How to Sign a PDF Document

How to sign a PDF document in 3 steps

These steps work the same in any browser on a Windows PC, a Mac, a Chromebook, an iPhone, an iPad or an Android phone.

1. Add your PDF

   Open Sign PDF and drop the document in, or tap to choose it from your files, email or cloud storage. Every page appears on screen.

2. Create and place your signature

   Tap Signature, then draw it, type your name in a handwriting-style font, or upload a photo of your signature on white paper. Tap the page where it goes, drag it into place and pull the corner to resize it.

3. Download the signed PDF

   Click Download signed PDF. The signature is written into the page, so it looks the same for everyone who opens the file, with no watermark added.

How to fill in and sign a PDF form

Most PDFs that need a signature also need a few details filled in. You can do both in one pass:

• Date drops in today's date as MM/DD/YYYY, the format most US forms expect.
• Text adds a box you can type into, for your printed name, job title, address or a short answer.
• Initials works like the signature, with its own drawing, for the "initial here" boxes on each page.

Tap any item to edit it, drag it to move it or tap the red cross to delete it. If you need to edit and sign a PDF that has spelling mistakes in the text itself, fix the original document first, then save it as a PDF and sign that version.

How to sign every page, or have two people sign

Leases and loan documents often need initials on every page. Place your initials once, select them and tap Add to all pages. A copy lands in the same spot on each page, and you can still move or delete any of them.

To sign only certain pages, use Choose pages and type them, for example 2, 4-6. When two people sign on the same device, such as a tenant and a landlord, tap Signature again and choose New signature. You can keep up to five, and each one stays separate.

How to sign a PDF on iPhone and iPad

iPhone and iPad have a built-in way to sign PDFs through Markup:

1. Open the PDF in the Files app or as a Mail attachment.
2. Tap the Markup button (the pen tip).
3. Tap +, then Add Signature, and sign with your finger or Apple Pencil.
4. Drag the signature into place and tap Done.

Markup is fine for a single signature. For forms that need initials on every page, dates and printed names, Sign PDF in Safari is quicker, and the signed file can be saved straight to Files or shared.

How to sign a PDF on a Mac

Preview, which comes with every Mac, can sign PDFs:

1. Open the PDF in Preview.
2. Click the Markup button, then the Sign button.
3. Create a signature on the trackpad, with your camera, or from your iPhone.
4. Click the signature to place it, then save the file.

Preview keeps your signature for next time, which is handy on your own Mac. On a shared or work computer, a browser tool that forgets the signature when you close the page is the safer choice.

How to sign a PDF on Windows without Adobe

Windows 10 and 11 have no dedicated signing tool. Microsoft Edge can open a PDF and let you draw or type on it, but a signature drawn with a mouse rarely looks right, and Edge has no way to reuse a signature across pages.

The quickest way to sign a PDF on a computer without Adobe is to open Sign PDF in Edge or Chrome. Type your name for a clean handwriting-style signature, or upload a photo of your real one. There is nothing to install and no trial to cancel.

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How to sign a PDF from Google Drive

Some paid Google Workspace plans include eSignature, but a personal Google account cannot sign a PDF inside Drive. The simple route is to download the PDF from Drive, sign it in Sign PDF, then upload the signed copy back to the same folder.

Is signing a PDF online legally binding?

In the United States, electronic signatures are generally as valid as ink. The federal ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, adopted by almost every state, cover leases, contracts, offer letters, W-9s and most business forms.

Electronic signature vs digital signature

An electronic signature is your signature placed on the document, which is what this guide covers. A digital signature is a certificate-based seal that cryptographically locks the file and proves who signed it. Some government portals ask for a digital signature, usually through a paid provider or a smart card. If a form specifically requires a certificate, a drawn or typed signature will not meet that requirement.

Frequently asked questions