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!
Key Takeaways
- The easiest way to sign PDFs on a Mac is to use the Preview camera, trackpad, and iPhone/iPad features.
- You can also use the Markup tool 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 PDF.net sign tool, which allows you to add digital signatures within minutes while keeping the highest security levels for your data and documents.
Signing a PDF with Preview
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.
Let’s learn about how to use the trackpad and camera options to sign PDFs with Preview:
Sign With Trackpad
The process of putting a signature on a Mac PDF consists of the following steps:
1. Find the PDF file you want to sign, right-click it, choose Open With, and select Preview.
2. Click the Markup button from the toolbar at the top.
3. Choose the Sign option.
4. Once you click on the Sign option, the ‘Trackpad’ option will be selected by default, and you should choose Click Here to Begin.
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 Sign menu.
7. Clicking on the signature will allow you to resize it by dragging the edges inward or outward and position it where you want.
8. Select the File menu and click Save to finalize this process.
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 stylus. This tool functions as a pen and can help you sign your PDFs with precision to get clear and readable signatures.
Sign with Camera
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 Preview.
2. Choose the Markup tool from the toolbar on the top right.
3. Click the Sign button.
4. From the drop-down menu, choose Camera.
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 Done at the bottom-right.
8. Click the Sign button again to select the signature and move it to the document.
9. Place the signature, select File, and click Save to complete this process.
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 image artifacts or similar problems.
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.
How to Sign a PDF on iPhone & iPad
To sign a PDF on iPhone and iPad, use the Preview 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.
2. Click the Show Markup Toolbar icon.
3. Click the Sign button and choose iPhone.
4. Use your finger on iPhone or the Apple Pencil on iPad to create a signature.
5. The signature will appear in the box, after which you should click Done to save it.
6. Click the Sign 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.
8. Select File and click Save to finalize the procedure.
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 natural-looking signatures.
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 Markup tool 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
The PDF.net software offers one of the fastest and easiest opportunities to sign a PDF online. All you should do is take the following steps:
1. Open the website and click Sign on the web page’s header.
2. Click Choose file to upload your document manually, or drag it to the box that says Drop file here to sign.
3. Choose whether you want to type, draw, or upload the signature and click Place in PDF afterwards.
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 Download button in the top-right corner to save the PDF to your drive.
Our PDF-signing tool is available for all devices, 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.
The 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.
Have in mind that you can’t remove a digital signature from a PDF 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:
- Handy PDF editor with which you can change the text in your document without formatting modifications
- Features that allow you to convert your PDFs to Word or turn them into JPG files or any other well-known formats
- Merge your PDFs or split them for easier handling, etc.
Final Thoughts
Signing PDFs on a Mac is possible with Preview 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 with PDF.net 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!
FAQ About Signing PDFs on Mac
#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 legal electronic signatures meet 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 signing or read-only restrictions.
#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 a public key 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?
Yes, 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.