Tech Reference

How to sign a PDF on your Android phone or tablet, without having to print or scan

Written by Steven John
Samsung Fold
It's easy to sign PDFs on an Android device. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
Read in app

In our digital world, it's ironic that PDFs can so often force us back into the real world.

All too often, when you need to sign a PDF, you're forced to physically print out the file, sign it with a pen, and scan it back onto your computer again. It's a waste of time, paper, and ink.

Luckily, in recent years a whole host of PDF signing apps have hit the scene, which let you easily sign PDF documents right from your devices. 

And if you own an Android phone or tablet, one of the best signing apps — Adobe Reader — is available for free.

Here's how to use Adobe Reader to sign a PDF on your Android devices.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $859.99 at Walmart)

How to sign a PDF on your Android device 

1. Download the Adobe Reader app from your device's Google Play Store. The app is free, and won't take up much space.

2. Once the app is downloaded, open it and go through the initial setup. When it's ready, open your PDF in the app. You can do this most easily by going directly to the PDF file and selecting Adobe Reader as the program to open it.

3. Tap the pen icon at the bottom right of the app screen, then tap "Fill & Sign?"

4. Tap the fountain pen tip icon, then tap "Create Signature"

5. Sign with your finger in the "Sign Here" area, then tap "Done."

sign a pdf on Android 2
Turn your phone horizontal to get a larger signing area.  Steven John/Business Insider

6. Tap the fountain pen icon again, then tap the signature you just created.

7. Tap anywhere on the PDF to place the signature. Tap and hold your finger down on the signature, and then drag it to where you'd like it permanently set.

Now tap the check mark at the top-left corner and you're done. The PDF can then be exported via email, text, and more.

 

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Headshot of Steven John
Steven John
Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.