How to sign a PDF on iPhone, Mac and Windows

How do I sign a PDF without printing it? Open the PDF in a tool that can add a signature, create a signature by drawing it with your finger or mouse or by typing it, drag it onto the signature line, then save a new copy. On iPhone, use Markup. On a Mac, use Preview. On any device, you can use the PDF annotation and signature tool in your browser. No printer or scanner is needed.

Signing paperwork used to mean print, sign, scan, send. Now most leases, school forms, work agreements and tax documents can be signed on a screen in under a minute. This guide shows you how on each device, explains the difference between a typed signature, a drawn signature and a certificate-based digital signature, and covers what US law says about electronic signatures in general terms.

Two kinds of "signing" a PDF

People use the word "sign" for two different things, and the difference matters.

A visual signature is a picture of your signature placed on the page. You draw it or type it, and it becomes part of the document. It looks like ink on paper. It does not by itself prove who placed it there. This is what Markup on iPhone, Preview on Mac and most free tools do.

A digital signature (sometimes called a certificate-based signature) uses cryptography. It is tied to a digital ID issued by a certificate authority, and it can show whether the document was changed after signing. You normally get this from a signing service or a PDF program such as Adobe Acrobat, or from your employer.

The toolsdocks tool makes a visual signature. Its own description says plainly that this is not a certificate-based digital signature. For many everyday forms that is exactly what the other side wants. If someone asks for a "digital signature" with a certificate, or for a signing platform audit trail, ask which they need before you start.

Typed or drawn: which signature should you use?

	Drawn	Typed
Looks like	Your own handwriting	A handwriting-style font
Easiest on	Phone or touch screen	A computer with a keyboard
Personal	More	Less
Consistent each time	Varies slightly	Always the same
Good for	Contracts, forms, letters	Quick approvals, internal sign-offs

A drawn signature feels more official and is closer to what you would write on paper. A typed one is quick and neat. Many recipients accept either. If a form says "wet-ink signature" or "original signature," neither works, and you will need to print it.

How to sign a PDF on an iPhone

Apple's built-in way uses Markup, which works in Files, Mail and other apps.

1. Open the PDF in an app that supports Markup, such as Files or Mail.
2. Tap Markup (the pen tip icon).
3. Tap the Add button (the plus sign), then choose Add Signature.
4. Sign with your finger and tap Done.
5. Drag the signature to the signature line. Drag a blue dot on its outline to resize it.
6. Tap Done and save the file.

Apple notes that the iPhone stores the signature so you can reuse it. You can create more than one, for example one for your full name and one for initials.

To do it in the browser instead, open the PDF annotation and signature tool in Safari, choose the PDF from Files, draw your signature with a finger, type it, or upload an image, place it and save.

How to sign a PDF on a Mac

Preview, which comes with macOS, does this well.

1. Open the PDF in Preview.
2. If you do not see the Markup toolbar, click Show Markup Toolbar.
3. Click the Sign button.
4. Create a signature using one of these:
   • Trackpad: click Trackpad, sign with your finger, press any key, then click Done.
   • Camera: sign your name on white paper and hold it up to the camera, lining it up with the blue line.
   • iPhone or iPad: sign on a nearby device with your finger or Apple Pencil, then tap Done. Your devices must meet Apple's Continuity requirements.
5. Click the signature you want in the list.
6. Drag it to the right spot and use the handles to resize it.

Apple says saved signatures are available in other apps that use Markup, and sync to your other Macs when iCloud Drive is on.

How to sign a PDF on Windows

We did not find a Windows feature as simple as Preview for signing a PDF, so most people use one of two options.

• A browser tool. Open the PDF annotation and signature tool in Edge, Chrome or Firefox. Open the PDF, choose the Signature tool, draw it with your mouse or touch screen, or type it, and click where it should go.
• A PDF program. Adobe Acrobat Reader has a Fill and Sign feature that many people use. We have not checked its current menus for this guide, so follow the on-screen help in your version.

