How to Electronically Sign a PDF That Already Has a Digital Signature
Question details
The user needs to add a standard electronic signature to a PDF document that already contains a certificate-based digital signature field.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Returning a signed document via email when the form has a digital signature field but an electronic signature is preferred or required.
- Observed behavior
- The digital signature field only accepts certificate-based signatures, preventing the user from simply typing or drawing a standard electronic signature.
Verify with the document sender whether a standard electronic signature is legally acceptable for your purposes, or if you must use a certificate-based digital ID.
Add an Electronic Signature Using the Fill & Sign Tool
Use the Fill & Sign feature to bypass the digital signature field restriction and manually place a standard electronic signature anywhere on the document.
A digital signature uses a certificate to verify identity and document integrity, whereas an electronic signature generally indicates acceptance without certificate-based validation. Since a digital signature field is programmed to only accept digital IDs, you can use the Fill & Sign tool to place a standard electronic signature outside of that specific form field.
Open your PDF document in your preferred PDF editor or Adobe Acrobat.
Navigate to the 'Tools' menu and select the 'Fill & Sign' option.
Click on 'Sign Yourself' and choose 'Add Signature'. You can then type your name, draw your signature, or upload an image of your physical signature.
Drag and drop the newly created electronic signature onto the desired location on the PDF, ensuring it does not overlap the restricted digital signature field.
Save the signed document to your computer and attach it to your email to return it to the sender.
Easily Add Electronic and Digital Signatures with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive and user-friendly PDF editor that allows you to effortlessly add standard electronic signatures or certificate-based digital signatures to your documents.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you need to sign.
- 2. Access Signature Tools: Navigate to the 'Edit' or 'Protect' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'PDF Signature'.
- 3. Create a New Signature: Click 'Create Signature' to type your name, draw your signature using your mouse, or insert an image.
- 4. Apply and Save: Click exactly where you want the signature to appear on the page, adjust its size, and save the finalized PDF document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact difference between “signing digitally” and “signing electronically”?
A digital signature uses a cryptographic certificate to verify the signer's identity and ensure the document's integrity has not been compromised. An electronic signature is a digital representation of a handwritten signature (like a typed name or an image) that generally indicates acceptance or agreement, but lacks built-in certificate-based validation.
Why can't I just type my name into the digital signature field?
Digital signature fields are specifically programmed by the document creator to only accept authenticated digital IDs. Typing a name is considered a standard electronic signature, which the digital field will reject.
How can I remove a digital signature field from a PDF?
You can only remove a digital signature field if you have the appropriate editing permissions and the document is not locked by the author. If you have permission, you can use the form editing tools in your PDF software to select and delete the field.
