---
title: "How to sign a PDF on iPhone"
description: "Sign a PDF on iPhone with Apple’s built-in signature tools, save the completed file and check when the recipient requires a different signing method."
canonical: "https://dokus.app/how-to-sign-pdf-on-iphone/"
lang: "en"
category: "iPhone"
reviewed: "2026-10-29"
app_store: "https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709"
translations:
  en: "https://dokus.app/how-to-sign-pdf-on-iphone/"
  en-CA: "https://dokus.app/en-ca/how-to-sign-pdf-on-iphone/"
---

# How to sign a PDF on iPhone

To sign a PDF on iPhone, open the file, choose Add Signature in the form or Markup tools, draw your signature and place it on the page. Save and reopen the completed PDF before sending it; a drawn signature does not add a certificate-based digital signature.

## Add a signature to the PDF

Start with a duplicate if you want to retain the blank form. Use the actual PDF attachment rather than a screenshot of its first page.

1. Open the PDF on your iPhone. If prompted, save it in Files.
2. In a supported form, open the form-filling controls and tap Add, then **Add Signature**. In Markup, tap the plus button and choose **Add Signature** instead.
3. Draw with your finger and tap **Done**. If a saved signature appears, select it or use **Add or Remove Signature** to create another.
4. Move the signature onto the correct line. With Markup, drag a handle to resize it.
5. Save the document, then reopen it to inspect every signed page. Use Share to send the completed PDF.

Apple documents [form filling and Markup signatures](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/fill-forms-sign-documents-create-signatures-iph1d3607e5c/ios). In the [Preview app](https://support.apple.com/en-euro/guide/iphone/iphd7e3c0c74/27/ios/27), open the PDF, select Form Filling and use Add for the signature. Controls depend on the app and iOS version.

Keep a personal reference copy of your completed PDF in Dokus behind Face ID or Touch ID. 4.8 out of 5 stars [Free on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dokus-private-id-wallet/id6781915709)

## Check the signature the recipient actually needs

A visible handwritten mark and a certificate-based digital signature are different outputs. Ask for the required method before signing. If an employer, lender or agency sends a signing invitation, follow that workflow instead of adding an image over the signature field.

For a government form, use its own instructions about signatures, dates and submission. Do not assume that an image is accepted wherever the form says “sign.” Keep an already certified or digitally signed original unchanged.

## Check the file you send


- Confirm the name, date, signature line and any required initials.
- Reopen the saved PDF, not just the editing preview.
- Check that all pages are present and the signature is readable.
- Verify the destination and attachment before sending.

If you also need a scan, follow [scanning documents on iPhone](https://dokus.app/scan-id-on-iphone/). For the saved copy, read [document storage on iPhone](https://dokus.app/store-documents-on-iphone/). The Dokus browser tools, including the [PDF reducer](https://dokus.app/compress-id-scan/), prepare copies; they do not sign PDFs. The compressor exports image-based pages without selectable PDF text or preserved digital signatures. Keep the completed original and follow the submission rules before making another copy.

## Questions about signing PDFs on iPhone

### Do I need to install a signing app?

Apple’s built-in form and Markup tools can add a drawn signature. A recipient may require a separate signing service for its own process.

### Is a drawn signature a certified digital signature?

No. Placing a handwritten mark on the page does not attach a signing certificate. Check the recipient’s requirements for the particular document.

### Why can’t I find Add Signature?

The available controls depend on the app and iOS version. Open the PDF in a supported document viewer and look in its form-filling or Markup controls.

### Can Dokus sign the PDF for me?

The Dokus browser tools do not add signatures. Sign through the appropriate Apple or recipient workflow, then keep a personal reference copy if you need one.

## Sources

Reviewed on October 29, 2026

- [Apple: Fill out forms, sign documents, and create signatures on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/fill-forms-sign-documents-create-signatures-iph1d3607e5c/ios)
- [Apple: Fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/en-euro/guide/iphone/iphd7e3c0c74/27/ios/27)