This article guides you on creating a self-signed Digital ID using Adobe Acrobat Pro or Reader. It also explains how to specify how to create default digital IDs and how to delete them.

Find further information about this topic on the Adobe web page “Digital IDs FAQ”.

Overview of digital IDs

A digital ID is a sort of “document” used to prove your identity. It is used for certificate security and digital signatures and usually contains:

• Your name and email address
• The name of the organization that issued it
• A serial number
• An end date.

Digital IDs contain two keys, one private and one public:

• The private key unlocks or decrypts that data. You use it to apply your digital signature when you sign a PDF
• The public key locks or encrypts data. This is the certificate you send or distribute to recipients who want to confirm your signature or identity.

You might need a digital ID to sign a document or encrypt PDFs through a certificate. It’s not mandatory to create, edit, or add comments to PDF files.

We recommend storing your digital ID in a safe place - it contains your private key and can be used to decrypt your information.

Recovering or resetting your digital ID’s password

You cannot recover or reset the password if you’ve forgotten it.

If you created the ID yourself, you can create a new one. You can use the same information used for the previous ID.

If you got the ID from a certificate authority, you need to contact them for help.

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Creating a self-signed digital ID

You can create a self-signed digital ID using both Adobe Acrobat Pro and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Sign in to Acrobat

2. Select the Edit menu (next to File)

3. Select Preferences

4. Select Signatures

5. Go to the section for Identities & Trusted Certificates and select the button “More…"

6. Select Digital IDs on the left

7. Select the Add ID button  

8. Select the option A New Digital ID I Want To Create Now, then select Next.

9. Specify where to store the digital ID, then select Next. 

You can choose between the following options:

1. New PKCS#12 Digital ID File. 
   
   This option Stores the digital ID information in a file, which has the extension .pfx in Windows and .p12 in Mac OS. 
   You can use the files interchangeably between operating systems. 
   If you move a file from one operating system to another, Acrobat still recognizes it.
   
   
2. Windows Certificate Store (Windows only)
   Stores the digital ID in a common location from where other Windows applications can also retrieve it. Apple users will not see this option.

10. Type a name, email address, and other personal information for your digital ID. 

 
When you certify or sign a document, the name appears in the Signatures panel and in the Signature field.

11. Choose an option from the Key Algorithm menu. The 2048-bit RSA option offers more security than the 1024-bit RSA, but the 1024-bit RSA is more universally compatible.

12. From the Use Digital ID For menu, please choose whether you want to use the digital ID for:

1. Signatures,
2. Data encryption,
3. Both options.

13. Select Next

14. Enter and save the password for your digital ID by following the steps below:

1. Type a password for the digital ID file
2. Reconfirm your password.
3. The digital ID file is stored at the default location as shown in the File Name field. If you want to save it somewhere else, select Browse and choose the location.
4. Select Finish.
   
   If a digital ID file with the same name has already been create, you will be prompted to replace it by doing one of the following options:
   1. Click OK to replace
   2. Browse and select a different location to store the file.

15. The ID is created. You can export and send your certificate file to your contacts. They can use it to confirm your signature.

We recommend making a backup copy of your digital ID file. You cannot use that profile whether:

• Your digital ID file is lost or corrupted
• You forget your password.

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Register a digital ID

To use your digital ID, you need to register your ID with Acrobat Pro or Reader.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Sign in to Acrobat

2. Select the Edit menu (next to File)

3. Select Preferences

4. Select Signatures

5. Go to the section for Identities & Trusted Certificates and select the button “More…"

6. Select Digital IDs on the left

7. Select the Add ID button  

8. Choose one of the following options:

1. A file
   Select this option if you obtained a digital ID as an electronic file. Follow the prompts to select the digital ID file, type your password, and add the digital ID to the list.
   
   
2. A roaming digital ID stored on a server
   Select this option to use a digital ID that is stored on a signing server. When prompted, please type:
   1. the server’s name
   2. the URL where the roaming ID is located.
      
      
3. A Device Connected To This Computer
   Select this option if you have a security token or hardware token connected to your computer.

Select Next, and follow the instructions to register your digital ID.

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Specify the default digital ID

By selecting a default digital ID you will not be prompted to select a digital ID each time your sign or certify a PDF.

Setting a default digital ID 

1. Sign in to Acrobat

2. Select the Edit menu (next to File)

3. Select Preferences

4. Select Signatures

5. Go to the section for Identities & Trusted Certificates and select the button “More…"

6. Select Digital IDs on the left

7. Select the digital ID you want to use as the default

8. Select the Usage Options button

 
9. Choose a task for which you want the digital ID as the default. You can specify the digital ID as the default for two tasks by selecting the Usage Options button again and selecting a second option.

10. A check mark appears before selected options:

If you select only the signing option, the Sign icon appears next to the digital ID.

If you select only the encryption option, the Lock icon appears.

If you select only the certifying option, or if you select the signing and certifying options, the Blue Ribbon icon appears .

Clearing a default digital ID

To clear a default digital ID, please follow steps 1-8 and deselect the usage options already selected.

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Delete your digital ID

You can delete your digital ID whenever you want. You can delete only self-signed digital IDs that you created in Acrobat. A digital ID obtained from another provider cannot be deleted.

By deleting it, you delete the actual PKCS #12 file that contains both the private key and the certificate.

Before you delete your digital ID, ensure that:

• It is not in use by other programs,
  or
• Required by any documents for decrypting.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Sign in to Acrobat

2. Select the Edit menu (next to File)

3. Select Preferences

4. Select Signatures

5. Go to the section for Identities & Trusted Certificates and select the button “More…"

6. Select Digital IDs on the left

7. Select the digital ID to remove

8. Select Remove ID

9. Enter the password

10. Select OK to confirm your choice

How to delete your digital ID if you have forgotten your password

If you have forgotten the password, you cannot delete the ID from the section “Identities & Trusted Certificates”.

What to do in this case:

1. When you click Remove ID, the Acrobat Security diaSignue box shows the complete location of the digital ID file.
2. Go to the location
3. Delete the file
4. Relaunch Acrobat. The ID is removed from the list.

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