How to Remove Name and Date from Adobe Signatures
Question details
The user wants to prevent the signer's name and date from being automatically displayed alongside signatures in Adobe Sign documents.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Adobe Sign
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Sending documents to clients for signature or applying a personal digital signature.
- Observed behavior
- The digital signature field automatically appends the signer's name and the current date to the signature on the document.
Determine whether you are the document sender preparing the file or the signer applying the signature, as the available settings will differ based on your role.
Use a Standard Signature Field (For Document Senders)
Best for document senders who want to ensure clients only leave their signature without automatic date and name metadata.
When preparing a document using Adobe Sign, the type of field you place determines what information is collected. Using a standard Signature field instead of a Digital Signature field prevents the automatic generation of name and date text.
Launch Adobe Acrobat and select the 'Send for Signature' or 'Request Signatures' tool from the right-hand pane.
Add the PDF document you want to send and enter the recipient's email address.
In the authoring environment, drag and drop a standard 'Signature' field onto the document. Ensure you do not select the 'Digital Signature' field.
Click 'Send'. When the client signs, only their signature visualization will appear without appended name or date details.
Customize Signature Appearance (For Signers)
Ideal for users applying their own digital signature who want to hide the name and date from the final appearance.
Easily Add Clean Signatures to PDFs using WPS Office
WPS Office provides a highly intuitive PDF signing tool that lets you insert your signature exactly how you want it, without forcing unwanted names, dates, or digital certificate metadata onto your document.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the WPS PDF editor.
- 2. Access the Sign Tool: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and click on the 'Sign' or 'PDF Signature' button.
- 3. Create Your Signature: Choose to draw your signature, type it out with custom fonts, or upload a transparent image of your actual signature.
- 4. Place the Signature: Click anywhere on the document to place the clean signature. You can freely resize and reposition it without any hidden dates or names attaching to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a digital signature and a standard electronic signature?
A digital signature uses a certificate-based digital ID to authenticate the signer's identity and usually appends metadata like the date and name for security. A standard electronic signature is simply an image, drawing, or typed text representing your signature without the complex cryptographic background.
Can I remove the date from a PDF that has already been digitally signed?
No. Once a document is digitally signed and saved, the signature and its associated metadata are locked to ensure document integrity. Removing it would invalidate the signature. You would need to request a newly signed copy.
Why does Adobe Acrobat force the date on my signature?
Adobe includes the date by default on Digital Signature fields to provide a clear audit trail and verify exactly when the certificate was applied, which is a standard requirement for many legal and corporate documents.
How do I permanently change my default signature appearance in Adobe Acrobat?
Go to Edit > Preferences > Signatures. Under the 'Creation & Appearance' section, click 'More'. From there, you can edit existing templates or create new appearance templates to permanently exclude elements like Name, Date, or the Adobe Logo.
