How to sign a PDF, free, on any device
Sign a PDF electronically for free on Windows, Mac, iPhone or Android, and learn when an electronic signature is enough and when you need a digital one.
To sign a PDF without printing it, open the file in a tool that can place a signature, draw or type your name, drag it onto the signature line, and save a copy. Every major device has a free way to do it. The one you choose matters mainly for privacy (is the file uploaded?) and for what kind of signature the other side needs.
The quickest way: in your browser
Sign PDF works on any computer, tablet or phone, with no account and no upload. The document and your signature stay on your device.
- Drop the PDF onto the page. It opens on the last page, where signature lines usually are.
- Choose Draw to sign with a mouse, trackpad or finger, Type to write your name in a handwriting font, or Upload to use a photo of your signature.
- Drag the signature onto the line and resize it.
- Click Sign and download.
Signing a photo of your signature works best when it is dark ink on plain white paper. Crop it close before uploading.
On a Mac: Preview
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Click the Markup button (a pen tip), then the Sign button.
- Create a signature with the trackpad, by holding a signature on paper up to the camera, or on a nearby iPhone.
- Pick it from the Sign menu, drag it into place and save.
Preview remembers your signatures, so after the first time signing takes two clicks.
On Windows: Acrobat Reader or Edge
Adobe Acrobat Reader (free): open the PDF, choose Fill & Sign (in newer versions under All tools), then Sign > Add signature. Type, draw or upload an image, place it and save. Some features ask you to sign in to an Adobe account.
Microsoft Edge: open the PDF in Edge and use the Draw tool in the toolbar to write your signature with a mouse or pen. It works, but a mouse-drawn signature rarely looks good, and you cannot reuse it.
On iPhone and iPad
- Open the PDF from the Files app or a Mail attachment.
- Tap the Markup icon, then the + button, then Add Signature.
- Sign with your finger, tap Done, and drag the signature into place.
On Android
Android has no built-in PDF signing that works everywhere. Install Adobe Acrobat Reader, or open Sign PDF in Chrome and draw your signature with your finger. Turn the phone sideways for a wider signature pad.
Electronic signature or digital signature?
These two terms are often mixed up, and they are not the same thing.
| Electronic signature | Digital signature | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your signature as an image, or a typed name, placed on the page | A cryptographic seal attached to the file with a certificate |
| Proves who signed | Weakly, through context such as the email it came from | Yes, through the certificate issuer |
| Shows later changes | No | Yes: the signature breaks if the file is edited |
| What you need | Any of the methods above | A certificate from a provider, or a service such as Aadhaar eSign in India |
| Typical use | Offer letters, rental forms, permission slips, invoices | Tax filings, company filings, regulated contracts |
The methods in this guide all create electronic signatures, which is what most people asking you to “sign and send back” expect. If a form says digital signature, DSC or certificate, it needs the second kind, and an image of your signature will not do.
Tips for a signature that is accepted
- Sign on the line, not over text. Zoom in before you drop it.
- Add the date if the form has a date field. Many forms are rejected without it.
- Sign every place it asks. Contracts often need initials on each page as well as a full signature at the end.
- Keep the original. Save the signed copy under a new name so you can sign again if something is wrong.
- Send it as a PDF, not a screenshot, so the other side gets the full document.
Need to send only the signed pages, or drop the instructions page first? Extract the pages you need. If the PDF asks for a password before you can open it, see how to remove a password from a PDF.
Tools used in this guide
Free, and they run in your browser — nothing is uploaded. See every tool on the PDF Tools page.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronic signature on a PDF legally binding?
For most everyday agreements, yes. In the United States the ESIGN Act and UETA give electronic signatures the same standing as ink, the EU's eIDAS regulation recognises them, and India's Information Technology Act, 2000 covers electronic signatures too. Some documents are exceptions in many places, such as wills, some property deeds and court filings, and may need ink, witnesses or a certificate-based signature. If in doubt, ask whoever asked you to sign.
What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?
An electronic signature is any sign of agreement in electronic form, most often an image of your handwritten signature placed on the page. A digital signature is a cryptographic seal made with a certificate that proves who signed and shows whether the file changed afterwards. Every digital signature is electronic, but most electronic signatures are not digital.
How do I sign a PDF without printing it?
Open it in a tool that can place a signature, such as Preview on a Mac, Markup on an iPhone, Adobe Acrobat Reader, or an in-browser tool like DailyUtils Sign PDF. Draw, type or upload your signature, drag it onto the signature line and save a new copy. No printer or scanner is needed.
Can I sign a PDF on my phone?
Yes. On an iPhone or iPad, open the PDF in the Files app or Mail, tap the Markup icon, tap the plus button and choose Add Signature. On Android, install Adobe Acrobat Reader or open an in-browser signing tool in Chrome and draw your signature with a finger.
Is it safe to sign a PDF online?
It depends on whether the file is uploaded. Many online signing services upload your document to their servers and some keep it in an account. A browser-based tool that works locally, like DailyUtils Sign PDF, never sends the document or your signature anywhere, which suits contracts, HR forms and anything with personal details.
Why can't I type in or sign my PDF?
The file may have restrictions that block changes, or it may be a scan that is only an image. A placed signature works on both, because it is drawn on top of the page rather than typed into a form field. If the PDF also needs a password to open, enter it first.