Learn how to sign a PDF on Mac using Preview (trackpad, camera, iPhone/iPad) or a fast online tool like PDF.net. No app installation needed.

To sign a PDF on a Mac, you can use the three options in Preview: trackpad, camera, and the iPhone/iPad method, or PDF.net.

There are many options to sign PDFs on a Mac, 

but not all guarantee high-quality signatures

. Moreover, some tools are also complicated to use, as they require special knowledge or come with subscriptions that are too expensive.

Instead of using such tools, you can follow our steps to sign a PDF on a Mac with highly functional, reliable, and simple software. Let’s start!

The easiest way to sign PDFs on a Mac is to use the Preview 

on iPhone or iPad to sign PDFs without Preview and share them to your Mac device.

To further simplify the signing process, it’s recommended to utilize the 

, which allows you to add digital signatures within minutes while keeping the highest security levels for your data and documents.

Preview is a built-in program on the Mac Operating System (macOS). This software features three options for signing a document on a Mac—using an iPhone or iPad, a camera, or a trackpad.

The process of putting a signature on a Mac PDF consists of the following steps:

 you want to sign, right-click it, choose 

4. Once you click on the Sign option, the ‘

’ option will be selected by default, and you should choose 

5. Use the trackpad to move your cursor and create a signature.

6. Preview will automatically add your signature, which you can insert into a document by clicking on it, to the 

7. Clicking on the signature will allow you to resize it by dragging the edges inward or outward and position it where you want.

Still, filling in a PDF on a Mac using a trackpad can be tricky, as you have to create the entire signature in one take.

If you are not well-versed in using a trackpad with your finger to create handwritten signatures on a Mac, you can use a 

. This tool functions as a pen and can help you sign your PDFs with precision to get 

Another way to insert a signature in PDFs on a Mac is to use the camera feature. Here are the steps:

1. Locate the file you wish to sign, right-click it, and open it with 

5. Write your signature on a blank piece of paper and ensure that it is readable.

6. Move the paper close to the camera and wait until the program detects and renders it.

7. Once you are satisfied with the signature, click 

button again to select the signature and move it to the document.

Still, adding a digital signature to a file in Preview on a Mac this way may be challenging. First, you need to ensure that your camera device is not damaged to prevent issues such as 

Even so, your camera may have difficulties reading the signature due to lens scratches or bad handwriting. Plus, the lighting in your room has to be good for the auto-focus option to work correctly and for the camera to read your signature successfully.

If you experience difficulties with this option, you can still try 

other procedures for signing a PDF on a Mac

To sign a PDF on iPhone and iPad, use the 

program on your device to enable this option.

Here’s the complete process for doing so:

1. Open the file you want to sign in Preview.

5. The signature will appear in the box, after which you should click 

 button to open the signature from your iPhone or iPad.

7. Click the signature, drag it to the document, position it where you want, and resize it if needed.

This is one of the handiest ways to digitally sign a PDF on a Mac, as many users find it easier to create a signature on the iPhone screen instead of using a trackpad. Furthermore, if you’re on an iPad, you can use an Apple Pencil, which allows for stability and control during the process and makes 

In addition to using files from your drive, you can sign PDFs from an email. The process is simple—all you should do is open your email, find the file you want to sign, and click the

 icon. This will open your email document in Preview, allowing you to sign it.

If, however, you want to add signatures straight from an iPhone or iPad, you can use the built-in Markup tool. Similar to Preview, the signing process with the Markup tool includes selecting the document, opening this tool, choosing the sign option, creating a signature, and saving your file. Once you are done, you can 

transfer PDFs from iPhone or iPad to a Mac

Sign a PDF with PDF.net: The Easiest Cross-Platform Solution

 software offers one of the fastest and easiest opportunities to sign a PDF online. All you should do is take the following steps:

 to upload your document manually, or drag it to the box that says 

3. Choose whether you want to type, draw, or upload the signature and click 

4. Position your signature in a document and adjust its opacity, resize, or rotate it according to your needs.

5. Click away to save the signature on your file and press the 

 button in the top-right corner to save the PDF to your drive.

, regardless of the manufacturer or operating system. Also, thanks to the high cross-platform functionality we offer, you can easily share your documents with a single click after signing them.

digital signatures on our platform are rather secure

 since they include audit trails, which you can use to detect any modifications. Plus, our software provides a public encryption key during the signing process between two parties so that they are the only ones to access the file.

 if you change your mind unless it was placed using cheap software, since these are removable due to low encryption.

