How to Fix Sticky Notes Disappearing After Digitally Signing a PDF
Question details
The user needs to retrieve or prevent sticky notes from disappearing when a PDF document is digitally signed by another person.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating on and digitally signing a PDF document that contains interactive sticky notes and comments.
- Observed behavior
- Sticky notes and comments are no longer visible or listed in the Comments panel after the document is digitally signed.
Before proceeding, check if you or your collaborator have an older version of the PDF saved before it was signed. Once a PDF is completely flattened and signed, the removed comment data usually cannot be recovered from that specific file.
Add Digital Signatures Without Flattening Comments
The most common reason comments disappear is that the PDF is flattened before signing. Avoid flattening the file to preserve the interactive sticky notes.
When a document is flattened, interactive layers like sticky notes and form fields are permanently merged into the background or discarded to prevent editing. To keep comments accessible, the document must be signed using standard digital signature fields rather than 'Print to PDF' or flattening tools.
Locate and open the original, unsigned PDF containing your sticky notes in your preferred PDF editor.
Navigate to the 'Protect', 'Form', or 'Sign' tab in your PDF software. Select the option to 'Add a Digital Signature Field' and draw the field in the appropriate area of the document.
Save the document normally (without selecting any 'Flatten' or 'Print to PDF' options) and send it to the other party. They can now click the designated field to sign the document while keeping the comments intact.
Sign and Annotate PDFs Securely with WPS Office
WPS Office provides robust PDF tools that allow you to add sticky notes, collaborate, and apply digital signatures without inadvertently destroying your annotations.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Add Comments: Go to the 'Comment' tab to add sticky notes, highlights, and annotations as needed.
- 3. Insert Signature: Navigate to the 'Protect' or 'Fill & Sign' tab to safely add your digital signature without flattening the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover sticky notes from a flattened and signed PDF?
Generally, no. Flattening a PDF permanently merges or removes interactive elements like sticky notes. You will need to locate an earlier, unsigned version of the document to view the original comments.
Why does flattening a PDF remove sticky notes?
Flattening converts a multi-layered PDF (with separate text, image, and interactive annotation layers) into a single flat image layer. Depending on the software settings, sticky notes are either visually merged into the background or completely discarded to secure the document.
How do I view comments that are hidden but not deleted?
If the PDF was not flattened but the notes are just hidden, open the 'Comments' pane on the left or right side of your PDF reader. Ensure that 'Show All Comments' or the corresponding visibility option is enabled in the view settings.
What is the difference between a digital signature and an electronic signature in PDFs?
A digital signature uses a certificate-based digital ID to authenticate the signer's identity and encrypts the document to prevent tampering. An electronic signature is often just a visual representation (like a drawn signature or image) placed on the document.
