Sign PDF — Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to use Sign PDF: step-by-step instructions, settings, export options, privacy, limits and troubleshooting.
Open Sign PDFStep-by-step instructions
- Choose an unlocked, unsigned PDF.
- Draw a signature on the page, type a signature using a local font, or add a PNG, JPG or WebP signature image.
- Move and resize the signature. Add names or dates and duplicate additions onto other pages as needed.
- Export the signed copy, download it and inspect the placement. Keep the original file.
Visual self-signing
Draw with a mouse, pen or touch, type a name using a cursive font, or upload a signature image. Typed and drawn signatures are flattened image overlays. Font appearance follows fonts available on your device.
This tool creates a visual signature, not a certificate-based digital signature. It does not verify identity, provide a signing audit trail, request other people’s signatures or certify legal validity. PDF files containing signature fields are rejected to avoid silently invalidating signatures.
Placement and privacy
Use thumbnails to select a page, drag or use keyboard arrows to move additions, and use resize and rotation handles. The contextual toolbar applies formatting changes automatically. The bottom viewbar provides page navigation, zoom and fit controls. Text and date additions use the same editor controls. Undo and Redo retain the last 30 addition edits.
The source PDF and signature contents remain on your device. No signature image, signed copy or signing identity is retained by Helphonic. Exported additions cannot be edited as individual objects in this tool after reimport; keep an original unsigned copy.
Device safeguards and supported files
One PDF up to 20 MB, at most 50 source pages, 200 added elements, 20,000 drawing points and 200 existing form fields. Inserted images are limited to 20 files, 8 MB each, 20 MB combined, 16 million pixels per image and 32 million pixels combined. Rendered overlays are limited to four million pixels per page; the document and artwork output budget is 60 MB.
Password-protected, XFA and digitally signed PDFs are not supported. Existing page rotations and crop boxes are respected for artwork. Extremely large or malformed pages are rejected. Work is held only in page memory, not autosaved. Previewing and editing do not use an operation; a confirmed export does.
Processing and privacy
Files and entered content are processed on your device in this browser tab. File contents and results are not uploaded to Helphonic or sent to analytics. The page still contacts Helphonic to load its tools, check access and confirm non-content usage information. Work is not saved to your account; download or copy results before leaving or reloading the page.
Access and current limits
Check the tool page for current access, remaining usage and per-operation limits. File count, per-file size, total size and page limits can depend on your access and can change. Device and processor safety limits still apply when usage is unlimited. A paid pass does not necessarily increase every processing limit.
One successful export counts as one operation. Previewing and editing do not use an operation. Daily allowances reset at 00:00 UTC. Downloads of an already-created result do not count again.
If an operation cannot finish
Use a current browser and smaller inputs if the tab runs out of memory. Some tools download a local processing library or model on first use, so an internet connection is needed even though your content stays on the device.
If the tool reports that access or limits changed, review the current policy and run it again. If usage confirmation is uncertain after an interrupted connection, a retry can count as another operation. Download completed work before reloading; this site does not keep a recovery copy.
Check the current limits
Allowances and per-operation limits can change. The Sign PDF page shows the policy that applies to you. Per-operation safety limits still apply when usage is unlimited. See access passes if a tool or extra usage requires paid access.
For site-wide information, read the privacy policy and security details.