A few years dorsum, yous had to print out a difficult re-create of a certificate in order to sign it. Thanks to the popular PDF file format, it's easy to digitally sign a document, re-use the signature when you need it again, scan, and share the PDF with others.

Whether you're signing a charter, contract, or applying for a loan, we'll show you how to sign a PDF file in Windows.

You tin can sign a PDF file in Windows using:

  • Adobe Reader for Windows
  • Adobe Reader DC / Adobe Reader DC Online
  • DocuSign
  • 3rd-party online solutions

How to Sign a PDF in Adobe Reader

If you need to quickly sign a PDF file, you lot can do and so using Adobe Reader program.

Adobe Reader is the most popular PDF reader for Windows that enables y'all to edit a PDF file and sign it with a certified digital signature or handwritten signature.

  1. To go started, open the PDF certificate you lot want to sign in Adobe Reader and observe the Sign icon in the toolbar. Alternatively, open the signature console by selecting View > Sign.
  1. Select Place signature under the Make full & Sign section.

In the new window, select the drop downwards arrow to choose how yous want to place your signature. Yous'll find four options:

  • Type my signature
  • Use my webcam
  • Describe my signature
  • Use an epitome

How to Sign a PDF File in Adobe Reader by Typing Your Signature

  1. To exercise this, type your proper noun or the characters you'd like for your signature in the Enter Your Proper noun field.
  1. You lot tin can preview your signature in the Review Your Signature box.
  1. If you desire, y'all tin choose from four different signature styles by selecting the Change Signature Fashion choice nether the Review Your Signature box.
  1. If you're satisfied with your signature, select Accept to add the digital signature to your PDF document.
  1. You'll see a small floating box with your signature inside. Drag the box to the area on the PDF file where you desire to identify the signature and resize the prototype accordingly.
  1. Select File > Save to salvage your signed PDF file. If yous want, you can share the signed document straight to others by selecting the Signed. Proceed to send pick in the toolbar.
  1. Select whether to share via electronic mail, send to fax, go others to sign or save a copy.

How to Sign a PDF File in Adobe Reader Using a Webcam

You can also sign PDF files in Windows using your computer's webcam.

  1. To do this, open the PDF file you'd similar to sign electronically and select Sign > Place Signature from the I Need to Sign section.
  1. Select Employ a webcam from the Identify Signature dialog drop down carte du jour.
  1. An instruction will announced saying: Sign your name with black ink on white paper. Click the "Start Webcam" push to start capturing the signature prototype.
  1. Select Start Webcam.
  1. Align your signature so that information technology sits on the blue line on your screen.
  1. A preview of the signature volition appear in the Preview the captured signature box.
  1. Select Accept.
  1. Motility your signature to where yous want it placed on the document and resize information technology to fit.
  1. Save your certificate or select Signed. Go along to send for more sharing options.

How to Sign a PDF File in Adobe Reader by Drawing Your Signature

Drawing your signature may not be as easy equally typing your name or using your webcam to scan the signature. However, if you lot take a Windows PC with a touchscreen and stylus or Surface pen, you tin sketch out your signature and sign the PDF document.

  1. To do this, open the PDF document, select Sign > Place Signature from the I Demand to Sign section.
  2. Select Draw my signature from the Place Signature dialog drop downwardly card.
  1. Next, depict your signature in the empty box provided.
  1. If you lot brand a mistake while drawing, utilize the Clear Signature link to erase what you've drawn and starting time over.
  1. Select Have. Place the signature on the section y'all want to sign on your document, and save the document.

How to Sign a PDF File in Adobe Reader Using an Image

If you have your signature in image format (JPEG or PNG), you can apply information technology to sign a PDF file in Windows.

  1. To do this, open the PDF in Adobe Reader, select Sign > Place Signature. In the new window, select Employ an Image from the drop down menu.
  1. Next, select Browse to open up the epitome file containing your signature.
  1. Resize the image, select Take to place it on your PDF certificate, and save the file.

How to Sign a PDF in Adobe Acrobat DC Reader

If you lot have the full version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, you can use it to sign a PDF file in Windows. Still, the program is likewise available for free online and you tin still sign your PDF file with it.

