How to verify a signature on a PDF

Confirm an electronic signature is genuine and the document has not been altered. Scan the QR code, paste the verification code, or upload the file — PDF Verified recomputes the document SHA-256 fingerprint and checks it against the value sealed at signing. Anyone can verify, with no account.

Three ways to verify

How to verify a signature, step by step

  1. Open the verification page. Go to pdfverified.com/verify, or scan the QR code printed on any page of the signed PDF — the QR opens the verification page automatically.
  2. Submit the document or its code. Upload the signed PDF, paste the short verification code, or let the scanned QR carry the document reference. PDF Verified recomputes the SHA-256 fingerprint.
  3. Read the result. See whether the document is verified or tampered, the completion date, every signer and timestamp, the SHA-256 fingerprint, and the full audit trail.

What makes a signature genuine

A photographed or pasted signature proves nothing. Every PDF Verified signature is backed by three layers of evidence: the signer captured intent (signing action, timestamp, IP), a tamper-evident SHA-256 hash of the sealed document, and a public audit trail — so authenticity and integrity are something anyone can check.

Frequently asked questions

How do I verify a signature on a PDF?

Open pdfverified.com/verify, then scan the QR code printed on the signed PDF, paste the verification code, or upload the file. PDF Verified recomputes the document SHA-256 fingerprint and compares it to the value sealed at signing. If they match, the signature and document are authentic and unaltered; if a single byte changed, verification fails. No account is required.

How can I tell if an electronic signature is real?

A genuine PDF Verified signature is backed by three layers of evidence: the signer captured intent (the signing action, timestamp, and IP), a tamper-evident SHA-256 hash of the sealed document, and a public audit trail. The verification page shows every signer, their timestamps, and whether the document has been modified since signing.

Can anyone verify a signed document, or do I need an account?

Anyone can verify. Every signed PDF Verified document carries a QR code on every page that opens a public verification page — recipients, counterparties, auditors, and courts can confirm authenticity with no account and no login.

What is the difference between verifying a signature and verifying a stamp?

Signature verification confirms who signed a document and that the document is unaltered, using the document SHA-256 fingerprint and audit trail. Stamp verification at /verify-stamp/:token confirms a specific company seal or approval stamp is genuine, shows its serial number and the document it was applied to, and whether it has been revoked.

How do I know a signed PDF has not been tampered with?

PDF Verified seals every completed document with a SHA-256 fingerprint. Because any change produces a completely different hash, the verification page detects tampering instantly: it recomputes the hash of the file you submit and compares it to the sealed value. A mismatch means the file was altered after signing.

Is PDF Verified signature verification accepted in court?

The audit certificate and SHA-256 fingerprint are designed to be admissible evidence. PDF Verified signatures comply with the US ESIGN Act, UETA, EU eIDAS, and equivalent laws in 190+ countries, and the tamper-evident hash plus the timestamped signer hash chain establish authenticity and integrity.