How to Delete Existing PDF Signatures and Use a Digital Certificate
Question details
The user needs to remove previously saved electronic signatures or obsolete identities and transition to signing PDFs using a valid digital certificate.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Updating a PDF signing workflow after changing settings that affected previous signature configurations.
- Observed behavior
- Old electronic signatures are still present in the signing options, and the user needs to successfully select and apply a trusted digital certificate to the document instead.
Ensure your new digital certificate is properly installed and trusted on your operating system's keystore before attempting to apply it to a PDF document.
Remove Old Identities and Apply a New Digital Certificate
Clear outdated signature profiles from your PDF software's settings and manually select your installed digital certificate for signing.
To switch your signing workflow, you must first clear the default or saved electronic signatures from your application. Once cleared, you can access the certificate-based signing tools to apply a verified digital ID.
Open your PDF software and navigate to the signature preferences or Digital ID and Trusted Certificates settings.
Locate the list of saved electronic signatures or old identities. Select the outdated profiles and choose the option to remove or delete them.
Open the PDF document you wish to sign. Navigate to the 'Protect' or 'Tools' tab and select 'Sign with Certificate' or 'Digitally Sign'.
Drag a signature box on the document. In the prompt that appears, choose your newly installed digital certificate instead of a standard electronic signature, enter your password if required, and save the document.
Manage and Sign PDFs Securely with WPS PDF
WPS Office includes a comprehensive PDF editor that makes it incredibly simple to manage digital identities, insert trusted certificates, and secure your documents with verified signatures.
- 1. Open Document in WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF file.
- 2. Navigate to the Protect Tab: Click on the 'Protect' tab located in the top ribbon menu.
- 3. Select Sign Document: Click 'Sign Document' to open the signature manager.
- 4. Import and Apply Certificate: Choose the option to add a new signature, import your digital certificate, and place it securely on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my digital certificate not showing up when I try to sign the PDF?
This usually happens if the certificate is not properly imported into your operating system's keystore or the PDF software's trusted identities list. Check your system's certificate manager to ensure the ID is installed and valid.
What is the difference between an electronic signature and a digital certificate?
An electronic signature is often just a visual representation (like an image or drawing) of your signature. A digital certificate is a cryptographically secure file that verifies your identity, ensuring document integrity and preventing unauthorized tampering.
Can I delete a digital signature that has already been applied and saved to a PDF?
Once a PDF is signed with a digital certificate and saved, the signature itself usually cannot be deleted without invalidating the document. However, you can remove the saved signature profiles from your software's settings so they are not used for future documents.
