How to Find the Date and Time of an Adobe Fill & Sign Signature
Question details
The user needs to find the exact date and time a signature was added to a PDF using Adobe Fill & Sign.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / PDF
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Verifying the time a signature was created to check for potentially backdated documents.
- Observed behavior
- The user is looking for a way to view the timestamp of a standard Fill & Sign signature, which relies on document metadata rather than a trusted digital timestamp.
Ensure you have the signed PDF document saved locally on your computer and open it in a PDF reader that supports viewing document metadata properties.
Check PDF Modification Date in Document Properties
View the document's metadata to find the last modification date, which corresponds to the signing time if the document was locked after signing.
Since the standard Fill & Sign tool does not embed a cryptographic digital timestamp, you must rely on the file's metadata. When a PDF is signed using this tool, it is typically locked against further editing. Therefore, checking the last modification date in the document properties provides the time it was signed.
Launch your PDF reader application and open the PDF file containing the Fill & Sign signature.
Navigate to the top menu, click on 'File', and select 'Properties' from the dropdown list.
In the Document Properties window, go to the 'Description' tab to view the file's metadata.
Locate the 'Modified' date. Because the document is locked from further text editing after signing, this modification time represents when the signature was applied.
Use Certificate-Based Digital Signatures for Stronger Proof
For legally binding or critical documents, use digital signatures with trusted timestamps instead of the basic Fill & Sign tool.
View PDF Metadata and Manage Signatures with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive PDF toolkit that allows you to easily view document properties, verify modification dates, and securely sign your PDF files without needing heavy applications.
- 1. Open the PDF file in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your signed PDF document to view its details.
- 2. Access the document properties: Click the 'Menu' icon in the top left corner, then select 'Document Properties' from the dropdown.
- 3. Check the modification date: Go to the 'Description' tab and look at the 'Modified' date to determine when the standard signature was applied.
- 4. Apply secure signatures: For future documents requiring secure verification, use the 'Sign' or 'Protect' tools in WPS PDF to add robust signatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't a standard Fill & Sign signature have a digital timestamp?
Adobe Fill & Sign creates a flat, visual signature similar to an image or stamp. It does not use cryptographic certificates to communicate with a Time Stamp Authority, so it relies purely on the file's basic metadata to track time.
Can the modification date of a signed PDF be faked?
Yes, basic file metadata like the creation or modification date can be altered by simply changing the computer's system clock before signing the document. For guaranteed proof of time, a certificate-based digital signature should be used instead.
How do I know if my PDF signature is securely timestamped?
Certificate-based signatures generally display a signature verification panel at the top of the PDF reader. Clicking on the signature properties will explicitly show whether the signature includes an embedded, trusted timestamp from an official authority.
