How to sign a PDF
without printing

Add and place your signature

1. Open the original PDF

   Select Choose PDF in the signing tool, then choose the PDF from your device. Wait for the page preview before continuing. The tool reads the file in your browser; see how file handling works. To practice first, choose Try a sample PDF.

2. Find the page you need to sign

   Use Next, Previous, or the Page control to reach the signature line. Check the page number and nearby text. A document can have different page sizes or sideways pages, so inspect each page before placing a signature.

3. Draw or choose your signature

   Choose Draw to write with a mouse, trackpad, finger, or stylus, or choose Upload image for a PNG or JPEG. If the drawing is unclear, use Clear drawing and try again. Select Use this signature when it is ready.

4. Position it on the page

   Select Add signature to page, drag it to the signature line, and adjust it with the Size control. Keep it inside the page and away from nearby text. Use Undo if you make a mistake, then check the placement again.

5. Download and reopen the result

   Select Download signed PDF and save the copy to your device. Open that downloaded file in your usual PDF reader and inspect every page you changed. Send or share that copy only after checking it.

Place a signature with the keyboard

Use Tab to move between controls. With a placed signature selected and focused, use the arrow keys to move it, + or − to resize it, and Delete to remove it. Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac undoes an edit. You can also use the visible Size and Undo controls.

Use a clear signature image

A tightly cropped image is easier to position than a full photograph of a sheet of paper. Use a PNG or JPEG containing only your own signature, with a little space around the strokes.

• Keep the strokes sharp. Dark ink and an even, plain background make the mark easier to read.
• Check the background. A transparent PNG can sit over the document without a white rectangle. A photo or JPEG may cover text with its background; this tool does not promise automatic background removal.
• Crop before importing. Remove unrelated writing, fingers, and desk edges using your device's image editor.
• Check at the final size. A large, clear preview can still look faint when reduced to fit a small signature line.

Sign on an iPhone with Apple's tools

If you already have the PDF on your iPhone, Apple's built-in tools are another way to add a visible signature. In Preview, open the PDF and use Markup, then the Add button. In other supported apps, open Markup and choose Add Signature.

Draw with your finger, finish the signature, then drag it into place and resize it using the outline handles. Menu names vary by app and iOS version. Apple's iOS 26 guide also explains that Markup saves signatures for reuse and how to delete them.

Follow Apple's signature instructions and its Preview annotation guide for your device. Reopen the saved PDF before sharing it.

Check the saved PDF

The downloaded file is the result that matters. Before sharing it, check:

• The correct page contains the signature, and every required signature is present.
• The signature has the right size and position, including on rotated pages.
• Original text and page contents remain readable.
• The PDF opens in another reader, and its page count matches the original.
• The recipient accepts a visible signature for this document.

Keep the original and the signed copy as separate files. The tool does not send the document to its recipient for you.

Fix common problems

The PDF will not open

Check that the file opens in a PDF reader. If it is damaged, request a fresh copy. This tool rejects encrypted PDFs. Ask the document owner for a suitable copy or use the authorized workflow they provide.

The document already has a digital signature

This tool rejects PDFs when it detects an existing digital signature. Use the sender's signing workflow or request an unsigned copy. Editing a signed or certified document may affect its existing signature or permitted changes.

The signature covers nearby text

Reduce its size or crop excess space from the signature image before importing it. A JPEG's white background remains part of the image.

The browser is slow or the page reloads

Large PDFs and detailed scanned pages need more memory. The tool caps files at 50 pages and 20 MiB on desktop, and 20 pages and 10 MiB for mobile or touch layouts. These are limits, not a guarantee that every file will work on every device. Close other tabs or try a desktop browser. Reopen the original if the browser loses the editing session.

I cannot find the downloaded file

Check your browser's downloads list and the save location you selected. If the browser opens a PDF preview, use its save or download action. On a shared device, remove downloaded copies when you no longer need them.

Understand what this signature does

Sign PDF adds an image of your signature to the document. It does not verify your identity, create a certificate-based digital signature, issue a signing certificate, or provide an audit trail.

Adobe's certificate workflow uses a digital ID and controls permitted changes after certification. If the recipient requests that kind of signature or a specific signing service, use their required method. This tool makes no promise of legal effect or acceptance.

Sign your PDF