Some other options that PDF.net offers include:

 or turn them into JPG files or any other well-known formats

 in three ways (iPhone or iPad, trackpad, and camera). This gives you plenty of options to choose from, but some of these processes can be too complicated for some users or cause unexpected issues with your files.

If too many features or options confuse you or if you have safety concerns, we suggest you sign your PDFs 

 using any device or operating system. Our user-friendly platform lets you add digital signatures in several clicks and provides maximum protection during and after the signing process!

#1. Are digital signatures on Mac legally binding?

Yes, digital signatures on Mac are legally binding. Besides representing an easier and more convenient option for many, these 

official standards and regulations just like physical ones

#2. Can I sign secured or password-protected PDFs?

Yes, you can sign secured or password-protected PDFs, but only if you know the decryption password or the passcode that allows you to remove the 

#3. How do I sign a PDF if I’m not the only signer?

If you’re not the only signer, you sign a PDF using high-encryption tools such as PDF.net, which allows you to use 

that only you and the other signer know. This prevents anyone else from accessing your document during the signing process.

#4. Can I automate my signature for batch documents?

you can automate your signature for batch documents

. To do so, upload multiple PDFs to our website, create and add a signature, and select all or specific document pages on which you want to save your signature.

How to Sign a PDF on Mac: Preview, iPhone, and Online Tools

Learn how to annotate a PDF with comments, highlights, and more using PDF.net, without changing the document's original content.

Learning how to annotate a PDF is easy; all you need is the right annotation tool, like PDF.net, to 

add comments, highlights, and other markups to your document

. Once you learn how to do this, you can easily collaborate on documents, provide feedback, or simply add notes to files without changing their original content.

Whether you’re a student or a professional, knowing how to annotate a PDF will help you save time and enhance productivity. So, in today’s article, we’ll discuss the different types of annotations you can make and outline the step-by-step process for annotating PDF files.

How to Annotate a PDF File in 3 Easy Steps

upload your document to a PDF markup tool and then select the type of annotation you want 

 and upload your PDF document; to do this, simply click 

#2. Annotate the PDF - Add Comments, Highlights, and More

After your document loads, you can start to annotate the PDF using the different 

. Thanks to the built-in tool that tackles text annotation for PDFs, you’ll be able to add comments, draw on the document using the 

. You can also change the color of the marker or highlighter by selecting one of the color options provided or by clicking on the color wheel to choose a custom shade.

On the other hand, if you want to annotate larger sections of text all at once, you can adjust the size of the marker or the highlighter by clicking and dragging the slider bar below the 

Once you settle on the right marker thickness, you can annotate the PDF by 

If you make a mistake during this step, don’t worry, as you can easily remove annotations from the PDF by selecting the 

 and tapping on the section you want to edit.

After adding all your annotations, you can 

to ensure that there are no stray markings or highlights that can confuse the reader. When everything looks good, click on the 

Before downloading your file, you can even 

After selecting your preferred format, click 

Now that you know how to annotate PDFs, it’s time to learn about the 

different types of annotations you can make

, are the most common annotations you’ll find on documents. If you want to add notes to a PDF for your reference, you can place sticky notes beside the section you want to comment on.

PDF comments, on the other hand, are great for asking for or leaving feedback and 

. Meanwhile, PDF highlighting can be used to emphasize important sections in the text without changing its original content.

PDF markup-based annotations like shapes, drawings, lines, and arrows can be used to 

highlight the visual elements in the document

. For instance, you can point out an important detail in a graph by adding shapes to the PDF to grab the reader’s attention, then leave a brief comment explaining the annotation.

Another way to annotate PDFs is by using stamps and signatures to 

show that you reviewed or authorized the document’s content

. Some PDF markup software allows you to create digital stamps that say “Approved” or “Reviewed” that you can use to annotate the document, which can be especially useful with files that need multi-level approvals.

 digitally, editing or even annotating the PDF afterward can invalidate its 

. So, if the text in the document isn’t final yet, you can use a signature annotation to show that you approve of its current version.

In addition to the usual annotations, you can also add 

interactive annotations like links, embedded multimedia, and form fields 

For instance, if you are working on a group research project and want to reference external papers, you can highlight the relevant information and annotate the PDF document with a clickable link so other members can view the source of the data.

