To add your own visible signature in Adobe Acrobat Reader, open the PDF, choose Sign or Tools > Fill & Sign, add a signature by typing, drawing, or inserting an image, select Apply, place it, and save. Adobe says the signature and added text become part of the PDF when saved. This ordinary visual signature is not the same as a certificate-based digital signature.
Sign your own PDF in Reader on desktop
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Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader.
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Choose the Sign icon in the toolbar, Tools > Fill & Sign, or Fill & Sign in the right pane. The interface can vary slightly as Adobe rolls out its newer experience.
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If Reader shows a Fill and Sign button, select it. For detected form fields, hover over a field and click its blue box to enter text. You can also add text to a simple PDF without interactive fields.
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Select Sign, then choose to add a signature or initials. If you have a saved signature, select it. Otherwise choose Type, Draw, or Image and follow the prompts.
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Select Apply, click the place in the document where the signature belongs, adjust its position if needed, and save the PDF.
You can optionally select Save Signature to retain it in Adobe Document Cloud for reuse while signed in. Leave that option unchecked if you do not want a reusable cloud-saved signature.
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Sign a PDF on a mobile device
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Open the PDF in the Acrobat mobile app and open Fill & Sign.
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Choose Signature > Add signature, then draw a signature, choose an image, or capture one.
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Place and resize the signature. Review the document carefully before saving: Adobe says signatures and initials are permanent once saved in this mobile workflow, and the PDF flattens so it cannot be edited or unsigned afterward through that workflow.
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Save the PDF. Adobe says you can complete the mobile PDF offline and sync it when you are online again.
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Choose the right signing workflow
| What you need | Reader workflow | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Add your own ordinary visible signature | Fill & Sign | Lets you type, draw, or insert an image of a signature, place it, and save. |
| Support certificate-backed signer identity and document-integrity validation | Use a certificate > Digitally sign | Requires a configured Digital ID; recipients may be able to validate signer identity and whether the document has been altered. |
| Ask other people to sign and track an agreement | Request E-signatures | Sends a signing request to others rather than placing your own signature. |
Ordinary visible signature: Fill & Sign
Use this for a typical form that asks you to sign. A typed name, drawn mark, or signature image provides a visible signature appearance, but by itself it is not the certificate-based identity and integrity validation offered by a Digital ID.
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If the recipient specifically requires a certificate-based signature or verifiable signer identity, Adobe’s documented route is All tools > Use a certificate > Digitally sign. Draw the signature field, select a Digital ID, verify its details, enter its password, sign, and save. If no Digital ID is configured, set one up first. An ID may come from your organization, a certificate authority, or be self-signed; do not assume a self-signed ID meets the recipient’s requirements. Ask the recipient what they accept.
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- Slim design with wide palm rest
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Request signatures from other people
Choose Tools > Request E-signatures. Enter signers’ email addresses in the intended order, configure any needed authentication or reminders, and specify where signatures go. Signers can follow the link in a browser, on a mobile device, or in Acrobat or Reader; Adobe says they do not have to purchase Adobe software. Complete edits before sending: Adobe warns that changes made after signing remove the agreement’s certification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Cost and common snags
Does signing your own PDF require a paid plan?
No. Adobe describes Reader as free and lists Fill & Sign among its capabilities. Reader’s FAQ says free Reader includes a limited number of signature requests; Adobe does not state an exact quota there, and paid Document Cloud services are available if you exceed the allowance. Other advanced PDF features may also require a paid plan.
The PDF has no fillable fields
You can still use Fill & Sign to add text and place a signature on a simple PDF without interactive fields.
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The recipient requires proof of identity or document integrity
A typed or drawn signature may not meet that requirement. Confirm whether the recipient requires a certificate-based Digital ID before signing.
You need to change the document after signing
Review every page and confirm signature placement before completing or saving. Adobe’s mobile guidance says that workflow flattens the PDF on save; for agreements sent to others, Adobe warns that edits after signing remove certification.
Quick Recap
Adobe help pages
- Adobe Acrobat Reader Help: Fill and sign forms
- Adobe Acrobat Reader features and FAQ
- Adobe Acrobat Reader Help: Certificate-based signatures
- Adobe Acrobat Reader Help: Digital IDs
- Adobe Acrobat Reader Help: Send documents for signature
- Adobe Acrobat mobile help
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