To remove a signature from PDFs, you can undo changes on a freshly signed document, edit out signatures, convert them to editable format, delete them, and flatten and redact your document.
You may need to delete signatures from PDFs after accidentally signing them, or you may want to update or fix your document by replacing one signature with another. However, PDF signature removal may not always be possible due to high-security levels.
Read on to discover more about which signatures are removable, how to remove them, and how to protect your documents from unwanted signature removal.
Can You Remove Signatures from PDFs?
Whether you can remove signatures from PDF files depends on their type. Signatures are usually classified according to how they are produced and their security levels.
Let’s see what the three main signature types are and whether you can remove them.
#1. Digital Signatures
Digital signatures are electronic data transferred to an online document that proves someone’s intention to sign it. There are three types of digital signatures—simple, advanced, and Qualified Electronic Signature (QES).
Their security levels differ; simple signatures have the lowest, advanced ones boast high, and qualified signatures have the highest security levels. In general, you can remove an e-signature from your document right after signing it, as the signing process is not complete, and the platform allows you to revoke your action. Alternatively, you can delete simple signatures from documents someone else has signed using editing tools, such as PDF.net.
In contrast, if someone sends a signed document, especially one with an advanced or qualified signature, it will be impossible to remove PDF digital signatures due to high encryption.
#2. Image-Based Signatures
Image-based signatures are also called electronic or e-signatures. You can create electronic signatures by typing your name and positioning it in a document. You can also use a signature image and insert it into a PDF document.
Unlike most digital signatures, you can remove electronic signatures from PDFs by editing them out. Specifically, our PDF editor allows you to find, select, and delete text or image-based signatures.
#3. Hand-Drawn Signatures
Hand-drawn signatures include printed PDF copies that people manually sign. Editing a hard copy online is impossible, and modifying it physically could leave marks (e.g., scribbles) and lower its credibility.
Alternatively, you can edit hand-drawn signatures by scanning a hard PDF copy. After you do this, you must use a redaction tool to mark the signature and make it invisible by matching its color with the background.
It is important to note that erasing signatures in PDFs can invalidate documents. Most tools can detect signature removal since signatures use audit trails and revoke document trust, which means they can restrict their services for the document.
Also, once documents that must be signed (e.g., legal real estate documents) lose the signature, they also lose their validity.
4 Methods for Removing a Signature From a PDF
There are several ways to remove signatures from PDFs, allowing you to revise and revamp your documents.
With that in mind, let’s examine the top four methods to extract a signature from a PDF document:
#1. Remove the Signature Using the Undo Option
You can undo a PDF signature using the same option on an online PDF editor. This process is simple—click the Undo icon in the top right corner after you place a signature using the signing tool.
This will automatically clear the signature from your document. If you have multiple signatures on your file, you can repeatedly click the Undo icon until all of them are removed. Once you delete the signature, you can continue editing your file and download it afterward.
#2. Delete a Signature From an Editable PDF
You can edit a signed PDF and remove a signature if it is not encrypted. For instance, if a signature is typed and placed into a document as a fillable form, you can use the selection tool to select a signature and remove it by clicking on the trash can icon in the upper-right corner of the toolbar.
You should repeat this process for every signature in the document, after which you can download your PDF file. In addition to this removal method, you can delete signatures on mobile devices, as our platform also allows mobile PDF editing.
#3. Convert the PDF to an Editable Format
To edit out signatures from non-editable PDFs, you must enable the editing option first. If you want to make an image-based PDF editable, you can OCR it to detect and extract its content. Then, you can find, select, and remove signatures from it.
Additionally, you can convert PDFs to other editable formats. For instance, converting PDFs to Word will make all its contents editable (including fillable text forms with signatures). Afterward, you can select the signature and use the delete key on your keyboard, or right-click it and click the Delete button to remove it.
#4. Flatten the PDF and Use a Redaction Tool
Another way to unlock signed PDFs is to make layers uniform by flattening them. PDF.net allows you to flatten the entire document or only fillable text forms, which will also flatten PDF signatures.
You can flatten fillable text forms to remove typed-in signatures. Moreover, to erase other types of removable electronic signatures, you must flatten the entire document. To do so, visit our website, upload your document, select the flattening tool, and choose between the complete or fillable form flattening option.
Following this, you should use the redaction tool to select the document parts with signatures and remove them by activating the reduction option. This will automatically match the signature color to the background color, making the signature invisible.
How to Prevent Removal of Signatures From PDF Documents
To prevent the removal of signatures from PDF documents, you should use highly secure digital signatures and protect your files with security tools.
Let’s examine these methods in greater detail:
- Using digital signatures with encryption. Digital signatures are non-removable due to high encryption. Therefore, look for a platform that offers digital signatures instead of electronic ones. These signatures also use public key cryptography, which enables only the sender and receiver to see the signed document.
- Protecting PDF files after signing. You can lock your PDFs with a password and make them accessible only to specific users. Plus, you can restrict your PDF documents in different ways—disable printing, copying, and adding comments or make them non-editable and read-only. These security measures add more protection to your PDF documents and prevent the removal of signatures.
Using PDF.net for Flawless Signature Removal and Protection
Cheap tools with limited signature removal features and low protection can be burdensome for people who want to modify PDFs. A tool like PDF.net offers various options for signature removal, including a PDF text editor, flattening software, and conversion and redaction tools.
In addition to using our software to delete removable signatures, you can have a non-removable signature on your document if you use our signing tool. This is because we provide advanced and qualified signatures with high encryption and public key technology.
For further protection, our tools can help you password-protect your PDF files, set restrictions (e.g., copying and printing restrictions), and disable editing on your document.
How to Remove a Signature From PDF FAQ
#1. How do I delete a digital signature from PDFs?
You can delete a digital signature from PDFs only if it is text-based and added as a fillable text form. To do this, you can use our PDF editor to find, select, and erase signatures.
#2. How do I edit a signed PDF?
You can edit a signed PDF in a standard way using a PDF.net editor and all available features (draw, highlight, etc.), provided it is editable. If a PDF is non-editable, you can OCR it or remove editing restrictions using our software to make it editable.
#3. Why can’t I remove a signature from PDFs?
You can’t remove a signature from PDFs because it may be advanced or qualified, meaning that it uses high encryption, preventing the removal process. Using cheap tools instead of reliable ones may also prevent signature removal.
#4. Will removing a signature make a document invalid?
Yes, removing a signature will make a document invalid if it requires signing to be valid (e.g., business contracts). Also, some software may detect the previous signature’s existence and restrict the availability of its options, rendering it untrustworthy.
#5. Can I remove a signature from a scanned PDF?
Yes, you can remove a signature from a scanned PDF using our tools to convert it into an editable PDF or other editable format. You can also OCR your scanned document and remove signatures from it afterward or use a redaction tool to erase signatures without conversion or OCR feature.