To edit and modify annotated PDFs, you can 

use PDF.net’s full suite of editing tools

. With our complete PDF editor, you can delete or modify existing annotations on PDFs in a few simple clicks.

To delete existing annotations, select the 

 and right-click on the annotation you want to remove. If you need to move an annotation, however, all you need to do is click and drag it to the new location. You can also adjust the size and position of highlights, text boxes, and stamps with a simple 

How to Share PDF Annotations When Collaborating

To share PDF annotations when collaborating, you need to 

share the document using PDF.net’s annotation tool

. Once you upload your file into our tool, it is securely stored on our servers, and you can easily send it to clients or peers.

After they sign up on our platform, they can annotate the PDF and leave comments, highlight text, or make suggestions without actually editing the document. Being able to share and collaborate on annotated PDFs can help teams streamline communication and reduce misunderstandings due to undocumented file changes.

Troubleshooting Common PDF Annotation Issues

When you annotate PDFs, you may encounter some common issues like incorrect placement, overlapping annotations, and annotations that won’t save, so 

Annotating PDFs using a touchpad or a mouse can be tricky, and you can place the annotation in the wrong location by accident. Fortunately, this common issue has an equally common fix; just 

. Afterward, you can add a new one in the right place.

Some users find that their annotations disappear, and this issue is often caused by the file not saving properly after annotating the PDF. If you use an offline annotation tool, it’s important to 

always save your changes and review all the annotations you made 

When you annotate PDFs online, your changes are automatically saved and you can review your file before closing to confirm whether all your annotations are on the document.

Having multiple highlights, comments, or sticky notes on a document can cause overlapping annotations and make it difficult for you or your collaborators to read the original text. This is especially common when 

annotating a PDF that’s shared with several people

To avoid confusion and ensure that all annotations are readable, consider using a different color for each person and grouping all related comments in the same area. Also, some PDF tools allow you to temporarily hide some comments so you only see what you need.

Whether you’re reviewing contracts or collaborating on reports, you can rely on 

effortlessly annotate your documents in seconds

. With our online PDF editor, you can highlight text, draw shapes, and leave comments on files with no downloads necessary.

 to keep your files secure, so you can confidently upload important documents and data without worrying about data leaks. With its user-friendly design and convenient, multi-device compatibility, 

PDF.net is the quickest way to modify your documents with zero hassle

#1. How do I annotate a PDF without Adobe?

To annotate a PDF without Adobe, you need 

that allow you to add comments within the document without altering its content.

#2. Can I annotate a PDF on my phone or tablet?

you can annotate a PDF on your phone or tablet 

using PDF.net’s online annotation tool. As PDF.net is cloud-based software, you can use our tool on any device as long as you have a stable internet connection.

#3. How do I delete annotations in a PDF?

. Afterward, you can download your modified file or make new annotations.

How to Annotate a PDF: Adding Comments, Highlights, and More

Knowing how to resize PDFs can ease their sharing and uploading to various platforms (e.g., business & social media ones).

To resize PDFs quickly and efficiently, you can use tools such as PDF.net and Microsoft Word, as well as the Microsoft Print to PDF option in Google Chrome.

PDF resizing allows you to fit large files into your device or cloud storage and makes it easier to 

Looking for an easy way to resize PDFs? This guide has you covered. We will show you how to use PDF.net tools to do this and discuss other resizing methods, along with the best troubleshooting tips.

, save your file as PDF using Microsoft Word, or use the Print to PDF option on Google Chrome.

Let’s take a closer look at each method for making PDFs smaller:

You can resize PDFs using PDF.net in several short steps:

Upload your file by dragging it to the box labeled 

 to select the document manually from your storage.


Select one of the three compression variants—

Smallest file size, Balanced, or Better quality

 it to reduce the size of the PDF and save it to your drive.


Another way to compress PDFs is to save your document as a PDF using Microsoft Word. This method is also straightforward and includes the following steps:

 menu, and choose Microsoft Word to open the file.


 and select the location where you want to save your document.


The location where you want to save your document

PDF file type listed in the drop-down menu

Optimize for minimum size (publishing online)

#3. Adjust PDF Dimensions With Google Chrome

Google Chrome allows you to resize PDF pages using the 

Right-click your PDF file, hover your cursor over the 

PDF Dimensions Adjusted With Google Chrome

button in the upper-right corner of the webpage.


