How to sign a PDF without printing it
Quick answer
Open the DO101 PDF Signer and load the PDF. Draw your signature with a mouse, trackpad or finger — or upload a picture of it — then click the spot on the page where it belongs, resize it, and download the signed PDF. The document and your signature stay on your device and are discarded when you close the tab.
Open the Sign PDF — freeStep by step
- 1Open the PDF Signer and choose your PDF.
- 2Draw your signature in the box, or upload a PNG of it.
- 3Click where the signature should go on the page, and adjust its size.
- 4Download the signed PDF.
Getting a signature that looks like yours
On a laptop, a trackpad gives a smoother signature than a mouse; on a phone or tablet, your finger or a stylus works best of all. If you already have your signature on paper, photograph it on white paper in good light, remove the background, and upload it as a PNG — a JPG keeps a white box around the signature that shows on coloured or lined forms.
Is it legally valid?
This places a visual signature — the same thing as signing a printout and scanning it back, without the printer. That is what most everyday forms, tenancy paperwork, school permission slips and freelance agreements ask for.
It is not a cryptographic digital signature. It creates no certificate, no audit trail and no proof of who signed. When a contract specifically requires a verifiable e-signature, use a dedicated e-signature service.
Before you send it back
Open the downloaded file and check the signature sits on the line, at a sensible size, on every page that needs one — initials on each page of a lease are easy to miss. Keep the unsigned original too. If the signed file is too large to attach, the PDF Compressor's safe mode shrinks it without turning the pages into pictures.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sign on my phone?
Yes. Open the page in your phone's browser, draw with your finger, and tap the page to place the signature.
Is my signature saved anywhere?
No. It exists only in the open page and is gone when you close the tab.
Can I sign more than one page?
Yes. Place the signature on as many pages as you need before downloading.
The tool for the job
Draw your signature and place it on the page.