Step by step with the toolsdocks tool

1. Open the PDF annotation and signature tool and choose your PDF. Files up to 100 MB and 500 pages work.
2. Pick Signature from the tool list. The other tools are Note, Highlight, Text, Box, Line and Arrow.
3. Create the signature by drawing it or typing it. Typed signatures use a handwriting-style font installed on your device, so what you see depends on your system.
4. Click the page where the signature should go. Drag to move it and use the handles to resize it. Undo is there if you place it wrongly.
5. Use the Text tool to add anything else the form needs, such as the date.
6. Press Save PDF.

The PDF is processed in your browser and is not uploaded. The signature is embedded as a transparent image, and text you add stays real, selectable text. Be aware that highlights, text, shapes and signatures become part of the page content, so other programs cannot move them afterward. Sticky notes are saved as real PDF comments.

A worked example

You receive a two page lease addendum. Page 1 has a blank date line. Page 2 has a signature line.

1. Open the PDF in the tool.
2. On page 1, choose Text, click on the date line and type "October 23, 2026".
3. On page 2, choose Signature, draw your signature and place it above the line. Make it about the same size as your handwriting on paper.
4. Save the PDF. Name the new file something like lease-addendum-signed.pdf, so you do not overwrite the blank original.
5. Open the saved file once and scroll through both pages to check that everything is where it should be.
6. Attach the signed copy to your email.

The whole job takes a couple of minutes, with no printer.

Are electronic signatures legal in the US?

This is general information, not legal advice. For a specific document, ask a lawyer or the organization that sent it.

Congress passed the federal ESIGN Act in 2000. In general terms, for transactions in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, it says a signature, contract or record cannot be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability only because it is in electronic form. Most states have a similar law of their own. The Act also has exceptions. It does not cover wills, codicils and testamentary trusts, matters of family law such as adoption and divorce, and most parts of the Uniform Commercial Code. It also excludes court orders and official court documents, and certain notices, such as utility shut-off notices, notices about default, foreclosure or eviction on a primary residence, and cancellation of health or life insurance. In practice, an electronic signature can be valid for everyday forms and contracts, but the law does not say a signature picture proves identity, and it does not force any recipient to accept it. Some agencies, banks and courts require a specific method, so ask them when in doubt.

Tips for signing safely

• Keep the original. Sign a copy, so the blank form stays available.
• Do not post signed documents. A clear image of your signature can be copied. Share signed PDFs only with the intended recipient.
• Review before signing. Read the whole document. The signature is the easy part.
• Check the final file. Scroll through every page after saving.
• Use a clean signature. Draw slowly on a larger area, then resize the signature. A shaky signature looks sloppy at small size.

Common mistakes

• Treating a visual signature as a certified one. If the other side needs a certificate or audit trail, a signature picture will not do.
• Overwriting the unsigned file. Save under a new name.
• Placing the signature off the line. Zoom in before you click.
• Sending a signature image alone. Always send the signed PDF, not a separate picture of your signature.
• Forgetting the date or initials. Many forms need both. Add them with the Text tool.
• Expecting to edit later. Signatures and added text become part of the page. Keep an unsigned original in case you need to change something.
• Signing a scanned form that has no space. Use the Text tool to add a short note, or ask the sender for a fillable version.

FAQ

Is a typed signature legally valid? Under the ESIGN Act, an electronic signature is not denied effect only because it is electronic, and a typed name can qualify in many settings. Whether a specific recipient accepts it is their choice. Ask if the form does not say.

Can I sign a PDF on my phone for free? Yes. iPhone has Markup built in, and the browser tool above works on phones too. Neither needs an account.

What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature? An electronic signature is any electronic mark showing intent to sign, such as a drawn image or a typed name. A digital signature is a specific type that uses a certificate and cryptography to show who signed and whether the file changed.

Can someone copy my signature from the PDF? The signature is an image on the page, so someone with access to the file could copy it. Share signed PDFs carefully.

Can I move or delete the signature after saving? Not as a separate item. It becomes part of the page. Go back to your unsigned original and sign again.

Does the tool upload my PDF? No. It runs in your browser, so the document stays on your device.

If you need to combine a signed page with other documents, see merging and splitting PDFs.