This wikiHow teaches you how to add a digital signature to a PDF document. You can add a signature using the Adobe Reader program on Windows and Mac computers, or the Preview application built into Mac computers. If you want to sign PDF documents on your iPhone or Android device, Adobe's Fill & Sign app is a great choice.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Adobe Reader on a Windows or Mac Computer
Step 1. Install Adobe Reader on the computer if it is not already available
You can install this free PDF reader from Adobe by following these steps:
- Visit https://get.adobe.com/reader/ via your computer's web browser.
- Uncheck the program in the "Optional offer" column.
- Click " Install now " or " Download ”.
- Double-click the downloaded installation file.
- Follow the installation prompts.
Step 2. Open the PDF file in Adobe Reader
To open it:
- Windows - Right-click the PDF file you want to sign, select “ Open with, and click " Adobe Acrobat Reader DC ”.
- Mac - Click the PDF file you want to sign, click “ File ", choose " Open With, and click " Adobe Acrobat Reader DC ”.
Step 3. Click the Tools tab
This tab is at the top of the program window.
Step 4. Click Fill & Sign
It's a purple icon at the top of the equipment list.
Step 5. Click Sign
You can see this option in the top right corner of the page. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 6. Click Add Signature
This option is in the drop-down menu. After that, a signature form will be opened.
Step 7. Enter your first name and last name
Type in a name to create a “classic” signature version of your name.
Step 8. Click Apply
It's at the bottom of the menu. After that, the signature will be saved and the PDF document will be reopened.
Step 9. Select the place where you want to add a signature
Find the place where you want to add a signature, then click the place to add a signature. After that, your signature will be displayed on the PDF file.
Step 10. Save the signed version of the document
Press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac) to bring up the " Save As " window, then select a save location and rename the file (if necessary) before clicking the “button Save ”.
Method 2 of 3: Using Preview on a Mac
Step 1. Open the PDF file in Preview
The Preview app is the Mac's built-in PDF viewer. You can open a PDF file in Preview with these steps:
- Single-click the PDF file to select it.
- Click " File ” on the menu bar.
- Choose " Open With ” from the “File” drop-down menu.
- Click " Preview ” on the pop-out menu.
Step 2. Click the “Show Markup” icon
This icon looks like a pen tip inside a circle, and is displayed next to the search field. The toolbar is at the top of the Preview window.
Step 3. Click the “Signature” icon
This icon is in the toolbar. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Click the Trackpad tab
This tab is at the top of the drop-down menu.
- If you're using an iMac, select the “ Camera ”.
- If you have saved the signature, click “ Create Signature ” at the bottom of the drop-down menu first to create a new signature (or choose an existing one and skip the next two steps).
Step 5. Draw the signature
Use your finger on the trackpad to create the signature the way you want the document to appear. After that, you can see the created signature in the drop-down menu.
If you're using a webcam on your iMac, create a signature on a blank sheet of paper and take a photo of the signature using the camera
Step 6. Click Done
It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Add the signature to the PDF file
Click the "Signatures" icon
then select a signature. You can drag it to where you want to add a signature afterwards.
Step 8. Save the job
Click the menu " File, then select " Save ” to save the document. Your PDF file now contains the signature.
Method 3 of 3: Using Adobe Fill & Sign on Mobile
Step 1. Install the Adobe Fill & Sign application
Adobe Fill & Sign is a free mobile app for iPhone and Android devices. To install it, follow these steps:
-
iPhone - Open
App Store, touch " Search ”, touch the search field, type in adobe fill and sign, select “ Search ", touch " GET ” next to “Adobe Fill & Sign”, and enter your Apple ID or scan Touch ID when prompted.
-
Android - Open
Google Play Store, tap the search bar, type in adobe fill and sign, tap “ Adobe Fill & Sign: Easy PDF Form Filler ” from the search results, select “ INSTALL, and touch " ACCEPT ” when prompted.
Step 2. Open Adobe Fill & Sign
Touch the button “ OPEN ” in the App Store or Google Play Store window, or tap the purple Fill & Sign icon on the home screen (iPhone) or page/app drawer (Android).
Step 3. Touch Select a form to fill out
It's at the top of the page. After that, the menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Touch File Browser
This option is in the menu. After that, the Files app on the iPhone will open.
On the Android device, touch “ From PDF File ” on the menu.
Step 5. Touch the Browse tab
It's a tab in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Skip this step for Android users
Step 6. Select the PDF file
Go to the folder where you want to sign the PDF file, then touch the file to select it. After that, the PDF file will be opened in Adobe Fill & Sign.
Step 7. Touch the “Fill & Sign” icon
This pen icon is at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or the top of the screen (Android). A new menu will be opened after that.
You may need to touch an area outside the tutorial window to end the displayed tutorial
Step 8. Touch Create Signature
This option is in the menu. After that, the signature field will be displayed.
Step 9. Draw your signature
Touch and drag your finger over the signature field to create a signature of your name.
Step 10. Touch Done
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, the signature will be saved and added to the document.
Step 11. Change the signature position
Touch and drag the signature to select the desired location.
Step 12. Share the document
If you want to send a signed PDF document, touch the " Share " icon
(iPhone) or "Share"
(Android), then select the desired file sharing method (e.g. via an e-mail application) and fill in the message fields as needed.
For example, if you want to send a PDF file via email, touch “ Share ”, select the desired email manager application, enter the recipient's email address, fill in the subject and message fields, then tap “ Send ”.
Step 13. Touch Done
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, the PDF document will be saved.
