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Why Adobe Acrobat Online Cannot Digitally Sign or Save PDF Signatures
Question details
The user is unable to apply certificate-based digital signatures or successfully save drawn signatures using Adobe Acrobat online, despite holding an Acrobat Pro subscription.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to digitally sign a two-page PDF document using the cloud-based Adobe Acrobat online service.
- Observed behavior
- The online tool fails to save the signature, does not offer certificate-based digital signing capabilities, and incorrectly displays only the first page of the document.
Ensure you have the Adobe Acrobat Pro desktop application installed on your computer, as the cloud-based web version does not support full certificate-based digital signatures.
Use Acrobat Pro Desktop Application for Digital Signatures
Switch from the online web tool to the desktop application to access traditional certificate-based digital signatures included in your Acrobat Pro subscription.
The Acrobat Pro subscription adds advanced features to the desktop application you install on your computer. It does not upgrade or change the functionality of the free Adobe Acrobat online tools (such as the cloud.acrobat.com Fill & Sign feature).
The online version only allows drawing, typing, or importing an image of a signature, rather than applying a cryptographically secure digital certificate.
Download and install the Adobe Acrobat Pro desktop application on your computer from the official Adobe website.
Launch the application and sign in with the Adobe account linked to your Pro subscription credentials.
Click 'File' and select 'Open' to load your PDF document directly within the desktop application.
Navigate to the 'Tools' menu, select 'Certificates', and click 'Digitally Sign' to apply a true certificate-based digital signature.
Troubleshoot the Adobe Acrobat Online Fill & Sign Tool
If you prefer to use the basic online tool for typing or drawing simple signatures, resolve saving and page display issues by clearing browser data.
Digitally Sign and Edit PDFs Offline with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive, lightweight PDF editor that allows you to easily add electronic signatures, digitally sign documents securely, and edit PDF text without relying on web-based tools.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office on your computer, then launch the WPS PDF desktop application.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Click on 'Open PDF' on the home screen to load the document you need to sign.
- 3. Access the Signature Tool: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and click on the 'Sign' button to create or select a saved signature.
- 4. Place and Save: Click anywhere on the document to place the signature, adjust its size, and press 'Ctrl + S' to securely save the signed PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Acrobat Pro subscription include digital signing?
Yes, an Acrobat Pro subscription includes traditional certificate-based digital signatures. However, this feature is only fully functional in the desktop application, not through the free Adobe Acrobat online web service.
What is the difference between Fill & Sign and a digital signature?
The Fill & Sign tool lets you draw, type, or import an image of a signature, acting as a simple electronic mark. A traditional digital signature uses a cryptographic certificate to verify the signer's identity and ensure the document has not been altered after signing.
Why is Adobe online only showing the first page of my two-page PDF?
This is usually caused by a browser caching issue or a timeout limitation with the online web viewer during the file upload. Downloading the PDF and opening it in a desktop PDF viewer will ensure all pages render correctly.
