diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dfe164f2..891e91c5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ To sign xml documents:
     - `existingPrefixes` - A hash of prefixes and namespaces `prefix: namespace` that shouldn't be in the signature because they already exist in the xml
 - `getSignedXml()` - returns the original xml document with the signature in it, **must be called only after `computeSignature`**
 - `getSignatureXml()` - returns just the signature part, **must be called only after `computeSignature`**
-- `getOriginalXmlWithIds()` - returns the original xml with Id attributes added on relevant elements (required for validation), **must be called only after `computeSignature`**
+- `getOriginalXmlWithIds()` - **[deprecated]** returns the original xml with Id attributes added on relevant elements, **must be called only after `computeSignature`**. Use the `location` option of `computeSignature()` to place the signature, then `getSignedXml()`. See [how to specify the location of the signature](#how-to-specify-the-location-of-the-signature).
 
 To verify xml documents:
 
diff --git a/src/signed-xml.ts b/src/signed-xml.ts
index 5ba0a912..843a53bf 100644
--- a/src/signed-xml.ts
+++ b/src/signed-xml.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ import * as hashAlgorithms from "./hash-algorithms";
 import * as signatureAlgorithms from "./signature-algorithms";
 import * as utils from "./utils";
 
+const warnOriginalXmlWithIds = deprecate(
+  () => {},
+  "`getOriginalXmlWithIds()` is deprecated and will be removed in a future version. Use the `location` option of `computeSignature()` to place the signature, then `getSignedXml()`.",
+  "XML_CRYPTO_GET_ORIGINAL_XML_WITH_IDS",
+);
+
 export class SignedXml {
   idMode?: "wssecurity";
   idAttributes: string[];
@@ -1423,11 +1429,14 @@ export class SignedXml {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Returns the original xml with Id attributes added on relevant elements (required for validation), must be called only after {@link computeSignature}
+   * Returns the original xml with Id attributes added on relevant elements, must be called only after {@link computeSignature}
    *
    * @returns The original XML with IDs.
+   * @deprecated Will be removed in a future version. Use the `location` option of
+   * {@link computeSignature} to place the signature, then {@link getSignedXml}.
    */
   getOriginalXmlWithIds(): string {
+    warnOriginalXmlWithIds();
     return this.originalXmlWithIds;
   }
 
diff --git a/test/signature-unit-tests.spec.ts b/test/signature-unit-tests.spec.ts
index c0dcf136..2ce3cedd 100644
--- a/test/signature-unit-tests.spec.ts
+++ b/test/signature-unit-tests.spec.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ describe("Signature unit tests", function () {
       sig.canonicalizationAlgorithm = "http://www.w3.org/2001/10/xml-exc-c14n#";
       sig.signatureAlgorithm = "http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa-sha1";
       sig.computeSignature(xml);
-      const signedXml = sig.getOriginalXmlWithIds();
+      const signedXml = sig.getSignedXml();
       const doc = new xmldom.DOMParser().parseFromString(signedXml);
 
       const op = nsMode === "equal" ? "=" : "!=";
@@ -172,9 +172,10 @@ describe("Signature unit tests", function () {
       sig.canonicalizationAlgorithm = "http://www.w3.org/2001/10/xml-exc-c14n#";
       sig.signatureAlgorithm = "http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa-sha1";
       sig.computeSignature(xml);
-      const signedXml = sig.getOriginalXmlWithIds();
+      const signedXml = sig.getSignedXml();
       const doc = new xmldom.DOMParser().parseFromString(signedXml);
-      const attrs = xpath.select("//@*", doc);
+      // Only count attributes on the 'x' element, not the entire document (which includes signature attributes)
+      const attrs = xpath.select("//*[local-name(.)='x']/@*", doc);
       isDomNode.assertIsArrayOfNodes(attrs);
       expect(attrs.length, "wrong number of attributes").to.equal(2);
     }
@@ -535,10 +536,17 @@ describe("Signature unit tests", function () {
 
     expect(expectedSignedXml, "wrong signedXml format").to.equal(signedXml);
 
-    const originalXmlWithIds = sig.getOriginalXmlWithIds();
-    const expectedOriginalXmlWithIds =
-      '<root><x xmlns="ns" Id="_0"/><y attr="value" Id="_1"/><z><w Id="_2"/></z></root>';
-    expect(expectedOriginalXmlWithIds, "wrong OriginalXmlWithIds").to.equal(originalXmlWithIds);
+    // Verify IDs were added to the signed XML document
+    const signedDoc = new xmldom.DOMParser().parseFromString(signedXml);
+    const xId = xpath.select1("//*[local-name(.)='x']/@*[local-name(.)='Id']", signedDoc);
+    isDomNode.assertIsAttributeNode(xId);
+    expect(xId.value).to.equal("_0");
+    const yId = xpath.select1("//*[local-name(.)='y']/@*[local-name(.)='Id']", signedDoc);
+    isDomNode.assertIsAttributeNode(yId);
+    expect(yId.value).to.equal("_1");
+    const wId = xpath.select1("//*[local-name(.)='w']/@*[local-name(.)='Id']", signedDoc);
+    isDomNode.assertIsAttributeNode(wId);
+    expect(wId.value).to.equal("_2");
   });
 
   it("signer creates signature with correct structure (with prefix)", function () {
@@ -699,10 +707,17 @@ describe("Signature unit tests", function () {
 
     expect(signedXml, "wrong signedXml format").to.equal(expectedSignedXml);
 
-    const originalXmlWithIds = sig.getOriginalXmlWithIds();
-    const expectedOriginalXmlWithIds =
-      '<root><x xmlns="ns" Id="_0"/><y attr="value" Id="_1"/><z><w Id="_2"/></z></root>';
-    expect(originalXmlWithIds, "wrong OriginalXmlWithIds").to.equal(expectedOriginalXmlWithIds);
+    // Verify IDs were added to the signed XML document
+    const signedDoc = new xmldom.DOMParser().parseFromString(signedXml);
+    const xId = xpath.select1("//*[local-name(.)='x']/@*[local-name(.)='Id']", signedDoc);
+    isDomNode.assertIsAttributeNode(xId);
+    expect(xId.value).to.equal("_0");
+    const yId = xpath.select1("//*[local-name(.)='y']/@*[local-name(.)='Id']", signedDoc);
+    isDomNode.assertIsAttributeNode(yId);
+    expect(yId.value).to.equal("_1");
+    const wId = xpath.select1("//*[local-name(.)='w']/@*[local-name(.)='Id']", signedDoc);
+    isDomNode.assertIsAttributeNode(wId);
+    expect(wId.value).to.equal("_2");
   });
 
   it("signer creates correct signature values", function () {