How to sign a document on iPhone: Free, no app required
You can sign a document on iPhone for free with no app download: open the file in Files, Mail, or Notes, tap Share, choose Markup, then Add Signature. For Word documents specifically, the Word app and PandaDoc offer additional editing and tracking options.
Sign a document on iPhone with Markup (no app required)
Apple's built-in Markup tool is the fastest, free way to sign any document on your iPhone. It works on PDFs, images, and most file types—no download, no account, no subscription required.
Sign a document in the Files app
1. Open the Files app and locate your document.
2. Tap and hold the document to open the menu.
3. Select Share (the arrow icon).
4. Tap Markup (the toolbox icon).
5. Tap the plus (+) icon in the toolbar at the bottom.
6. Select Add Signature.
7. Draw your signature with your finger in the signature box.
8. Tap Done, then move and resize your signature as needed.
9. Tap Done again to save the changes.
Sign a document in the Mail app
If you've received a document via email, you can sign it directly:
1. Open the email attachment in Mail.
2. Tap and hold the attachment preview.
3. Select Share and tap Markup.
4. Follow steps 5–9 from the Files app method above.
Sign a document in Notes
1. In a Notes document, tap the camera icon.
2. Select Scan Documents or Photo Library to add your document.
3. Tap the scanned document to open it.
4. Tap the pen/marker icon and then tap the plus (+) icon.
5. Select Add Signature and draw your signature.
6. Tap Done to save.
Sign a Word document on iPhone with the Word app
If you need to keep your document in Word format or make edits during the signing process, the Microsoft Word app offers additional options.
1. Open your document with the Microsoft Word app.
You may need to download the app 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.
[Screenshot: Sign using the Microsoft Word app]
3. If the document doesn't have a signature line, place your cursor where you want to add your signature and select Insert and Picture to insert a pre-created signature image.
After adding it, select the picture and choose Wrap Text so it fits within the document's flow.
4. Alternatively, tap Draw from the Insert menu.
5. Create a new signature by drawing with your finger.
6. To finish, select Export from the menu in the top right 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 a document as a screenshot on iPad
If you're using an iPad, you can take advantage of the Quick Look feature to quickly convert and sign a document. Note: this is an iPad-specific workaround and is not available on iPhone.
1. Locate the document on your iPad in the Files app.
2. Right-click the document to open the file menu and select Quick Look.
[Screenshot: Sign as a screenshot on iPad]
3. Take a screenshot of the document by swiping from one of the bottom corners of the iPad.
4. Select Full Page at the top of the screen.
5. Select the pencil icon in the top right.
You can choose to draw a signature or tap the plus icon and add a pre-written signature.
6. Tap Done and save the document as a PDF.
To share the signed PDF, send it as an email attachment to the original sender or other signees.
Sign and send a document with PandaDoc
For more advanced signing needs—especially when you need to send a document to others for signature, track completion, or manage multiple signers—PandaDoc offers a comprehensive solution beyond basic signing.
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 your iPad, tap Add in the bottom right and choose Files to locate and upload your document.
3. Once the document is visible, tap Signature, position the green field, and select the pencil icon.
Follow the on-screen prompts to create and add your signature.
[Screenshot: Sign using PandaDoc]
4. You now have the option to add recipients to your document.
Tap the icon in the top right, add your recipients in the entry fields, and select Done.
5. To complete the process, tap Finish.
You can save the document to your device or share it via email or link to your recipients. PandaDoc tracks when documents are opened, viewed, and signed, giving you visibility into the entire signing process.
Sign documents on iPhone with ease
Signing a document on your iPhone doesn't need to be complicated. For quick, one-off signatures, Apple's built-in Markup tool is your fastest, free option. The Word app and iPad Quick Look offer alternatives for specific workflows.
However, when you need to send documents to others for signature, track completion, or manage multiple signers, PandaDoc's mobile app works on iPhone and iPad and provides signing, tracking, and document management all in one place.
Sign up for a free trial today to see how PandaDoc can streamline your workflow.
Disclaimer
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Frequently asked questions
Yes—Apple's Markup tool, built into Files, Mail, and Notes, lets you add a finger-drawn signature to any PDF or image at no cost and without installing anything.
Yes—it's called Markup, and it's accessible from the Share menu in Files, Mail, Notes, and other native apps. It allows you to draw a finger signature directly on any document.
Open the file in the Microsoft Word app, tap the signature line (or Insert > Draw), create your signature by drawing with your finger, and then export the file as a PDF to preserve formatting.
Markup is a finger-drawn signature only and works on any file type with zero apps needed. The Word app lets you keep documents in Word format, make edits, and add typed or drawn signatures, but requires the app to be installed.