Signing
Sign a PDF without printing and scanning
A contract, a consent form, a landlord's certificate: a PDF needs to go back signed – and the printer is broken or there isn't one. Here's how to put your signature straight into the PDF in two minutes, on a computer or a phone. And how to tell when that's enough and when it isn't.
Get started: open the PDF, draw your signature, place it, save. Free and no upload.
Sign a PDFThe short version
- Drop the PDF into Sign PDF.
- Draw your signature with mouse or finger on the right – or type your name, or upload a photo of your signature.
- Click “Insert signature”, then the spot in the document. You can move and resize it any time.
- Optionally “Insert date”, then Save signed PDF.
The PDF stays on your device. Contracts contain names, addresses and often bank details. The tool runs entirely in your browser – nothing is uploaded, there's no account and no copy on a server.
Step by step
- Open the PDF. Drag the file onto the drop area or click “Choose PDF”. All pages appear one below the other.
- Create the signature. Sign in the “Your signature” pad with mouse, touchpad, stylus or finger. Black or blue ink, adjustable pen width; “Undo last stroke” fixes slips.
- Insert it. Click “Insert signature” – a hint appears – then click the signature line in the document. The signature is centred on that spot.
- Fine-tune. Drag the signature to move it, drag the bottom-right corner to resize. Arrow keys nudge it, Del removes it.
- Date and text. “Insert date” adds today's date, “Insert text” a free text field, e.g. for “London, 5 October 2026”. Edit the text in the list on the right.
- Save. “Save signed PDF” downloads a new file ending in
-signed. The original stays untouched.
Need to initial every page of a contract? Just click “Insert signature” several times and click the matching page each time.
Draw, type or photo?
| Option | Good for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Draw | Phone, tablet with stylus, touchpad | Signing with a finger on a phone looks most natural. With a mouse, write slowly. |
| Type | Quick confirmations, forms | Three handwriting fonts to choose from. Looks neat, but recognisably not handwritten. |
| Photo | When your “real” signature matters | Sign with a dark pen on white paper, photograph it in daylight without shadow. The background is removed automatically. |
If you sign often, tick “Remember signature on this device”. It's stored only in your own browser and is ready next time. Untick to delete it.
Draw your signature once, keep it on your device and sign any PDF in seconds from now on.
Is a pasted signature valid?
A signature placed into a PDF is a simple electronic signature under the EU eIDAS regulation (in the US, the ESIGN Act and UETA work in a similar way). It isn't worthless – but it doesn't reliably prove who signed. What matters is which form the document legally requires.
| Required form | Examples | Is a pasted signature enough? |
|---|---|---|
| No form required | Accepting a quote, order confirmations, consent forms, club registrations, timesheets | Yes, as a rule. |
| Text form (Germany, § 126b BGB) | Many notices, withdrawals, rent increase requests | Yes – even an unsigned e-mail would do. |
| Written form (Germany, § 126 BGB) | Terminating an employment contract (§ 623 BGB) or a residential lease (§ 568 BGB), private guarantees | No. You need a handwritten signature on paper or – where the law allows – a qualified electronic signature. |
Rules differ between countries. If in doubt, ask the recipient whether a signed PDF by e-mail is fine. Authorities, courts and banks often have their own channels (e.g. eID, video identification).
Alternatives: Mac, iPhone, Acrobat
Mac: Preview
Open the PDF in Preview, show the Markup toolbar and choose “Sign”. You can draw the signature on the trackpad or capture it from paper with the camera.
iPhone and iPad
Open the PDF in the Files app, tap “Markup” and choose “Add Signature” from the plus menu. Works well, but only on Apple devices.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
“Fill & Sign” is included in the free Reader. Sending documents to others for signature requires an Adobe account or subscription.
Windows
Windows has no built-in way to sign PDFs. Microsoft Edge can draw on PDFs (“Draw”), but the result often looks shaky. A browser tool works without installing anything.
Sign your PDF now
Draw, type or upload your signature, add the date and save – free, right in your browser, no upload.
Frequently asked questions
Is signing free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, no limit on documents.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. The PDF is only opened and signed in your browser. It never leaves your device.
Are text and form fields kept?
Yes. The signature is placed on the page as an image; everything else stays unchanged and text remains selectable.
Can I sign a PDF on my phone?
Yes, in any current mobile browser. Signing with a finger on a phone often looks more natural than with a mouse.
Can I sign several places or pages?
Yes. You can insert the signature as often as you like, on any page and at any position.
Is this a qualified electronic signature?
No. It's a simple electronic signature. Where the law requires written form, such as terminating an employment or tenancy contract in Germany, it's not enough.
Why does my signature look blurry?
Drawn signatures are inserted at high resolution. Blur usually comes from photos – write the signature bigger on paper and take the photo closer.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), Articles 3 and 25 on electronic signatures.
- German Civil Code (BGB) in English, sections 126, 126b, 568 and 623.
- pdf-lib and PDF.js – the open-source libraries the tool uses in your browser.