RapidHow to Sign a PDF on Mac — Free, No Upload
Two free ways to sign a PDF on a Mac, step by step: a browser tool with Draw, Type and Upload, and Preview’s Sign button.
How to sign a PDF on Mac has two free answers. The simplest is to open our free Sign PDF tool in Safari or Chrome, draw, type or upload your signature, drag it into place and download the signed PDF. It runs in your browser, so there is nothing to install and your PDF stays on your Mac. The built-in option is Preview: click the Markup button, then the Sign button, and make a signature with your trackpad, camera, iPhone or iPad. Both add a picture of your signature. Neither makes a certified digital signature.
This guide covers only the Mac. For other devices, see the main guide: how to sign a PDF.
Method 1: Sign PDF in Your Browser (Simplest)
This works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Edge on any Mac. Your PDF and your signature are handled by your browser on your own Mac. They are not sent to a server.
- Open rapidtools.online/sign-pdf. No account is needed.
- Drag your PDF into the box, or click the box and choose the file in Finder.
- Make your signature. Draw lets you sign with your mouse or trackpad. Type turns your name into a handwriting-style font. Upload takes a photo or scan of your signature (PNG, JPEG or WebP; a PNG with a see-through background looks best). Choose black, blue or your own ink colour, then click Use This Signature.
- Drag the signature to the right place on the page. You can also turn on Date and Initials and drag them into place too.
- Choose a size: S, M or L.
- Under Apply To, choose Current page only, All pages or Specific pages (for example 1, 3, 5-8). Use Prev and Next to see the other pages.
- Click Apply Signature & Download. The signed file downloads with “-signed” added to the name, for example contract-signed.pdf.
The signature is added to the page itself, so it shows in any PDF app. Open the signed file and check it before you send it.
Method 2: Sign a PDF With Preview (Built In)
Preview comes with every Mac and can save your signature to use again. These steps follow Apple’s Preview guide.
Make your signature
- Open the PDF in Preview.
- Click the Show Markup Toolbar button if the Markup toolbar is not showing.
- Click the Sign button, then choose how to make your signature:
- Trackpad: click the text box, sign your name on the trackpad with your finger, press any key when you are done, then click Done. If you have a Force Touch trackpad, press harder for a darker line.
- Camera: sign your name in dark ink on white paper, hold the paper up to the camera so your signature sits on the blue line, then click Done when it appears in the window.
- iPhone or iPad: choose your device, sign on its screen with your finger or Apple Pencil, then click Done.
You can add a description to each signature, such as your full name or your initials, so you can tell them apart.
Add it to the PDF
- Click the Sign button again and click your signature. It is placed on the page.
- Drag it to the right place, and drag a corner to make it bigger or smaller.
- Choose File > Save, or choose File > Export to keep the original unsigned copy.
To delete a saved signature, click the Sign button, move the pointer over the signature and click the X.
A Drawn Signature Is Not a Certified Digital Signature
Both methods add a picture of your signature to the page. This is often called an electronic signature, and many people and companies accept it for everyday forms and agreements.
A certified digital signature is different. It uses a digital certificate from a trusted provider, and it is checked by software. It shows who signed and whether the file was changed after signing. Neither our Sign PDF tool nor Preview makes this kind of signature.
If you are asked for a “digital signature”, a “certified signature” or a signature with a certificate, ask the person or office what they will accept before you sign. For legal questions, speak with a lawyer.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Browser tool | Preview | |
|---|---|---|
| Install | None | None (built in) |
| Ways to sign | Draw, Type, Upload | Trackpad, Camera, iPhone or iPad |
| Date and initials | Yes, built in | Type them yourself |
| Sign many pages at once | Yes (All pages or Specific pages) | One at a time |
| File leaves your Mac | No | No |
Need to type into the boxes of a form before you sign? See how to fill out a PDF form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign a PDF on a Mac for free?
Open rapidtools.online/sign-pdf in Safari or Chrome, choose the PDF, draw, type or upload your signature, drag it into place and click Apply Signature & Download. You can also use Preview: click the Markup button, then the Sign button, and add your signature.
How do I make a signature in Preview?
Open the PDF in Preview, show the Markup toolbar and click the Sign button. Then sign on your trackpad, hold a signature on paper up to the camera, or sign on a nearby iPhone or iPad, and click Done.
Can I add the date and my initials?
In our Sign PDF tool, turn on Date and Initials, type them and drag them into place. Preview has no Date or Initials button, so type the date with the Text tool and make a second signature with your initials.
Is a drawn signature the same as a digital signature?
No. A drawn, typed or uploaded signature is a picture of your signature on the page. A certified digital signature uses a digital certificate and shows whether the file was changed after signing. Neither our tool nor Preview makes certified digital signatures.
Is my PDF uploaded when I sign it in the browser tool?
No. Your PDF and your signature are handled by your browser on your own Mac and are never sent to a server.