How to sign a PDF on Windows
Windows has no built-in signature tool like a Mac's Preview, so use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader: open the PDF, choose Fill & Sign, add your signature, and save. Microsoft Edge can also draw on a PDF in a pinch.
By docuinked. Published 2026-11-08, updated 2026-11-08.
Steps in Adobe Acrobat Reader
Acrobat Reader is free from Adobe's website. You don't need to pay for Acrobat Pro to sign.
- Open the PDF in Acrobat Reader.
- Find the signing tools. In the current version, select the pen icon labelled Sign or E-sign in the toolbar, or open All tools and choose Fill & Sign.
- Choose Add signature.
- Pick how to make it: Type your name and choose a style, Draw it with a mouse, pen or touchscreen, or use an Image of your signature on white paper.
- Select Apply, then click where the signature goes.
- Drag it into place. Use the small toolbar on the signature to resize or delete it.
- Save the file, or use Save As to keep the original.
Adobe moves these buttons between releases. If yours looks different, Adobe's help page shows the current layout.
A quick option: Microsoft Edge
Edge opens PDFs by default on Windows. In the PDF toolbar, choose Draw, pick a colour and thickness, and sign with your mouse, pen or finger. Then save.
It works, but it's a freehand drawing every time. You can't save a signature to reuse, and mouse signatures look rough. For anything you sign more than once, Acrobat Reader is better.
Filling in fields and dates
In Acrobat Reader, click a form field and type. If there's no field, the Fill & Sign tools include a text tool you can place anywhere, plus quick marks for ticks and crosses.
What a signature image proves
Like every free desktop tool, this places an image on the page. The PDF can still be edited afterwards, and nothing records when you signed. If you need another person to sign, or a record you could show later, send the document through an e-signature service instead. Read how to sign a PDF for the two jobs, and electronic vs digital signatures for what each kind proves.
Common questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in way to sign a PDF?
Not a dedicated one. Edge can draw on a PDF, which works for a quick signature. For a saved signature you can reuse, install the free Acrobat Reader.
Do I need to pay for Adobe Acrobat to sign a PDF?
No. Signing a PDF yourself works in the free Acrobat Reader. The paid versions add things like editing the PDF's text and sending documents to others.
Why is the signature option greyed out in Acrobat Reader?
The PDF may be secured against changes, or already locked by a certified signature. Check the security note at the top of the file, or ask the sender for an unlocked copy.
Related
Try it in test mode
Free during the beta. Test keys send no email, so you can build the whole flow first.