Signing PDFs used to mean printing, signing, scanning, emailing. Total waste of time. iPhone has built-in PDF signing tools that work in seconds and look more professional than the print-and-scan loop.
Here are the methods using built-in iOS tools. No app needed.
Sign through the Files app
Open Files. Tap the PDF you want to sign. The PDF opens. Tap the markup icon at the top (looks like a pen tip).
The markup toolbar appears at the bottom. Tap the plus icon on the far right. Pick Signature.
If you have signatures saved already, pick one. To create a new one, tap Add or Remove Signature. Sign with your finger or Apple Pencil on the blank line. Tap Done.
Position the signature
After picking a signature, it appears as a draggable element on the page. Move it to where you want. Pinch to resize. Done.
Tap somewhere off the signature to set it in place. Tap Done in the top right to save the modified PDF.
Sign from Mail attachments
Most PDFs come through email. Open the PDF attachment from Mail by tapping it. The PDF previews in full screen.
Tap the share icon at the bottom. Pick Markup. The same markup tools appear including the Signature option.
Sign, position, save. Then tap Done to keep the changes. Mail offers to reply with the edited PDF attached.
Save multiple signatures
iPhone lets you save several signatures for different uses. In the signature creation screen, after signing, you can also create another one with a different style.
I have three saved – full legal name for contracts, just initials for daily approval forms, and a more casual one for friendly documents. The signature menu shows all of them as options.
Add typed text or initials
Some PDFs need typed text along with the signature – date, printed name, address. The markup tools have a text option.
Tap the plus icon > Text. A text box appears. Tap inside to type. Move it to the right field. Resize as needed.
Text remembers your last font choice. Pick from a few built-in options if you need a specific look.
Send the signed PDF
After signing and saving, share the PDF back. Tap the share icon. Pick how you want to send:
- Email – opens Mail with the PDF attached
- Messages – send to a contact directly
- WhatsApp / Signal – send via messaging app
- Save to Files – keep a copy locally or in iCloud
- AirDrop – to a nearby Mac or other Apple device
Most PDFs you sign need to go back via email. The Mail option keeps the original email thread context intact.
Fill out form fields too
If the PDF has actual fillable form fields (not just empty lines), iOS detects them. Tap a field and type directly. Works for tax forms, application forms, leases.
For non-fillable PDFs, you have to use the Text tool to add text on top of the form. Position carefully so it overlaps the right spot.
When iOS signing isn't enough
iOS signatures look like ink on paper – usually accepted for personal and business use. For legal contracts requiring certified e-signatures, use DocuSign, HelloSign, or Adobe Acrobat Sign instead.
These services add timestamps, audit trails, and verification that hold up in court. Free tiers exist for occasional signers. Worth using for anything actually legal.
Apple Pencil for fancier signatures
If you have an iPad with Apple Pencil, signatures come out cleaner. The Pencil gives much finer control than finger drawing.
Signatures created on iPad sync to iCloud and are available on your iPhone too. Set up signatures on iPad once, use them on every Apple device.
Any specific PDF you're signing? Tell me what kind (contract, form, etc.) and I'll point to the cleanest method.