How to sign a PDF on a Mac (macOS 26)

You are viewing the macOS 26 version of this guide, recorded on macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro) on 4 October 2026. It is kept as it was and not updated. See the macOS 27 version.

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-sign-a-pdf-on-a-mac/ · Checked 4 October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26

In this guide

Open the PDF in Preview
Click the Markup button
Click the Sign button and create a signature
Place the signature
Save
Good to know
Sources

Quick answer

Open the PDF in Preview, click the Markup button, then the Sign button, and create a signature with the trackpad, the camera or your iPhone. Click the signature to place it, drag it to the line and save.

5 of 5 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device: Mac
Shown on: macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
App: Preview
Real screenshots: 5 of 5 steps
Checked: 4 October 2026
Sources: 1 official, linked below

Step by step

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Open the PDF in Preview
Double-click the file, or right-click it and choose Open With, Preview.
Done
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Click the Markup button
It looks like a pen tip in a circle, at the top of the window. A second toolbar appears.
Done
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Click the Sign button and create a signature
Choose Trackpad and sign with your finger, Camera and hold a signed piece of white paper up to the webcam, or iPhone and sign on the phone's screen. Click Done.
Done
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Place the signature
Click Sign again, click your signature, then drag it to the right place and resize it by the corners.
Done
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Save
Press Command + S, or choose File, Save. To keep an unsigned original, choose File, Export instead and give the signed copy a new name.
Done

What we saw on our device

Click the Markup button: On our MacBook Neo the Markup button turns green when it is on.
Click Sign and create your signature: On our MacBook Neo, with no saved signature, it opens the create panel straight away, with Trackpad, Camera and iPhone tabs.

About this guide

You do not need to print, sign and scan. Preview stores your handwritten signature once and adds it to any PDF in a few clicks.

Good to know

To fill in the rest of a form, click a text field and type, or use the Text button in the Markup toolbar.

A drawn signature like this is accepted for many everyday documents. Some contracts require a certified electronic signature from a signing service. Check what the other side needs.

In short: Preview > Markup > Sign > sign your name > Done > place the signature > File > Save.

Sources