

Click the drop-down and select the email address associated with the newly-created certificate. In the composition window, hover your cursor over the From field and a drop-down will appear. Open Apple Mail and click File | New Message. How to sign an email with the new certificate When the certificate creation completes, click Done and then close the Keychain Access application. You can then click Continue (accepting all defaults) until you see the Create button, at which point click it to create the certificate. Fill out the rest of the information and click Continue. If you do, make sure to type the correct email address you want to associate with the certificate. This only applies if you have multiple email accounts configured in Apple Mail. Walk through the creation wizard, accepting the defaults, until you come to the screen that allows you to enter the email associated with the certificate ( Figure B).įigure B This is where you can select the email to associate with the certificate. In the resulting window ( Figure A), type your name, check the box for Let Me Override Defaults, and click Create.įigure A Creating the self-signed certificate in Apple Keychain Access. In the Keychain Access app, click Keychain Access | Certificate Assistant | Create a Certificate. When the Keychain Access app appears, click the icon to launch the application. To do that, click on Launchpad and type keychain access.


The first thing you’ll need to do is create a self-signed certificate for Apple Mail to use in the signing. I’ll be demonstrating on the latest version of macOS (Big Sur 11.6). The only thing you’ll need is a running instance of Apple Mail. Although Apple products tend to fall under the category of user-friendliness, signing an email in Apple Mail isn’t quite as intuitive as you might think. Some email clients make digitally signing easier than others. SEE: Security incident response policy (TechRepublic Premium) Although this isn’t something you (and your recipients) can absolutely count on to ensure what you send actually comes from you and can be trusted, every little thing counts when it comes to security. ICloud Usage Policy (TechRepublic Premium)ĭigitally signing an email might not be a singular means to a secure end, but it can at least help recipients of your email better trust the missives you send them. How to boost your iPhone’s battery chargeĬlean your Mac before you break down and buy a new one Image: GettyImages/Westend61 Must-read Apple coverage Jack Wallen shows you how this is done in the latest version of Apple Mail. How to digitally sign email in Apple MailĪdding a digital signature to your email is just one simple step you can take in your journey for more secure communications.
