How to sign a PDF on Windows 10 or 11

Windows has no built-in way to sign a PDF. Edge will draw on one, which is not the same thing and does not survive being questioned. The usual next step is Acrobat and a subscription. Instead, open this in whichever browser is already running, sign, and download a sealed file, on a work machine with no admin rights and nothing installable.

Sign PDF online → · Free PDF Signer

What you can do

How to sign a PDF on Windows 10 or 11

  1. Open the signer in Edge, Chrome or Firefox. No install and no admin rights needed.
  2. Drag the PDF onto the page from File Explorer.
  3. Draw with the mouse, type your name, or upload a photo of your signature on white paper.
  4. Seal and download. The signed file goes to your Downloads folder.

Ready? Sign PDF online now, free, no signup, and your file is auto-deleted after an hour.

Frequently asked questions

Is Edge's draw tool the same as signing?

No. Edge draws ink on the page and saves it. There is no record of who drew it or when, and nothing stops the page being altered afterwards. For anything you would have signed on paper, the difference matters.

A mouse signature looks terrible. What else can I do?

Sign a blank sheet of paper, photograph it, and upload the photo. The background is dropped automatically, so what lands on the document is your actual signature.

Is it free to sign a PDF online?

Yes. You can fill in and sign a PDF for free with no account, you only pay when you download a finished document ($1.50 per document pay-as-you-go, or unlimited on any paid plan). sign a PDF on Windows works the same way.

Is signing a PDF online secure?

Yes. Files are uploaded over 256-bit TLS, processed in your browser session, and automatically deleted after one hour. Each signature is bound to the document with a SHA-256 tamper-evident seal, so any later edit is detectable.

Are electronic signatures legally binding?

Yes, electronic signatures are legally binding for ordinary business documents in 190+ countries under the US ESIGN Act and UETA, the EU eIDAS Regulation, and equivalent laws worldwide. Courts look for intent, identity and integrity, all of which PDF Verified records.

Do I need to install anything?

No. Everything runs in your browser on desktop or mobile, no app, plugin or download required.

What PDF Verified is, and what it is not

Electronic signature law is settled in broad terms and specific in the details. The ESIGN Act, UETA, eIDAS and their equivalents recognise electronic signatures across more than 190 countries, and what decides a particular case is intent to sign plus evidence connecting the signature to the signer, which is what the audit certificate records. Certain document types carry their own formalities wherever you are: deeds, wills, some property instruments, and anything requiring a witness or a notary. Sign only what you are authorised to sign, since applying another person signature without their authority is forgery whatever tool is used.

PDF Verified is a tool for preparing, signing, stamping and checking documents. It is not a law firm, a compliance service or a forensic examiner, and nothing here is legal, financial or compliance advice. Requirements differ by country, by document type and by the party asking, so check what applies to your document before you rely on it, and take advice where the document matters. You are responsible for the documents you create, sign and send, and for having the authority to do so: signing or stamping in somebody else name, or as an organisation you do not represent, is forgery whatever tool is used. To the extent the law allows, we accept no liability for how a document made with this tool is used or relied on. The full position is in our terms of service.

More ways to sign