How to sign a PDF on your iPhone or Android phone

First, get the PDF onto your phone

If the PDF came as an email attachment, open it and save it to your phone: on an iPhone, use the Share button and choose Save to Files; on Android, use the download button so it goes to your Downloads. The exact buttons depend on your email app.

If the email contains a link to review and sign instead of an attachment, you don't need to save anything: go straight to the section on signing a document sent for e-signature below.

How to sign a PDF on iPhone or Android in PDFZyro

1. 1Open PDFZyro in Safari, Chrome or your phone's browser, sign in or create a free account, and tap Sign on the Home page. If you've just created your account, confirm your email address first with the link PDFZyro sends you.
2. 2Tap Choose a PDF and pick the file from your phone, or choose a document you already have in PDFZyro.
3. 3The Signature tool is already selected. Tap the page where you want to sign; zoom in first if the signature line is small.
4. 4The first time, create your signature: choose Draw and sign with your finger, or Type and pick a handwriting style, choose the ink colour, and confirm. Your signature is saved to your account for next time.
5. 5Drag the signature onto the line and drag its corner to resize it. Add Initials and the Date from the toolbar if the document asks for them; on a narrow screen, scroll the toolbar sideways to see every tool.
6. 6Tap Finish, which shows as an icon at the right of the toolbar on a narrow screen. Read and tick the consent to sign electronically, then tap Sign and download.
7. 7PDFZyro seals the signed PDF so any later change can be detected, saves it as a new version and downloads it to your phone, ready to attach to an email or a message.

Tips for a neat signature on a small screen

• Turn your phone sideways for a wider drawing area.
• Sign with the tip of your finger in one or two smooth strokes, and tap Clear to start again if it doesn't look right.
• On an iPad, a stylus such as Apple Pencil gives the most natural result.
• If drawing feels awkward, use Type: a typed name in a handwriting style is also an electronic signature.
• Your saved signature works on every device you sign in on, so you can draw it once on your phone and use it on your computer too.
• Add PDFZyro to your home screen to open it like an app: on an iPhone, tap Share in Safari, then Add to Home Screen; on Android, choose Install app or Add to Home screen in the browser menu.

How to sign a document someone sent you for e-signature

When someone uses PDFZyro to ask for your signature, you get an email with a link. You don't need a PDFZyro account or an app, and you can sign on your phone.

1. 1Open the email on your phone and tap Review and sign.
2. 2If the sender asked for an access code or a code by text message, enter it.
3. 3Read the disclosure about using electronic records and signatures, tick to agree and tap Continue.
4. 4Tap Start to go to the first place to fill in, then Next to move through each required field. Tap a signature field to adopt your signature.
5. 5When everything required is done, tap Finish and confirm. You'll get a copy of the signed document when everyone has signed.

Built-in ways to sign a PDF on your phone

• iPhone and iPad: open the PDF in the Files app or from an email attachment, tap the Markup button, then the plus button, and choose Add Signature. You can draw a signature with your finger and place it on the page. The buttons can differ between iOS versions.
• Android: there is no signing tool built into every Android phone. Some phones' file or PDF apps let you draw on a PDF, and several PDF companies offer free fill-and-sign apps.
• These are fine for a quick signature on a form or a delivery note. They usually don't ask for consent, seal the file or keep a record of who signed and when, which matters more for contracts and agreements.

Is a signature made on a phone legally valid?

Generally, yes. The device doesn't matter: a signature drawn with your finger on a phone is an electronic signature, just like one made with a mouse. In the United States, the ESIGN Act and UETA give electronic signatures legal effect for most documents when the people involved agree to sign electronically, and many other countries have similar laws. Some documents, such as wills, have special rules, so check if you're not sure. This is general information, not legal advice.