How to Fix Unable to Send Certified PDFs for Electronic Signature
Question details
The user is unable to send a certified or secured PDF document for electronic signature using the Fill & Sign feature.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to request an electronic signature from other parties using a PDF document that has been digitally certified or secured.
- Observed behavior
- The system prevents the secured or certified PDF from being processed for signature, returning an error or blocking the action.
Verify whether your PDF file displays a blue certification ribbon at the top or has 'SECURED' in the filename title bar.
Use an Unsecured PDF Document
Certified and password-secured PDFs are restricted from the signature workflow by default; you must use an unsecured version of the file.
Electronic signature services like Adobe Sign restrict sending secured or certified PDFs through the 'Request Signature' tool to protect the original document's integrity. To proceed, you need to use a flattened, unsecured copy of the PDF or remove its security settings.
Find the original source file (e.g., Word document or uncertified PDF) before the digital certification or security was applied.
If you know the security password, open the PDF, go to File > Properties > Security, change the Security Method to 'No Security', and enter the password to confirm.
Save the now unsecured document as a new PDF file to preserve your original certified copy.
Go back to Fill & Sign > Request Signature, and upload the newly saved unsecured PDF document.
Update Adobe Acrobat
Ensure your PDF software is up to date, as older versions can encounter compatibility issues during the signature request process.
Easily Sign and Secure PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive PDF toolkit that allows you to easily edit, secure, and add electronic signatures to your documents without complex restrictions.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and launch WPS Office, then open your target PDF document.
- 2. Access Fill & Sign: Navigate to the 'PDF' tab and select the 'Fill & Sign' or 'Sign' feature from the top toolbar.
- 3. Create signature: Click on 'Create Signature' to draw, type, or import your personal electronic signature.
- 4. Apply and save: Place the signature in the appropriate field on the document and save the updated PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I send a secured PDF for electronic signature?
Secured or certified PDFs lock the document's contents to prevent unauthorized tampering. Electronic signature platforms block these files because applying a new signature field would alter the legally locked document structure.
How do I know if my PDF document is certified?
When you open the PDF in a viewer, you will typically see a blue ribbon icon on the left panel or a notification bar at the top indicating that the document is certified and its integrity is protected.
Can I remove certification from a PDF to get it signed?
You cannot easily remove a digital certification once applied unless you have the original digital ID used to certify it. It is highly recommended to use the original, unsigned source file to gather additional electronic signatures.