  1. Download and install the Windows version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC to your PC.
  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, select File > Open up to open up the PDF file y'all want to sign, and then select Sign > Add together Signature.
  1. In the new window, add your custom signature, change the fashion if you want, and then select Apply.
  1. Drag the small box with your signature to the section of the PDF file where you lot'd similar to place your signature, and then relieve your certificate.

How to Sign a PDF File Using Adobe Acrobat Reader Online

If you lot don't want to download the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, yous tin use the complimentary online tool to sign a PDF file in Windows.

  1. To do this, go to Adobe Acrobat online and click Select a File to upload the PDF document yous want to sign. You lot tin can likewise drag and drib the file to upload information technology.
  1. Sign in with your Adobe, Google, or Apple account to proceed and complete the fillable form.
  1. Select Sign to add your signature.
  1. Adjacent, select Add Signature.
  1. You can choose to Type, Draw, or upload your signature every bit an Paradigm, and and so select Apply.
  1. Drag the signature to where you want it to get and and so select Close.
  1. If you lot desire to share your file, select Share next to the file name in Adobe Acrobat Reader Online.
  1. Next, select how you want to share your file, and select Create link to go a shareable link.
  1. Copy the shareable link and select Share with others to send and notify your recipients via electronic mail.
  1. Select Next, so download your signed document or become a link to share it online.

How to Sign a PDF File Using DocuSign

DocuSign is an eSignature provider that lets you easily add together a digital or electronic signature to PDF, Give-and-take, or paradigm files.

  1. To sign a PDF file using DocuSign, you demand to sign up to employ the service. Create an account by going to DocuSign. Once you lot're signed in, drag and drib the PDF file you want to sign and select Showtime Now.
  1. If you're the only i signing the PDF file, check the I'g the just signer box and select Sign.
  1. If you lot're not the merely ane signing the PDF, leave the box unchecked and select Adjacent.
  1. Enter the name and e-mail accost of the recipient you want to sign the certificate. If they're already in your contacts list, their emails volition announced as y'all get-go typing in the email field.
  1. If more than than ane recipient is required to sign the certificate, select Add together Recipient.
  1. If they're on your contacts listing, select the drop down pointer adjacent to Add Recipient, and then select Add together from Contacts.
  1. Y'all can likewise choose whether the recipient(s) needs to sign, is an in-person signer, will receive a re-create of the signed PDF, or needs to view.
  1. If yous desire merely your recipient (s) to access the PDF file for signing, select Customize > Add access code.
  1. Select Next.

Note: In one case all recipients get the PDF document and they all sign it, each recipient will receive a completed copy via electronic mail.

  1. Add the required fields to the PDF document such as Signature, Date, Name, Title, Visitor and so on. When the recipients become the document, they'll simply click on each of the required fields and enter the required details before sending back the signed copy.
  1. Select Next, preview your document, and select Transport.

Note: Yous tin set an expiration date for the PDF certificate under Options in the Review and Send section. Plus, you tin can select Recipient Privileges such as whether they can sign on paper or change signing responsibility.

  1. If yous received an email with a PDF file via DocuSign, and it requires your signature, open the electronic mail and select Review Certificate.
  1. Select Commencement, and you lot'll be directed straight to where you need to sign or identify your signature.
  1. Tap the Sign Here icon.
  1. Select a fashion for your signature or draw information technology.
  1. If you want to change the font fashion or how your signature should announced, select Change Style.
  1. Cull your preferred way from the available options and then select Prefer and Sign.
  1. The signature will appear on the certificate. Select Finish to complete the signing process.

The owner of the document volition receive an email notification that you've completed signing the document. In one case every other recipient has signed, each one volition receive a re-create of the signed certificate.

Sign a PDF File Using Online Solutions

If signing a PDF file in Windows using Adobe Reader or DocuSign sounds complicated, at that place are several online solutions you lot can apply to electronically or digitally sign PDFs.

Some of the popular tools include SmallPDF, Nitro Pro, or Foxit Reader. Each of these tools has features that allow you to create, edit, convert, sign, and even export your PDF file without try.

Quickly Sign a PDF on Your PC

Signing a PDF in Windows can exist a hassle, merely with the instructions in this guide, yous should be able to do information technology hands and relieve or share the certificate with others. If you're using a Mac, cheque out our in-depth guides on how to edit PDFs on Mac and how to sign a PDF on Mac.

Have you lot tried any of the methods listed here to sign a PDF file in Windows? Share your feel with usa in the comments.