Adobe Acrobat: Digitally Signing a PDF using free Adobe Acrobat Reader (personal device)

Summary

This article shows how to use the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com to digitally sign a PDF. This article is for people who want to digitally sign a PDF on their personal device.

This is not Adobe Acrobat Pro, which is only licensed for use on USNH-owned computers.  If you have Acrobat Pro, see instructions in our article on Digitally Signing a PDF using licensed Adobe Acrobat Pro (USNH-issued computer).

Please note that because of the free nature of Acrobat Reader, functionality is limited:

• You cannot send the document for a signature through Acrobat Reader
• You cannot edit, create, or otherwise change the PDF in any way

How-to

Instructions

Step 1 - Open the PDF file in Acrobat Reader

Step 2 - Click on the "Pen" icon in the toolbar at the top

Step 3 - Click Add Signature

Step 4 - There are three options for a signature:

Type 

Draw

Image

• TYPE uses a specific font to type out your signature. It is not your actual signature but a representation of it. Click on Change Style to change the font
• DRAW allows you to use your mouse or mouse pad to “write” out the signature. Note that the left Mouse Button must be pressed in order to use the mouse or mouse pad
• IMAGE allows you to write out your signature and scan it into an image that is saved on your computer. Remember what you name the file and where you save it

Step 5 - Regardless of the choice, once made, click Apply

• Save signature is selected by default.
• Saving the signature will allow you to use it when you select Add Signature

Step 6 - The signature file will be “locked” onto your mouse cursor. Move the mouse to the appropriate field or location on the document and press the left mouse button to drop the signature

Step 7 - Click the Next button in the upper right-hand corner of the file

Step 8 - You will get a message stating that the file must be saved before continuing. Click Save

Step 9 - The next screen is the Save As screen. Pick a location to save your file, and then either give it a new name (if you wish to preserve the original document) or keep the file name as-is and click Save

Step 10 - The “How do you want to send your file?” screen will appear once the file is saved.  Click Get a Link.

This is where the limitations of Acrobat Reader come in. There are three choices from this menu, but only "Get a Link" is available in Acrobat Reader.  The "Send a Copy" and "Request Signature" features are not available through Acrobat Reader.

• Get a Link: uploads the file to the cloud and creates a link to send. This is the only option available to Acrobat Reader
  • Click Create Link, then click on Attach link to Email
    1. You may get this error: You need to configure your default email client first…..
    2. Click the "X" to close this box
    3. Click Edit -> Preferences -> Email Accounts
    4. Highlight Default email application and click Make Default, then click "OK" to close this box
  • Click Next in the upper-right
  • Select Get a Link
  • Click Create Link, then click on Attach link to Email
  • Add the recipient to the To field and send the email
  • When the recipient receives the email, they can click on the link and view the documents. They can download the file to sign.

Outcome

You should be able to digitally sign a PDF using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Further Readings

Adobe Acrobat: Digitally Signing a PDF using licensed Adobe Acrobat Pro (USNH-issued computer)

free Acrobat Reader from Adobe.com 

Need additional help?

Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.