How to Sign a PDF Without Printing It

Someone emails you a form, a letter or a quotation to sign. The old way is to print it, sign it, scan it and send it back, which is hard without a printer and scanner. Instead, you can sign the PDF directly on your phone or computer in about a minute.

How to sign a PDF

1. Open Sign PDF.
2. Make your signature. Draw it in the box with your finger (on a phone) or your mouse or touchpad (on a computer). Or type your name and it’s written in a handwriting-style font.
3. Choose the PDF you want to sign.
4. Click or tap the page where the signature should go, usually on the signature line. Use the Size slider to make it fit.
5. Need it on every page, for example to initial each page of an agreement? Tick Sign every page.
6. Click Sign PDF and download the signed copy.

Tips for a signature that looks real

• Draw on a phone if you can. A finger on a touch screen usually gives a smoother, more natural signature than a mouse.
• Draw it big, then shrink it. Use the whole drawing box, then make it smaller on the page with the Size slider. Small drawings look shaky.
• Place it on the line, just above it or slightly touching it, the way you’d sign on paper. Don’t cover any printed text.
• Not happy with it? Tap Clear and draw it again. It often takes two or three tries.

Is an electronic signature legally valid?

A drawn or typed signature is a simple electronic signature: a picture of your signature on the document. It’s widely accepted for everyday paperwork such as application forms, consent letters, leave requests, quotations and internal approvals.

Some documents are different. Property deeds, wills, certain bank and court documents, and some government forms may need a handwritten signature on paper, or a certified digital signature issued by an approved certification authority. If you’re not sure, ask the organisation that will receive the document whether a signed PDF is acceptable.

Keep your signature safe

• Only sign documents you have read and trust.
• ToolNest signs the PDF inside your browser. Your signature and your document are never uploaded or saved.
• If the signed document is confidential, lock it with a password using Protect PDF before you email it.

Need to fill in the form as well?

Sign PDF adds your signature only. If you also need to type in names, dates or other details, many PDF apps on phones and computers can fill in form boxes. For documents without form boxes, our guide to editing a PDF by converting it to Word shows another way. Fill it in first, then sign it last.

Common questions