Adding Digital Signatures to PDFs

To use a digital signature in Windows, you will need Adobe Acrobat. If you require assistance on how to use digital signatures in other versions of Adobe, please contact us using the “Need Help?” form.

1. Make all changes to your document before adding your digital signature. If any modifications are made after the document has been signed, an alert will be added to the document.
2. In the top right-hand menu, click Fill & Sign to open the options for adding a digital signature. Select Place Signature.
   
3. Select Draw my signature, then use your mouse to create your electronic signature in the box below. If you make a mistake, click Clear Signature to try again. Once complete, click Accept.
   
4. Place your electronic signature at the desired location. You can resize the image if it is too large for the space by dragging the corners.
   
5. Save your signed PDF.

To use a digital signature in Mac OS, you will need Preview, which comes pre-installed on all Macs version 10.7 and later.

1. In the top menu bar, click the Markup Toolbar button, then the Sign button.
   
2. Select the Trackpad option, then “Click here to begin.” Trace your signature on the trackpad. If you make a mistake, click the Delete key to start over. When finished, click Enter to review your electronic signature. If you are not using a trackpad, you can also use the Camera option by using your webcam to take a photograph of your signature.
   
3. To use your electronic signature, click the Sign button in the markup toolbar and place the signature on the PDF.
   
4. You can resize the signature by dragging the blue corners. You can also remove the signature by selecting it, then clicking the Delete key.
   
5. Save your signed PDF.