Phone signing has a quiet pattern: you're sent a PDF in an email, you tap to view it, you realise it needs signing, and the app the sender recommends wants you to create an account, grant permissions, and upload the file. For one signature.

The good news is your phone's browser can do the whole thing without an app, without an account, and without sending your document anywhere. The flow takes about a minute once you've done it once. This guide covers both iOS and Android, and includes the small adjustments that make signing on a tiny screen actually pleasant.

Why you don't need an app

Modern mobile browsers — Safari on iOS, Chrome on Android, plus Firefox, Brave, Edge, and others — can do everything a signing app can do, with one exception: they can't run in the background or send push notifications. For one-off document signing, neither of those matters.

What they can do is run JavaScript that opens a PDF in memory, lets you mark it up, and downloads the marked-up copy to your phone's storage. No upload, no server roundtrip. The signing tool at esignmypdf.com/sign is built for exactly this.

Signing on iPhone or iPad

On iOS, the workflow uses Safari (or any other browser) plus the system Files app.

1. Get the PDF onto your device

If the PDF arrived as an email attachment, tap it to preview, then tap the share icon (square with up-arrow) and choose Save to Files. Pick a folder you'll remember — On My iPhone > Downloads is fine. If you already have the PDF in iCloud Drive or another cloud app, skip this step.

2. Open the signer

In Safari, go to esignmypdf.com/sign. The tool loads with a dark toolbar at the top. Don't pinch-zoom out — the layout adjusts itself for narrow screens.

3. Pick your PDF

Tap 📂 Open PDF in the toolbar. iOS shows a picker — choose Browse at the bottom, navigate to the folder where you saved the file, and tap it. The PDF appears in the viewer.

4. Sign with your finger (or Apple Pencil)

Tap ✒ Signatures in the toolbar. A panel slides up with three options: draw, type, or upload. For most people, Type produces the cleanest result on mobile — your name in a signature-style font, with no shake. If you'd rather draw, take a breath, sign in one smooth stroke. The tool smooths the line for you.

When the signature looks right, drag it from the panel onto the page where it belongs. Drag the corners to resize; long-press and drag the middle to move it around. You can place it as many times as you need.

5. Fill in any text fields

For dates, names, or other typed information: tap T Text, then tap on the page where you want to type. A text field appears with the on-screen keyboard. Type, then tap outside the field to commit.

6. Download

Tap ⬇ Download PDF. Safari prompts you to download the file; tap Download. The signed PDF lands in your Downloads folder in the Files app, ready to share, email, or AirDrop.

Signing on Android

The Android flow is essentially identical, with two small differences in how files get on and off the device.

1. Save the PDF locally

If the PDF came in via email or chat, tap the file to preview, then use the three-dot menu > Save or Download. Android usually saves it to the Downloads folder, accessible through the Files app (or the Downloads app on some manufacturers).

2. Open the signer in Chrome

Go to esignmypdf.com/sign. The toolbar adjusts for narrow screens. Tap 📂 Open PDF, and Android shows a file picker — tap the hamburger icon to switch to Downloads, then pick the PDF.

3. Sign and fill

Same as on iOS — tap Signatures, draw or type your name, then drag it onto the page. Tap T Text to type into fields. Use the zoom buttons (+ and −) or pinch-zoom to make precise placement easier.

4. Download and find the file

Tap Download PDF. The signed file lands in your Downloads folder. Open the Files app to confirm it's there, then share, attach, or upload it as needed.

Try it on your phone now.

Open the tool — it takes about ten seconds to load on a modern phone.

✎ Open the tool

Using a stylus or Apple Pencil

If you have a stylus, signing becomes a different experience. Apple Pencil on iPad in particular produces signatures that look almost identical to ones on paper — much better than finger-drawn ones. A few notes:

Palm rejection. iPad with Apple Pencil ignores your palm by default in most apps. The browser-based signer is no exception. Rest your hand naturally.
Pressure sensitivity. The current tool draws at a uniform line weight, not pressure-sensitive. Your signature will look slightly different from a real-paper one — sometimes a bit thicker or more uniform.
Stylus on Android. Active styluses on Galaxy Note, Samsung Tab, and similar devices all work. Capacitive (passive) styluses also work but the line quality is rougher.

Once the signed PDF is in your Downloads folder, you have several options:

Email it. Open your mail app, compose a message, attach the file from Files (iOS) or Downloads (Android), send. Most clients show the PDF inline for the recipient.
Upload to a cloud. Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud — open the cloud app, choose Upload, pick the file. Useful for sharing with a counterparty via link.
AirDrop or Quick Share. For sending to a Mac or another iPhone/Android device nearby.
Print. Most modern printers support AirPrint (iOS) or Google Cloud Print equivalents on Android. Some forms still need a physical copy in the recipient's hands.

Common mobile gotchas

The Files app picker shows the wrong folder

iOS's file picker remembers the last location you used. If you saved the PDF to "On My iPhone > Downloads" but the picker opens iCloud Drive, tap Browse at the bottom, then choose the right source on the left.

My signature looks tiny

Resize after placing — drag a corner outward. The tool doesn't auto-scale based on your screen, so the signature you drew at one size might land smaller than you expected on a multi-page PDF.

The page is too small to tap accurately

Use the + zoom button or pinch-zoom in. The placement controls remain functional at every zoom level.

Safari downloaded the file but I can't find it

On iOS, downloaded files go to Files app > iCloud Drive > Downloads by default, or to On My iPhone > Downloads if iCloud is off. You can change this in Settings > Safari > Downloads.

The download didn't trigger on Android

Some Android browsers block downloads from sites the first time. Look for a prompt at the bottom of the screen asking permission. Allow it, then re-tap Download PDF.

Common questions

Is signing on my phone as legally valid as signing on a computer?

Yes. The validity of an electronic signature depends on intent and the legal framework in your jurisdiction, not on which device produced it. A signature drawn on an iPhone is just as binding as one drawn on a laptop trackpad. (See our guide on legal validity for jurisdiction-specific detail.)

Will the signed PDF look right on a desktop?

Yes. The downloaded file is a standard PDF — it opens identically on a phone, tablet, or computer.

Can I sign without internet?

Once the page is loaded, you can put your phone in airplane mode and finish signing. Loading the page itself does need a connection.

What about Outlook or Gmail attachments — can I sign directly?

You'll need to save the attachment first. Tap the attachment to preview, then use the share icon (iOS) or three-dot menu (Android) and choose Save / Save to Files / Download. Then open the saved file from the signing tool.

Does this work on older phones?

The tool works on most phones from the last six or seven years. Older devices may be slow with large PDFs (tens of MB), but functionality should be intact. Internet Explorer Mobile and very old Android browsers are not supported.

Sign the PDF on your phone now.

Free, in your browser, no app install. Works on iPhone, iPad, and Android.