How to Sign Documents with Apple Preview on Mac

Signing PDFs on Mac with Preview

Every Mac comes with Preview, a surprisingly capable PDF viewer that includes a built-in signature tool. If you need to quickly sign a document on your Mac, Preview is the fastest way to do it — no downloads, no accounts, no cost.

Creating Your Signature

Before you can sign, you need to create a signature in Preview. You have three options:

Option 1: Trackpad

1. 1Open a PDF in Preview
2. 2Click the Markup toolbar button (pencil icon)
3. 3Click the Sign button
4. 4Select Trackpad
5. 5Click Click Here to Begin and draw your signature with your finger
6. 6Press any key when done
7. 7Click Done

Option 2: Camera

1. 1Follow steps 1-3 above
2. 2Select Camera
3. 3Sign your name on white paper
4. 4Hold the paper up to your Mac's camera
5. 5Preview will capture and digitize your signature
6. 6Click Done

Option 3: iPhone or iPad

1. 1Follow steps 1-3 above
2. 2Select iPhone (your iPhone must be nearby and on the same Apple ID)
3. 3Draw your signature on your iPhone screen
4. 4It appears automatically in Preview

Applying Your Signature

Once your signature is saved:

1. 1Open the PDF you need to sign
2. 2Click the Markup toolbar button
3. 3Click the Sign button
4. 4Select your saved signature
5. 5Click where you want to place it
6. 6Drag to resize and position

Your signature is saved in Preview and syncs across your Apple devices via iCloud, so you only need to create it once.

Adding Text and Dates

Preview also lets you add text annotations:

1. 1Click the Text button in the Markup toolbar
2. 2Click where you want to add text
3. 3Type the date, your printed name, or other information
4. 4Adjust font size and position

Limitations of Preview

Preview is great for quick, personal signatures, but it has significant limitations for professional use:

• No audit trail — no record of when or where the document was signed
• No identity verification — anyone with access to your Mac could use your saved signature
• Single signer only — no way to send a document to others for signing
• No tamper detection — the PDF can be edited after signing without any indication
• Mac only — doesn't help if your signers use Windows or Linux
• No workflow — no templates, reminders, or status tracking

Beyond Preview: When You Need More

Preview handles the "I need to sign this one PDF right now" scenario perfectly. But for business documents — contracts, agreements, onboarding forms, compliance paperwork — you need a solution that provides legal protection and workflow automation.

SignFlow works on every device and browser. Upload your document, place signature fields, send it to anyone, and get it signed with a full audit trail and legal compliance. It's as easy as Preview, but built for real business needs.

Sign your first document free with SignFlow →