle button in the Web Add-in's pane (Fig. 11.). This button allows your end users to choose how they want their signatures to be added. Watch our quick video below or read on to learn how this works.

End users can use the toggle to switch between:

  • Outlook (client-side) signatures – added directly in Outlook as you compose an email. End users can also use the Web Add-in's pane to manually select a different email signature. Learn more
  • Cloud (server-side) signatures – added in the cloud after an email is sent. The Web Add-in's pane will show a preview of end user's signature(s). Learn more

The toggle button allows users to switch between cloud (server-side) and Outlook (client-side) signatures.
Fig. 11. The toggle button allows users to switch between cloud (server-side) and Outlook (client-side) signatures.

With this advanced setting disabled, the Web Add-in will always add Outlook signatures. Be sure to enable it if you want users with cloud email signatures to be able preview them when CodeTwo Email Signatures 365 works in combo mode.

Important

If you switch the toggle to Cloud in Outlook desktop or OWA, you will no longer get Outlook (client-side) signatures in Outlook for iOS and Android.

Add-in FAQ

  1. Can users still get cloud (server-side) signatures for emails sent from Outlook clients on which the Web Add-in has been deployed?
  2. Can users install the Web Add-in by themselves?
  3. Can I use the Web Add-in on virtualized environments such as Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) and Microsoft Azure or Terminal Server (RDS)?
  4. What user/organization data is accessed by the Web Add-in and for what purposes?
  5. Signatures are not being added automatically to emails. Why?
  6. Web Add-in is missing or not working in Outlook. How to fix it?
  7. How to add/remove Web Add-in users?
  8. "CodeTwo Signatures" is shown on the Integrated apps page in Microsoft 365. What is this add-in?
  9. I’ve already deployed the Web Add-in by using the manifest file. Do I need to redeploy it for my Microsoft 365 tenant from Microsoft AppSource?
  10. Why can't I edit the Web Add-in on the Integrated apps page in Microsoft 365?
  11. Why can't I see the Web Add-in deployed by another admin on the Integrated apps page? 
  12. I use CodeTwo's legacy COM Add-in. How to switch to the modern Web Add-in?
  13. Does the Web Add-in work with shared mailboxes?
  14. I got the "Deployment failed" error in the Microsoft 365 admin center. How to fix it?
  15. A CodeTwo signature is not added to emails in Outlook mobile. Why?
  16. How to remove the Web Add-in?

1. Can users still get cloud (server-side) signatures for emails sent from Outlook clients on which the Web Add-in has been deployed?

Yes and no. If you use CodeTwo Email Signatures 365 in combo mode, a CodeTwo cloud signature will be added to an email sent from Outlook desktop and OWA only if:

  • there are no Outlook (client-side) signatures set as default ones for new messages or replies/forwards (learn more); and 
  • a user doesn't add an Outlook signature manually (using the CodeTwo Signatures pane) while composing an email. 

If the Web Add-in adds an Outlook signature automatically, but you delete this signature manually from your message before sending it, a cloud signature will not be added. The same will happen if you add a signature manually but then remove it from an email.

2. Can users install the Web Add-in by themselves?

Yes and no. Since the Web Add-in is available on Microsoft AppSource, every Microsoft 365 user can install it in their Outlook directly from the AppSource page or by using the Add Apps option in Outlook desktop or OWA.

The Web Add-in installed directly from Outlook will work, and users will have access to their signatures, provided that CodeTwo Email Signatures 365 is deployed in your Microsoft 365 tenant, and these users are included in at least one Outlook (client-side) rule. However, the automatic insertion of email signatures (the event-based activation feature) will not work – users will need to add signatures manually, as described here.

To make the most of the Web Add-in and its features, it needs to be deployed centrally, by following these steps. Once you deploy the Web Add-in directly from the Microsoft 365 admin center, it will automatically overwrite the same Web Add-in that has been individually installed by your users.

3. Can I use the Web Add-in on virtualized environments such as Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) and Microsoft Azure or Terminal Server (RDS)?

Yes, CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook can be used in both standard (physical) and virtual environments. To add CodeTwo Outlook (client-side) signatures regardless of the used environment, your user should have access to the Office 365 desktop apps (Outlook) or a popular modern web browser (for OWA access) on their (client) computer, as well as be signed in to their Microsoft 365 account in them.