Print icon located in the upper-right corner of the webpage

menu and enter a number lower than 100 in the 

Microsoft Print to PDF on the destination menu

in the bottom-right corner, name your file, and click 

Print in the bottom-right corner on the destination menu

Why and When Do You Need to Resize PDF Documents?

You need to resize PDF documents because it eases the sharing, uploading, and loading process when using these files for business, school projects, and other occasions.

Let’s see the most common situations when you need to resize PDFs:

for file attachments. Other platforms (e.g., social media) also have similar limits. Therefore, resizing PDF file sizes can help you send your documents via email hassle-free and share them easily on various platforms.

Using PDF optimizers for faster loading and sharing

. You can optimize PDFs for web pages, which lowers their size and allows 

 to recognize the file more quickly. Similarly, resizing documents will allow you to send them promptly through different channels (e.g., via messaging apps). This also reduces the chances of crossing the size limit or getting stuck during a transfer due to oversized files.

Adapting files for business and government portals

. Business and government portals may require you to upload your documents in the PDF file format for readability and safety. In such cases, it’s easier to upload low-size PDFs.

Compression software can be tricky, especially low-quality and free PDF resizing tools. Specifically, unstable compression may corrupt or poorly resize your files, leaving you with an unfavorable outcome.

Let’s examine the best tips for effortless PDF resizing:

#1. Maintain a Balance Between File Size and Quality

Both file size and quality are important, so you shouldn’t sacrifice one for the sake of the other. In other words, documents that are too large are not practical for sharing and using, while low-quality files can be unreadable and, therefore, useless.

Finding a balance between the two can be the best solution, as it allows for smaller and higher-quality files. To do so, you can use tools such as PDF.net, which offers a 

#2. Choose the Right Compression Settings

Another tip on how to resize PDFs is to choose your compression type based on how much you need to decrease a file size. Once you know the resizing purpose (e.g., sending a PDF via email), you can choose between

If you aim for the smallest size, you can use lossy (high) compression, which will affect the file quality. If not, you can use 

 and reduce the file size a little while keeping its original quality. Medium (balanced) compression can lower the size of your document decently and minimally affect its quality, but it may not be adequate for huge files.

#3. Use Batch Processing for Multiple PDFs

Resizing numerous files separately can be tedious and time-consuming. On the other hand, using online PDF resizers with batch processing saves time and simplifies the process.

You can streamline this process by uploading multiple PDFs from your drive to a designated platform, selecting the compression level for all documents at once or for each one separately, and clicking the resize or compress button.

3 Common Issues With Resizing PDFs and Troubleshooting Tips

Resizing PDFs without losing quality is not always easy, as you may not get the best compression result, and the process may even damage your files.

Let’s learn more about the most common problems and how to troubleshoot them:

Loss of quality is the most common compression problem because certain compression algorithms (e.g., lossy compression) remove some PDF elements to reduce size.

There are several ways to maintain and restore quality before or after compression, with the best ones being:

lossless compression may not shrink your files too much but will prevent quality loss. To preserve quality, you can use the JBIG2 compression algorithm for text and the PNG algorithm for images. If your first attempt resulted in lossy compression, you can re-compress it with these settings if you have the original file.

. You can regain PDF quality (at least for the most part) using the online scanning software. To do so, scan your document at a high dots-per-inch ratio (

Corrupted files are another common compression problem, usually related to low-quality software. If you end up getting one, you can recover it by:

. Online PDF repair software finds and recovers inaccessible data in damaged PDFs. The success rate varies according to the level of corruption, but it is generally high.

Restore the previous version or use a backup file

. Some platforms save original documents on the cloud as customers use their tools, meaning you can 

Blog

How to Sign a PDF on Mac: Preview, iPhone, and Online Tools

How to Annotate a PDF: Adding Comments, Highlights, and More

How to Resize PDFs Quickly and Efficiently: 3 Methods Explained

How to Save a Screenshot as a PDF on Any Device Easily

How to Compress PDF Without Losing Quality—Quickly & Safely

How to Convert PDF to JPG in Seconds (Step-by-Step Guide)

How to Highlight Text in PDF: A Full Guide for Document Editing

How to Edit Scanned PDFs | Methods, Examples, & Tips

How to Rearrange PDF Pages Fast and Safely Using PDF.net