As we moved deeper into the modern age, electronic signatures are becoming more and more popular. Instead of writing, signing, scanning, and emailing (or faxing) a document, electronically signing a document will save paper, time, and even money.
It’s convenient to sign your documents online with Adobe Reader. Here’s how to do it.
How to sign a PDF on Windows using Adobe Reader
- First of all, make sure you have Adobe Reader installed.
- Open the Adobe Reader PDF document. If you don’t already have the default PDF viewer on your screen right-click it, hover your cursor over “Open with” and pick “Adobe Reader” in the list.
- There is a menu on the right side of the PDF with many functions that you can execute to modify the PDF. Scroll down the menu until you see the “Fill & Sign” option and click it.
- On the next screen, you’ll be asked if you’re filling out the form yourself, or preparing it for another person’s signature. If you are trying to sign a PDF yourself, click “Fill and sign.” If you are planning a document for another person to sign, click “Request signatures.”
| - Click on any fields that need to be filled in and enter the necessary details in the PDF document itself.
- After you have filled in all the required information, click the “Sign” tab, which is represented by an icon resembling a fountain pen.
- In the “Sign” sub-menu, click Add Signature.” Type in, draw, or upload your signature, and click “Apply.”
- Your signature should appear on the screen next to your cursor. Use the mouse to put the signature on the page, and click when you’re ready to sign.
- When you’ve signed, backup your PDF and make sure your signature isn’t lost.
Adobe Reader can save your signature as well as your initials for future papers, making the task much simpler. What you need to do is click on “Sign,” click on your signature and click on the area you want to sign.
Bonus:
How to Sign a PDF File in an Android Device
Much like the web version of Adobe Acrobat, the free Android counterpart can also be used to sign documents.
Simply open your preferred PDF and tap the area you want to fill or sign. Tap the Sign icon to proceed once you have picked it. You will be given the option to doodle your signature on your phone, and you will be able to position it right inside the document sign box.
This app is also a perfect way to fill out forms and you can use it to type PDFs for a tidy, professional-looking paper. Adobe Acrobat is available for free from the Google Play Store.
How to Sign a PDF File on Mac and iOS
You can also leave signatures on PDF files using Adobe Acrobat Reader if you are using a non-Windows device. But if you don’t want to download and install it there’s a different solution.
- Pick your PDF file, right-click it, and choose Open with > Preview (default).
- Tap the Show Edit Toolbar button.
- Then click the Signature icon and select Create Signature from FaceTime HD Camera.
- Next, sign your name on a clean sheet of paper and bring it up for your camera to see. You may also use a pre-made image of your signature. Align it correctly and click Accept when you’re finished with it.
- This signature is now stored on your computer. So if you click the Signature icon (as you did before), you can see it as one of the menu options.
- To use it, just pick it from the Signature menu and put it in the document field where you want to leave the signature.
Other Software to Sign PDF
1. Adobe® Acrobat®
Adobe® Acrobat® helps you to edit, fill, sign, and share your PDF documents on different platforms. You can edit text and images in PDF documents, develop fresh PDFs, export PDFs to other file formats, and monitor PDFs from anywhere. Its signature tools allow you to sign a PDF with either a handwritten signature image or a certified digital signature.
Since Adobe has already discontinued promoting Acrobat XI in 2017, you will not get any more updates from Adobe. In this situation, it’s easier for you to find the right alternatives to Adobe Acrobat.
2. PDFpen
PDFpen helps you to quickly export, edit, and sign PDFs. It offers various methods for signing PDFs. You can opt to incorporate a hand-written signature with a trackpad or a digital signature. You can also edit text, correct content, fill out documents, and retrieve valuable details from OCR to convert the scanned document into a selectable and editable file. It also has a version for macOS.
3. Foxit Reader
Not only does Foxit allow you to convert files to and from PDF, but it also allows you to access PDF files via an efficient interface. It lets you digitally sign PDFs to boost document security, though the one drawback is that it only has a Windows version.
4. Nitro Pro
Nitro Pro is integrated with the features of PDF editing, conversion, and creation. You can edit all sorts of PDF documents, convert PDFs to other file formats, or vice versa. In addition, digital signatures can be used to encrypt your PDFs.