4. What user/organization data is accessed by the Web Add-in and for what purposes?

CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook & OWA accesses the following user data: sender’s email address, message type (new message, a reply, or a forward), and message body type (HTML or plain text). This data is necessary to correctly apply signature rules and verify end user’s licensing information.

5. Signatures are not being added automatically to emails. Why?

You either use an unsupported version of Outlook (learn more about the Web Add-in requirements) or you have installed the add-in manually from the AppSource or Outlook (see also this question above).

6. Web Add-in is missing or not working in Outlook. How to fix it?

If you are experiencing this issue, make sure to allow traffic on your firewall / endpoint management software for these add-in endpoint addresses.

7. How to add/remove Web Add-in users?

There are two methods that you can use to add or remove Web Add-in users:

  1. (Recommended) If you deploy the Web Add-in to a specific group of users, all members of this group will get the Web Add-in. If you want to allow or deny access to the Web Add-in to specific users, simply add or remove group members, respectively. You can use most of the groups available in Microsoft 365, including Microsoft 365 groups, distribution lists and security groups. Nested groups or groups that have parent groups are not supported.
  2. Go to the Integrated apps page in the Microsoft 365 admin center, select CodeTwo for Outlook and then click Edit users, as shown in Fig. 12. Next, continue as described in this step of the Web Add-in deployment guide.

Esig - Web Add-in deployment - Edit users
Fig. 12. Editing the Web Add-in users directly from the Integrated apps page.

In either case, it can take up to 24 hours for the Web Add-in to show up in or be removed from users' Outlook apps.

8. "CodeTwo Signatures" is shown on the Integrated apps page in Microsoft 365. What is this add-in?

CodeTwo Signatures is the old name of the CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook. If you see this name instead of CodeTwo for Outlook, it means you deployed the Web Add-in by providing a link to its manifest file (instead of deploying the Web Add-in by following these steps).

See also point 9. below for more info.

9. I’ve already deployed the Web Add-in by using the manifest file. Do I need to redeploy it for my Microsoft 365 tenant from Microsoft AppSource?

The deployment via the manifest file was only supported in the beta version of the Web Add-in. Currently, the only supported method of deployment is though Microsoft AppSource.

To make sure the Web Add-in works as intended in your organization, remove the Web Add-in from your Microsoft 365 tenant and deploy it again by following these steps.

10. Why can't I edit the Web Add-in on the Integrated apps page in Microsoft 365?

Exchange admins in Microsoft 365 can only edit apps (add-ins) that they deployed themselves. Only Microsoft 365 global admins can access and edit apps deployed by other admins.

11. Why can't I see the Web Add-in deployed by another admin on the Integrated apps page?

Sometimes, there's a lag in the Microsoft 365 admin center. If the Web Add-in (or any other app) is deployed on the Integrated apps page by a different admin, you won't see it immediately on the apps list. You need to click the Refresh button above the apps list (see Fig. 12.) for the Web Add-in to appear. Note that you might need to refresh the apps list several times for this to work.

12. I use CodeTwo's legacy COM Add-in. How to switch to the modern Web Add-in?

If you have already deployed the legacy COM Add-in to your Outlook users, you need to uninstall it after deploying the modern Web Add-in (once it becomes available in Outlook), as you can only use either of them. Otherwise, the add-ins can conflict with each other. 

See this article to learn how to make the switch

13. Does the Web Add-in work with shared mailboxes?

The CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in works with shared mailboxes in Outlook desktop apps & OWA but might not provide full support. This is because shared mailboxes are not yet officially supported on the Microsoft's Office Add-in platform.

Shared mailboxes are not yet supported by the add-in in Outlook mobile apps due to limitations of the Outlook API. See this article to learn how to work around this limitation.

14. I got the "Deployment failed" error in the Microsoft 365 admin center. How to fix it?

This error is not related to CodeTwo, as Microsoft handles the deployment process for your Microsoft 365 tenant (we only provide the Web Add-in through AppSource). The issue is usually caused by Microsoft 365 services being unavailable. You can try deploying the Web Add-in again later or reach out to Microsoft Support for assistance with the deployment issue.

15. A CodeTwo signature is not added to emails in Outlook mobile. Why?

To find an answer for this and other questions about using the Web Add-in with Outlook for iOS & Android, see this FAQ.

16. How to remove the Web Add-in?

See this article.

17. How to...

For more information about the CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook, see the Signature modes FAQ.

See also

CodeTwo Signatures Web Add-in for Outlook - find out more about the Web Add-in and how to use it.

In this article

Was this information useful?