How to sign a PDF on iPhone
Quick answer: To sign a PDF on iPhone, open quickpdfapp.com/sign-pdf in Safari, sign in and tap Choose PDF to pick the document from Files. 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, then 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.
Someone sent you a lease, a permission slip or an offer letter and needs it signed today. You don't need a printer or a scanner: your iPhone can do it in a couple of minutes.
This guide shows how to sign on iPhone or iPad with Quick PDF, how to add the date and your printed name beside the signature, how Apple's Markup signature compares, and what an electronic signature like this is and isn't.
Sign a PDF on iPhone with Quick PDF
- Save the PDF to Files If the document came by email or text, open it, tap the share icon and choose Save to Files so you can pick it in the next step.
- Open Quick PDF in Safari Go to quickpdfapp.com/sign-pdf and sign in with Google or with your email and password. Tap Choose PDF and select the document.
- Create your signature Tap Sign. Draw with your finger (turning the phone sideways gives more room), type your name and pick one of six script fonts, or upload a photo of your signature on paper. Choose black, blue or dark red ink.
- Place and size it Tap the signature line on the page to drop the signature there. Drag it into position and drag the corner to resize it.
- Add the date and your name Tap Add text and type the date and your printed name in the matching boxes. Use Fill or Add text for any other details the document asks for.
- Save or send it back Tap Download to save the signed PDF to Files, or Share to send it right away through Mail, Messages or WhatsApp.
Getting a good-looking signature on a small screen
- Turn the phone sideways before you draw. The wider pad makes a smoother, more natural signature.
- Use a stylus on iPad. An Apple Pencil gives the closest match to your pen signature.
- Try the photo option. Sign on white paper with a dark pen, take a photo, and upload it in Sign. It often looks the most like your real signature.
- Typed works too. If drawing isn't going well, type your name and choose a script font such as Allura, Great Vibes or Sacramento.
- Save for next time stores the signature on this device for your account, so the next document takes seconds.
iPhone Markup signature vs Quick PDF
iPhone has a signature tool built into Markup: open the PDF in Files or Mail, tap the pen icon, then the plus button and Add Signature. It's handy for a quick sign-and-send. Here's how the two compare:
| Markup | Quick PDF | |
|---|---|---|
| Draw a signature | Yes | Yes |
| Type a signature in a script font | No | Yes, six fonts |
| Use a photo of your signature | No | Yes |
| Ink colour choice | Yes | Black, blue, dark red |
| Fill form boxes and edit text in the same place | Limited | Yes |
| Works the same on Android and Windows | No, Apple devices only | Yes, in any browser |
If the document also needs filling in, a correction or a page removed, doing everything in one tool saves time. See how to fill out a PDF on iPhone.
Signing a PDF that came by email
The most common case is a PDF attached to an email in the Mail app or Gmail:
- Tap the attachment to open it.
- Tap share, then Save to Files.
- Sign it in Quick PDF as above.
- Tap Share and choose Mail (or Gmail), which attaches the signed file to a new message. Or reply to the original email and attach the signed copy from Files.
Always send back the signed version, not the original. Giving it a new name, like agreement-signed.pdf, helps you tell them apart. More detail: how to sign a PDF sent by email.
Is a signature added on iPhone legally valid?
This is general information, not legal advice. In the United States, the ESIGN Act and state laws based on UETA generally treat electronic signatures as valid for most everyday agreements, such as leases, contracts and consent forms. Some documents, like wills or certain court and notarized papers, may need a different method, and some organizations set their own rules.
Quick PDF places an image of your signature on the page. It is an electronic signature, not a certificate-based digital signature, and it doesn't create an audit trail or signing certificate. If the person who sent the document requires a specific signing service, use that. When in doubt, check with whoever asked you to sign. The difference is explained in electronic vs digital signature.
Troubleshooting signing on iPhone
- The page scrolls while I draw. Draw inside the signature pad that opens after tapping Sign, not on the page itself.
- The signature is too big or tiny. After placing it, drag the corner handle to resize. Zoom in to line it up with the signature line.
- The uploaded photo has a grey background. Retake it in good light on bright white paper, filling the frame with the signature.
- The document has several signature spots. Tap each spot to place the saved signature again, including initials boxes.
- The PDF is password-protected. Remove the password first with Unlock if you know it.
Questions people ask
How do I sign a PDF on my iPhone without printing it?
Save the PDF to the Files app, open it in Quick PDF in Safari and tap Sign. Draw, type or upload your signature, tap the page to place it and download or share the signed file. No printer or scanner is needed, and the document is handled on your iPhone rather than uploaded.
Can I type my signature instead of drawing it?
Yes. In Quick PDF tap Sign, choose the typed option, enter your name and pick one of six script fonts. Many people find this neater than a fingertip signature. It is still an electronic signature, the same as a drawn one.
How do I sign a PDF on iPad?
The steps are the same as on iPhone: open Quick PDF in Safari, choose the PDF, tap Sign and draw, type or upload your signature. An Apple Pencil gives the most natural result. Then place it and tap Download or Share.
How do I add my initials to every page?
Create your initials as a separate signature in Sign (drawn or typed), then tap each initials box on each page to place it. Tick Save for next time so you can reuse it on later documents.
Is my signature stored online?
When you tick Save for next time, your signature is kept on this device for your account so you can reuse it. The PDFs you sign are processed in Safari on your iPhone and aren't uploaded to a server.
Can I send a PDF to someone else to sign from my iPhone?
Quick PDF doesn't send documents out for signature or collect signatures from other people. You can sign it yourself and share the file, and the other person can then open it and add their own signature in the tool of their choice.
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.