How to sign a PDF
Signing a PDF used to mean printing it, scribbling on it, scanning it, and emailing the scan back. That workflow is dead. You can now sign any PDF electronically in minutes, from any device, and the result is legally equivalent to an ink signature under the ESIGN Act and UETA.
How to sign a PDF
How to sign a pdf
- 01
Open InkRobin and upload your PDF
Go to inkrobin.com and sign in (or create a free account, no credit card required). Click 'New document' and drag in your PDF, or click to browse. Any PDF works: contracts, offer letters, NDAs, leases.
- 02
Place your signature field
Once the PDF loads, drag a signature field onto the page where your signature is needed. You can also add date, initials, and text fields if the document requires them. Drag fields to reposition; resize by dragging the corner.
- 03
Sign it
Click the signature field. You can type your name (InkRobin renders it in a handwriting font), draw your signature with a mouse or finger, or upload an image of your signature. Pick whichever looks right for your document.
- 04
Save and download the signed PDF
Once you've filled in all fields, click 'Finish'. InkRobin generates a signed PDF with your signature embedded. Download it immediately. A copy also goes to your InkRobin dashboard.
- 05
Share the completed document
If you need to return the signed document to someone else, download the PDF and email it, or share the InkRobin link. The recipient can view the completed document and download the signed copy.
Pro tip
If the PDF has form fields (fillable text boxes), InkRobin preserves them. You can fill in the form fields and add your signature in the same session.
Ready to sign?
Upload, sign, and send in under three minutes. Free.
Questions
- Is a PDF signed with InkRobin legally binding?
- Yes. InkRobin produces a simple electronic signature (SES) valid under the US ESIGN Act and UETA. The signed PDF includes a tamper-evident audit trail recording the signer's name, email, IP address, and timestamp.
- Can I sign a PDF on my phone?
- Yes. InkRobin works in any mobile browser with no app required. Open the link, sign with your finger, and done. See our guide to signing on iPhone for specifics.
- What if the PDF is password-protected?
- Password-protected PDFs can't be modified until unlocked. Remove the password protection first (using the PDF owner password in Adobe Acrobat or Preview on Mac), then upload to InkRobin.
- Is there a file size limit?
- InkRobin handles most standard documents without issue. Very large PDFs (over 50MB) may be slow to process. Compressing the PDF first with a tool like Smallpdf will help.
Send your first document in three minutes.
No credit card. Five free documents every month, forever. Your signers will thank you.