Participant

Answered

signed pdf locks editing even though unocked?

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
July 16, 2025
3 replies
789 views

after i sign the pdf has me save but it locks the document from editing anymore even though i selected from fill in digital sign permitted. i need multiple signatures and i cant even draw a sign field afterwords, only thing it lets me do is validate? not sure what happened, used to be able to create sign field, sign it, still work on the document even, then send in an email to have someone else sign it. but now i cant do any of that.

Correct answer MikelKlink

According to your screenshot you have not merely signed but actually certified the document. Technically that's nearly the same, certification merely adds some extra information to the document. The effect is a bit different, though:

If you only "sign" a PDF, it is possible to add extra signature fields for additional signatures.

But if you "certify" a PDF with form-fill-in allowed, you cannot add additional fields anymore; instead you have to add empty, unsigned signature fields for all later signers before certifying.

For some backgrounds see this stackoverflow answer.

try67

Community Expert

You need to add the other signature fields before you sign the file.

MikelKlinkCorrect answer

Participating Frequently

According to your screenshot you have not merely signed but actually certified the document. Technically that's nearly the same, certification merely adds some extra information to the document. The effect is a bit different, though:

If you only "sign" a PDF, it is possible to add extra signature fields for additional signatures.

But if you "certify" a PDF with form-fill-in allowed, you cannot add additional fields anymore; instead you have to add empty, unsigned signature fields for all later signers before certifying.

For some backgrounds see this stackoverflow answer.

T

terance_2707Author

Participant

i think this maybe it, i looked up in tools for signatures and found the "digital signature" option which now does what i normally do and allows pdf editing and other signatures, when i upgraded that option disappeared from my normal toolbar and replaced it with the certify signature which i thought was the same. funny how the digital singature option isnt even there unless you specifically search for it, which is now its own annoying issue, but at least main issue appears resolved.

K

kalyori

Participating Frequently

Do you have the latest PDF? What suggestion does it give you if you click "learn more"?

And have you tried the e-sign option?

T

terance_2707Author

Participant

i have what looks like 25.1.20531.0

when i click on the learn more it just pops open a broswer window to adobe help

not sure i have, didnt think you could digitally sign with cridentials on e-sign, just a digital wet, which doesnt work unfortunately.

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