This article explains how to create your digital ID on Adobe Acrobat, how to create a Digital Signature Certificate and how to sign a PDF with your Digital Signature.

Please note that the screenshots below were taken from Adobe Acrobat DC and might be slightly different from what you can see on Acrobat Reader.

Step 1 - Download and install Acrobat DC

Find guidance on downloading and installing Adobe Acrobat DC in the article "How to install Adobe Acrobat DC".

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Step 2 - Create and obtain a digital ID

Find guidance on creating and obtaining a digital ID by using Adobe in the article "How to create a self-signed digital ID in Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Reader".

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Step 3 - Create a digital image of your signature in PDF

1. Create a digital image of your signature by using an electronic pencil or your mouse/finger as follows:

2. Open Acrobat Reader or Acrobat DC

3. Open a PDF document you have already saved or downloaded

4. Select the Fill and Sign icon

5. Now please:

• If you are using Acrobat Reader, select Add signature from the drop-down menu
• If you are using Acrobat DC, select:
  • the button Sign Yourself
  •  the option Add initials +

6. Select the Draw icon

7. Draw your signature using the mouse pointer

8. Select Apply

9. Place the signature in a blank space, then:

1. Resize it
2. Take a screenshot of it
3. Save the screenshot
4. Save it as a .jog or .png file

10. If necessary, you can resize your screenshot using graphic software such as Windows Paint 3D, Apple iOS Photos or others

11. Right-click on your file and then select one of the following options:

• If you are using Windows 11, Covert to Adobe PDF 
• If you are using Windows 10, Save as PDF
• If you are using an Apple macOS, Quick Actions and then Create PDF

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Step 4 - Customise the appearance of your digital signature

1. Open Acrobat DC or Acrobat Reader

2. From the toolbar, select Edit

3. Select Preferences

4. Select Signatures from the sidebar on the left

5. Go to the section Creation & Appearance and select the button More…

6. Select the button New… to create a new appearance

7. Give a title to the signature

8. From the section Configure Graphic, select

1. The radio button Imported graphic
2. The button File…

9. Browse your signature previously saved as PDF

10. Select the button Open

11. Select the button OK

12. From the section Configure Text, tick or untick the options you want to appear on your signature 

13. Select OK to close the window

14. Select OK to close the "Creation and Appearance Preferences" window

15. Select OK to close the "Preferences" window

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Step 5 - Insert the digital signature into a PDF

Now you are ready to sign any PDF you want as follows:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader or Adobe Acrobat DC

2. Open the PDF document you have to sign

3. Select the Tools button 

4. Select the Certificates icon

5. Select the option Digitally Sign

6. Use the pointer of your mouse to draw the area where you would like your signature to appear

7. Choose your Digital ID

8. Select the Continue button

9. From the Appearance drop-down menu, select the appearance you created earlier

Recommendation: tick the option Lock document after signing to prevent any further changes after signing the PDF

10. Enter the password of your digital ID

11. Select the Sign button

12. Acrobat will ask you to name the file and save it

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Related content

How to install Adobe Acrobat DC

How to create a self-signed digital ID in Adobe Acrobat Pro or Adobe Reader

How to set up Adobe Acrobat DC your default PDF viewer using Microsoft Edge