How to sign a PDF on Android
Quick answer: To sign a PDF on Android, open quickpdfapp.com/sign-pdf in Chrome, sign in and tap Choose PDF to pick the file from Downloads. Tap Sign, then draw your signature with your finger, type it in a script font or upload a photo of it. Tap the page to place it, resize it, and tap Download or Share.
Sign in with Google or email and start editing. Saving your file starts a free trial: 7 days on yearly ($29.78/yr) or 2 days on monthly ($2.99/mo). Cancel anytime. 🔒 Your file stays on your device.
Signing paperwork on an Android phone is faster than finding a printer. Whether it's a rental agreement on WhatsApp, a work form in Gmail or a school permission slip, you can sign it on the phone and send it back in a few minutes.
Below: the steps with Quick PDF on any Android phone, Samsung Galaxy specifics including the S Pen, how to sign documents that arrive in different apps, and answers to the questions people ask about whether a phone signature counts.
Sign a PDF on Android with Quick PDF
- Download the PDF In Gmail tap the download arrow on the attachment; in WhatsApp open the document and save it. It will appear in your Downloads folder.
- Open Quick PDF In Chrome or Samsung Internet go to quickpdfapp.com/sign-pdf, sign in, tap Choose PDF and select the document from Downloads.
- Make your signature Tap Sign and draw with your finger or stylus, type your name and choose one of six script fonts, or upload a photo of your handwritten signature. Choose black, blue or dark red ink.
- Put it on the signature line Tap the page where the signature belongs. Drag it to line up with the line and resize it from the corner.
- Fill in the rest Use Add text for the date, your printed name or other details. Tick Save for next time if you'll sign again on this phone.
- Send it back Tap Share to send the signed PDF straight to Gmail, WhatsApp or Messages, or Download to keep a copy in Downloads.
Signing documents from Gmail, WhatsApp and Drive
Where the PDF came from changes the first step slightly:
- Gmail: open the email, tap the download icon on the PDF. After signing, tap Share in Quick PDF and choose Gmail, or reply to the email and attach the signed file from Downloads.
- WhatsApp: open the PDF in the chat, save it to your phone, sign it, then use Share and choose WhatsApp to send the signed copy back to the same chat.
- Google Drive: Choose PDF lets you switch to Drive in the file picker on most phones; otherwise download the PDF from Drive first.
- Text messages: long-press the file and save it, then pick it from Downloads.
For more email-specific detail, see how to sign a PDF sent by email.
Samsung Galaxy and the S Pen
On a Samsung phone or tablet:
- Quick PDF works in Samsung Internet and Chrome.
- Downloaded and saved PDFs are in My Files under Downloads.
- If your Galaxy has an S Pen, use it in the Sign pad. It produces a much more natural signature than a fingertip.
- Samsung Notes can also open a PDF and let you write on it with the S Pen, which is fine for handwriting. Quick PDF adds typed and photo signatures, saved signatures, form filling and editing in one place.
Three ways to create your signature
| Method | Best for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Draw | A signature that matches your pen one | Turn the phone sideways for a wider pad; go slowly |
| Type | A clean, consistent look on every document | Try Dancing Script or Great Vibes for a handwritten feel |
| Upload a photo | The closest match to your real signature | Sign on white paper with a dark pen, photograph it in good light |
All three give you an electronic signature, which is an image of your signature placed on the document. Read about how they differ from certificate-based signatures in electronic vs digital signature.
Will a signature made on Android be accepted?
General information, not legal advice: in the US, the ESIGN Act and UETA generally recognise electronic signatures for most everyday documents, including leases and many contracts. Exceptions exist, such as wills and some court or notarized documents, and businesses can have their own rules.
Quick PDF places your signature image on the PDF. It doesn't add a digital certificate or audit trail, and it can't send the document to other people to sign. If the sender asked you to sign through a specific signing service or link, use that. Otherwise, check with whoever asked you to sign if you're unsure the PDF method is fine.
Problems signing on Android, solved
- I can't find the PDF in Choose PDF. It may still be inside Gmail or WhatsApp. Download or save it first, then check Downloads.
- My finger signature looks jagged. Zoom out of the page, open the Sign pad again and draw larger and slower, or use the typed option.
- The signature covers the text. Drag it so it sits on the line, and shrink it from the corner.
- Two people need to sign. Sign your part, then Share the file to the other person. They can open it and add their own signature.
- The form also has boxes to fill. Tap them to type in, or see how to fill out a PDF form and save it.
Questions people ask
How do I sign a PDF on my Samsung phone?
Open quickpdfapp.com/sign-pdf in Samsung Internet or Chrome, choose the PDF from My Files, tap Sign and draw with your finger or S Pen, type your name or upload a photo of your signature. Tap the page to place it, then Download or Share it.
Can I sign a PDF in Google Drive on Android?
The Drive app can add drawings to a PDF on many phones, which you can use to scribble a signature. For a cleaner signature you can reuse, typed and photo options, and the date and name next to it, open the file in Quick PDF instead.
How do I sign a PDF on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp itself can't sign files. Save the PDF from the chat to your phone, open it in Quick PDF, add your signature and tap Share, then choose WhatsApp to send the signed copy back to the same person.
Do I need to install an app to sign PDFs on Android?
No. Quick PDF works in your browser, so you just open the website and sign in. If you sign documents often, you can add it to your home screen from Chrome's menu for one-tap access.
Can I save my signature on my phone for next time?
Yes. When you create your signature in Sign, tick Save for next time. It's kept on that phone for your account, so the next document only needs a tap to place it.
How do I sign a PDF on an Android tablet?
Use the same steps as on a phone. A stylus gives the best result in the Sign pad, and the bigger screen makes it easier to place the signature exactly on the line.
Do I have to pay to use Quick PDF?
You can open a PDF and edit, sign or fill it after signing in with Google or email. To download, print or share the finished file you start a subscription with a free trial: 7 days on the yearly plan ($29.78 per year) or 2 days on the monthly plan ($2.99 per month). You are charged when the trial ends unless you cancel, and you can cancel anytime.
Sign in with Google or email and start editing. Saving your file starts a free trial: 7 days on yearly ($29.78/yr) or 2 days on monthly ($2.99/mo). Cancel anytime. 🔒 Your file stays on your device.