How to sign a Microsoft Word document on your iPhone or iPad

If you need to sign a document on your iPhone or iPad, you have several options. The Microsoft Word app, which needs to be downloaded, provides signature features.

Alternatively, some users prefer to use the built-in Quick Look feature on the iPad. A document management tool like PandaDoc provides more advanced signing and editing functionality and is the preferred option for many when dealing with large quantities of documents.

Here is a brief overview of the main methods:

Open your document in the Microsoft Word app and add an image file or draw a signature.
Use the iPad Quick Look feature to create a screenshot of the document, which you can then sign.
Use a document management app like PandaDoc to add a signature to your Microsoft Word document.

Let’s look at each of these methods in depth.

Sing using the Microsoft Word app

If you have a Microsoft Word document saved on your iPhone or iPad, you can use the Word app for iOS to sign it.

1. Open your document with the Microsoft Word app.

You may need to download it first. If you receive a Word document as an attachment in an email, save it to your device.

2. If the document contains a signature line, tap it and add a typed or drawn signature.

3. If the document doesn’t have a signature line, place your cursor in the area where you want to add your signature and select Insert and Picture, and select the image file that contains your signature.

After adding it to the document, select the picture and choose Wrap Text so that it fits within the flow of the content.

4. Alternatively, you can tap Draw from the Insert menu.

5. Create a new signature.

6. To finish, select Export from the menu in the top right of the screen and choose PDF.

You can now attach your document to an email to send to recipients or keep it saved on your phone for future reference.

Sign as a screenshot on the iPad

One quick alternative to using the Microsoft Word app is to save your document as a screenshot (thus converting it to an image) and use the iPad draw feature.

1. Locate the document on your iPad in the Files interface. Open up a preview by right-clicking the document to open the file menu and select Quick Look.

2. Take a screenshot of the document by swiping from one of the bottom corners of the iPad.

3. Select Full Page at the top of the screen.

4. Select the pencil icon in the top right of the screen.

You can choose to draw a signature or tap the plus icon in the top right of the screen and add a pre-written signature.

5. Tap Done and save the document as a PDF.

This method is essentially a workaround that doesn’t require the installation of any apps.

To return it to the original sender or other signees, send the signed PDF as an email attachment.

Sign using PandaDoc

Many iPhone users prefer to use a specialized app for signing documents. Using a feature-rich document management tool like PandaDoc has a number of benefits. Along with signing, you can create, send, store and track documents. This functionality is not provided by the tools mentioned above.

1. Open the PandaDoc app on your iPhone or iPad and log into your account.

2. On your iPhone, select the green Add icon at the bottom of the screen, tap Files and upload your document.

On the iPad, tap Add in the bottom right of the screen and choose Files to locate and upload your document.

3. Once the document is visible, tap Signature, position the green field, and select the small pencil icon.

Follow the on-screen prompts to create and add a signature.

4. You now have the option to add recipients to your document.

Do this by tapping the icon in the top right of the screen, adding your recipients in the entry fields, and selecting Done.

5. To complete the process, tap Finish.

You can opt to save the document to your device or share it via email or link to your recipients.

If you don’t already have an account, sign up for the free PandaDoc plan or take out a free trial. PandaDoc doesn’t impose any document upload or signing limits on free accounts.

Sign, send and track documents in minutes with PandaDoc

Signing a Microsoft Word document on an iPhone doesn’t need to be a complex process. The Microsoft Word app and the iPad Quick Look feature both offer tools for quickly adding signatures to documents. However,

if you’re looking for a comprehensive document management solution that supports a wide range of formats, PandaDoc is worth considering.

PandaDoc provides an easy-to-use app for iPhone and iPad users… We offer a number of subscriptions alongside a long-term free plan with unlimited signatures and documents.

Try for free