If you’ve received a PDF file to e-sign as proof of your agreement/approval, one of the easiest ways to electronically sign it is to use PDF editing tools—in-built or third-party. However, depending on what device you’re using and the operating system it’s running, this can be a little confusing. So to help you navigate the situation better, we’ve put together a guide detailing the steps to sign PDF documents electronically on both Windows and Mac.
How to Sign a PDF Document on Windows
If you’re on Windows, you can electronically sign PDF documents in a couple of ways. You can either put to use Edge browser’s PDF reader or use a dedicated PDF reader/editor app like Adobe Acrobat DC. While both of these methods work well, using the Edge browser is the easiest and doesn’t require you to install any third-party software. However, that also means you get limited control over your signatures. And this is where third-party PDF tools like Adobe Reader DC come in handy. So depending on your preference, follow the instructions in the methods below accordingly.
Method 1. Signing a PDF on Windows Using Microsoft Edge
First things first, make sure you’re using the latest version of Microsoft Edge on your Windows PC. Once done, refer to the steps below to sign your PDF documents with Edge:
Method 2. Signing a PDF on Windows Using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
If you’ve worked with PDFs on your Windows PC before, chances are you already have Adobe Reader installed on it. However, if that’s not the case, you’ll need to install it first. Then, click on the link below to download it on your PC. Download: Adobe Acrobat Reader DC With the program installed on your PC, follow the steps below to sign your PDF file using Adobe Acrobat DC. Once you’ve added the signature/initial, if you want to increase or decrease its size, tap on the small A or big A icon, respectively, to do so.
How to Sign a PDF Document on Mac
One of the easiest ways to sign a form or PDF document on Mac is to use the Preview app. Preview is the default macOS application for working with images, PDFs, and other documents and is pretty easy to use.
Signing a PDF Document on Mac Using Preview
Below are the steps to sign PDF documents in Preview: After you’ve placed your signature on the PDF, Preview gives you the option to resize it and change its color to your preference. For this, tap on the appropriate options in the toolbar to change the signature color to your preference.
Other Ways to Sign PDFs on Mac and Windows
Besides using dedicated PDF programs on your Mac or Windows PC, you can also use online PDF tools for signing PDFs electronically. Below are some of the best online PDF tools to sign a PDF:
PDF Filler Smallpdf SignNow Adobe Acrobat Online
One of the biggest advantages of these tools is that they work irrespective of your computer and its operating system, and you don’t need to install them on your machine to use them. While this adds convenience, you must be wary of using these tools as using them requires you to upload your PDF. So if it’s some sensitive piece of document that you want to sign, you must avoid using online tools and stick to the offline ones instead.
Successfully Signing PDF Documents on macOS and Windows
If you followed the steps in the guide correctly, you should’ve successfully signed the PDF document on your macOS or Windows computer by now. Of course, several other PDF apps and programs can help you sign PDF forms and documents on Mac and Windows. But as we see it, the ones demonstrated in this guide should work absolutely fine and have you covered on all the essential fronts you’d need to sign PDFs electronically. What’s worth noting about an electronic signature, however, is that it’s not to be confused with digital signatures. Unlike electronic signatures, which show the intent to sign a document/contract/form, digital signatures are cryptographic techniques used to verify the authenticity and integrity of messages, documents, and other online entities. In case you don’t have a signature already, follow the steps in the “Signing a PDF Document Using Preview” to find out the steps to create a signature. Of course, there are several other PDF editing tools—including online PDF signing tools—that you can also use to sign a PDF if you want more control over your signatures.
