Guide

How to Sign a PDF on Your Phone (Without an App)

April 2026 · 4 min read

You've received a PDF that needs signing. You're on your phone. You don't want to download an app, create an account, or wait until you're at a computer. You just want to sign the thing and send it back.

Here's exactly how to do it in your phone's browser — works on Android and iPhone, Chrome and Safari, no app required.

Before you start

The one thing you need that isn't already on your phone: a photo of your handwritten signature. Grab any piece of paper, sign your name with a dark pen, and take a photo with your phone's camera. That's it. Your phone is already holding everything else you need.

Tip for the best signature photo Good light, no shadows across the signature, dark pen on white paper. Your phone's camera will do the rest — no need to scan anything.

How to sign the PDF

Open esign.name in your browser Chrome on Android and Safari on iPhone both work perfectly. No app to install — just a website that runs entirely on your device.

Tap the document upload zone Your phone's file picker opens. Find your PDF — it's probably in your Downloads folder or attached to an email you can save from. Tap it to select.

Tap the signature upload zone Select the photo of your signature from your camera roll. SignHere processes it immediately in your browser — the paper background is stripped out automatically, leaving just the ink.

Select the right page (multi-page documents) If the PDF has multiple pages, thumbnails appear and you tap the one that needs signing. For a single-page document, you go straight to placing the signature.

Drag the signature into position Use your finger to drag the signature to the right spot on the page. Pinch the corners to resize. The rotation handle above the signature lets you adjust the angle.

Download and share Tap "Generate signed PDF" — the file downloads to your phone. Open your email app, attach it, and send. The whole process typically takes under two minutes.

Getting the PDF from your email onto SignHere

The most common sticking point on mobile is getting the PDF from your email into the app. Here's how to do it on the main platforms:

Gmail on Android: Open the email, tap the PDF attachment, tap the download icon (⬇), then find it in your Downloads folder when SignHere asks you to select a file.

Gmail on iPhone: Open the email, press and hold the attachment, tap "Share" → "Save to Files." Then select it from Files when SignHere prompts you.

Apple Mail on iPhone: Tap and hold the attachment, tap "Share" → "Save to Files." Same as above.

Outlook on either platform: Tap the attachment to open it, then use the share icon to save it to your device's storage.

Why not just use the apps?

There are plenty of PDF signing apps — Adobe Acrobat, DocuSign, and others all have mobile versions. Here's when SignHere is the better choice:

You're signing a document you received, not sending one out. Most of the app ecosystem is built for senders (landlords, HR departments, lawyers sending contracts for signature). As a recipient who just needs to sign and return, you're an afterthought in their design.

You don't want to create an account or give an app your email address just to sign one thing. SignHere requires neither.

You care about privacy. App-based tools upload your document to their servers to process it. SignHere processes everything locally — your document never leaves your phone.

"I was at a coffee shop when the contract arrived. Signed it on my phone in the queue. No app, no printer, no problem."

Works right now in your phone's browser. No download needed.

Sign a PDF on your phone →