How to Sign a PDF on Mac

This article explains two ways to sign a PDF on a Mac either by signing with your finger on the trackpad or by scanning an image of your signature with the Mac camera and saving it for future use.

How to Sign a PDF With the Trackpad Using Preview

Signing a PDF file on Mac is more convoluted than you'd expect if you're used to standard text files or Word documents. Fortunately, macOS has ways you can add your signature to a PDF rhrough built-in tools.

The Mac's Preview app is a powerful tool for editing many different types of documents. It's also great for signing PDFs. It offers a couple of different ways to sign a PDF.

1. Open the PDF file in Preview. 

   Macs open PDF files in Preview by default so you should be able to simply double-click the file. Alternatively, right-click the file, then click Open With > Preview.

2. Click Show Markup Toolbar.

3. Click Signature.

4. Click Click Here to Begin.

5. Draw your signature with the trackpad of your laptop. 

   Any movement becomes part of the signature so try to keep your gestures natural, slow, and steady. Additionally, if your Mac has a Force Touch trackpad, you can press your finger more firmly on the trackpad to sign with a heavier and darker line. Press any key once done.

6. Click Done.

7. Click your created signature, then drag it to where it needs to be within the document. 

8. Click away from it for it to stay in that position. 

   Changed your mind? Just click the signature again to be able to drag it around.

How to Sign a PDF With the Camera Using Preview

Alternatively, if you don't want to use the trackpad to draw your signature, you can also use the Mac's built-in camera to sign a PDF. It's a similar process to using the trackpad but with some key differences. Here's how.

1. Open the PDF file in Preview. 

   Macs open PDF files in Preview by default so you should be able to simply double-click the file. Alternatively, right-click the file, then click Open With > Preview.

2. Click Show Markup Toolbar.

3. Click Signature.

   If you've already created a signature via the trackpad, you need to then click Create Signature.

4. Click Camera.

5. Draw your signature on paper and hold it up to the camera and the blue line.

   The picture will look inverted, but Preview will adjust it so it reads correctly once sufficiently scanned. 

6. Hold the sheet of paper still for a few seconds until the Mac reads the paper correctly.

7. Once the image appears, click Done to save the signature.

8. Click Signature again and choose the signature.

9. Drag it to where it needs to be within the document.

10. Click away from it for it to stay in that position. 

    Don't want to keep your signature stored on your Mac? Hover over the signature then click the x when it appears.