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E-Signature

How to Sign a PDF on iPhone

Open a PDF from email, Files, or cloud storage, add your signature, initials, and date, then send the signed file back from your iPhone.

Add signature Reuse initials No printing Send from iPhone
Best for: contracts, consent forms, approvals, and everyday PDFs that need a fast signature workflow without printer-scanner detours.
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How to sign a PDF on iPhone with built-in tools

Open the PDF, add a signature with Markup, place it on the signature line, then save and reopen the signed file. For repeated signing or scanned paper, ScanLens combines capture and saved signatures in a free app.

In Files, open the PDF and choose Markup. Use the add control to insert a signature, then move and resize it. Save the changes before sharing. Keep a separate original if you need an unsigned copy.

In Preview on iOS 26, open the PDF, choose form filling, and use the add control for a signature or text box. See Apple’s PDF signing instructions.

How to add a signature to a PDF in ScanLens

  1. Import the PDF from Files, Mail, or an available share-sheet destination. Check the page count and the document you are signing.
  2. Open the signature tool and draw a signature or select one you saved earlier.
  3. Place the signature on the correct line. Resize it without covering nearby text.
  4. Complete any required initials, date, or other fields. Review all pages with signing fields.
  5. Export the signed PDF under a distinct filename. Reopen that file to check the signature, then attach it to your reply or save it to Files.
Signature experience

Save a signature for reuse on iPhone

Draw a signature and save it for reuse on your iPhone. Saved signature assets stay on the device; document backup and sharing follow the settings and destinations you choose.

Your saved signatures

Stored on-device, never synced to a server.

Place, size, and recolor

Drag to move, pinch to resize, two-finger rotate.

Signed PDF, ready to share

Reopen the exported PDF to check the signature.

Draw once

Draw your signature in landscape

Use the landscape pad to draw your signature, correct stray strokes, and save it for reuse on the iPhone.

Signing a contract or a scanned paper form

For a contract, check every signature and initials field, not only the last page. A saved signature is a graphical mark; it does not provide certificate validation, identity verification, or a signing audit trail. Follow the recipient’s required method. The e-signature app guide explains those differences.

For paper, scan all pages into one PDF before adding the signature. Check the scan’s edges and small print first. If you only need to return an emailed attachment, use the guide to sign a PDF without printing.

Check the signed copy before sending

If the signature is missing from the attachment, reopen the exported file rather than the original PDF. If it covers a field, correct its position and export again. Check dates and initials on every required page.

Some documents require a different signing process. Check the recipient’s instructions; see the electronic-signature requirements guide for the legal distinctions. For a sensitive or oversized attachment, see PDF password protection and PDF compression.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sign a PDF on iPhone without another app?

Open the PDF in Files and use Markup to add a signature. In Preview on iOS 26, use form filling and the add control. Save the file and reopen it before sending.

Can I reuse a signature on another PDF?

Yes. Create a saved signature in ScanLens, then select it for the next PDF. Check its size and placement on each new document.

How do I sign a contract on iPhone?

Open the contract, add the required signature, initials, and date, then review every signing field. Export a signed copy and follow the recipient’s instructions if they require a verified signing service.

Can I scan paper and sign the resulting PDF?

Yes. Scan and review all pages first, save them as one PDF, then add the signature. Keep the paper original when it is required.

Why does my emailed PDF still look unsigned?

You may have attached the original instead of the signed export. Save the completed copy with a distinct filename and open the attachment from your email draft before sending.

Is a drawn PDF signature a certificate-based digital signature?

No. A drawn signature does not itself add a signing certificate, identity checks, tamper evidence, or an audit trail. Use the method required for the document.

Related Topics

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E-Signature App

Broader guide to contracts, forms, and signature workflows on iPhone.

 📝

Fill PDF Forms on iPhone

Type into form fields and place your saved signature in one flow.

 ✏️

Annotate PDF

Add notes, highlights, and markup alongside signatures.

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Password Protect PDF

Encrypt signed documents before sending.
Start Signing Today

Ready to Sign Documents on iPhone?

Download ScanLens and sign your first PDF on iPhone. Save a reusable signature, add dates and initials, and return the finished document without printing.

Download on the App Store