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LazerBoi
New Participant
October 18, 2013
Answered

Cannot digitally sign PDFs

  • October 18, 2013
  • 8 replies
  • 223601 views

Hello, recently I was forced to change to Adobe DC at work.  We create PDF forms via Word that require digital signatures from various people within the company on a daily basis.  I used to be able to sign them without issue and even when I first installed DC, I could sign them.  Not today however.  And by sign, I am not referring to adding a scanned jpg of my actual signature or scribbling an X with my mouse.  I'm talking about digital ID files.  I can create a new file any time I want, but I just cannot use it.  When I click on the "Fill & Sign" button, the "Request Signatures" button is active, but the "Sign Yourself" button is greyed out.  Other people can sign the exact same PDF file.  I can't.  Any ideas?

    Correct answer Meenakshi Negi

    Hello,

     

    Thank you for reaching out.

     

    As you are trying to add the digital signature, you do not require the Fill & Sign tool. The signature field in the form is the reason why "Sign yourself" is greyed out. If the field is already added in the form, you can simply click on the field to add the signature.

     

    If there is no form field in the form, use the following steps to digitally sign the PDF.

    1. Open the PDF in Acrobat.

    2. Go to Tools > Certificates > Digitally Sign.

     

    Let us know if you need any help.

     

    Thanks,

    Meenakshi

    8 replies

    J
    Jerry36833990ffc0
    New Participant
    April 18, 2024

    I have the same problem but the solution offered does not help. Is there a way to downvote the solution. There needs to be a downvote so you can see how bad your answers are. Feedback is a good thing. I really hate having to sign Adobe products digitally because the process fails continually. 

      splambo
      splambo
      Participating Frequently
      October 24, 2023

      1. Open Acrobat on its own, not by opening a document.

      2. Edit > Preferences > Signatures > Verification > More...
      -Uncheck 'Verify signatures when the document is opened.
      -Under 'Verififcation Behavior', select 'Always use the default method'.
      -Under 'Verififcation Information', select 'Never'.
      -click OK

      3. Edit > Preferences > Signatures > Creation & Appearance > More...
      - Uncheck 'use modern uder interface'.

      4. Exit Acrobat

      Open your PDF and use Tools > Certificates > Digitally sign.

      K
      karthik32870957iy4v
      New Participant
      October 24, 2023
      I want to place the logo and stamp it on pff and seal it using code or
      using APIs any suggested way to do this.

      KARTHIK
      S
      Soorya31232798xwlf
      New Participant
      July 22, 2023

      Hi !
             First Step : click ctrl + p  to print the pdf and save it as a new pdf.
            Second Step : Open the newly saved pdf and now you can sign it .

       

        F
        FrancesWa
        New Participant
        August 8, 2023

        Thank You!!  This was the simplest and most fool-proof method to accomplish this.  

        J
        J28744090uxo0
        New Participant
        March 7, 2023

        I have a PDF document. I can fill into this document without any issues and save it. However, when I try to sign it, the top section "Sign Yourself" is grayed out. Could you please advise? Thank you.

         

          AkanchhaS8194121
          AkanchhaS8194121
          Brainiac
          March 14, 2023

          Hi @J28744090uxo0 

           

          Thanks for sharing the screenshot.

          It seems like all the signing options are disabled for the form. If it's a fillable form, then please check the following details:

          1- If you have the signature filed assigned already.

          2- Check whether the form was filled and saved earlier. And after reopening, its signing feature is greyed out.

          3- Check the document properties and see whether you have enabled the Signing properties.

          Open document>Ctrl+d>document properties> Security>Signing allowed or not.

           

          Thanks,

          Akanchha 

            T
            tobywearefine
            Inspiring
            July 17, 2023

            Hi, I have an issue regarding digital signatures that I really need a solution too...

            I have created a document in inDesign & used the 'Prepare From' functionality which worked really well, however, I can't seem to get it to work on other devices, ie; PC's, this document is going to be hosted on a clients website & needs to be signed by people on various devices. I'm not looking to sign this myself. I need to be able to find a solution that allows the document to be signed by anyone on different devices, whether that's a tablet or a desktop device. Do you know if this is possible?

             

            Thanks

            Toby

            Meenakshi Negi
            Community Manager
            Meenakshi NegiCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
            Community Manager
            July 2, 2021

            Hello,

             

            Thank you for reaching out.

             

            As you are trying to add the digital signature, you do not require the Fill & Sign tool. The signature field in the form is the reason why "Sign yourself" is greyed out. If the field is already added in the form, you can simply click on the field to add the signature.

             

            If there is no form field in the form, use the following steps to digitally sign the PDF.

            1. Open the PDF in Acrobat.

            2. Go to Tools > Certificates > Digitally Sign.

             

            Let us know if you need any help.

             

            Thanks,

            Meenakshi

              L
              LazerBoiAuthor
              New Participant
              July 8, 2021

              Yes.  I was able to finally figure it out yesterday after talking with others within the company using the same software.  It is not intuitive where such functionality is placed.

                E
                etan21
                New Participant
                October 8, 2019

                I have a PDF document that I need to sign digitally, but whenever I choose FILL AND SIGN, I am unable to do so as it is saying that "The author of this form has specified the field which you can fill. Click on any field to start filling form." I cannot paste my signature as well. I think the form is also secured. Please help. THANK YOU.

                  Amal.
                  Community Manager
                  Amal.Community Manager
                  Community Manager
                  October 8, 2019

                  Hi Ellery_tan,

                   

                  Thanks for reaching out. as described above, you are unable to sign digitally sign PDF, correct?

                   

                  Have you got the PDF which is already signed, and trying to sign it with your signature?

                   

                  Its a design behavior, once the PDF is signed it gets locked for further editing. You wont be able to edit, once the PDF is signed the document becomes read-only and no further changes are allowed; even a signature can't be added in the document.

                   

                  If you're the only one signer, you can remove your signature and work on the document. If the document is signed by others, you can request the initiator to share an unsigned copy or the source document with you.

                   

                  As stated above, the form is secured, you need to contact the author/creator of the pdf to get the access to edit the file.

                   

                  For more information please use the help article - https://helpx.adobe.com/in/acrobat/kb/edit-signed-PDF.html

                   

                   

                  Hope it helps

                   

                  Regards

                  Amal

                  Bernd Alheit
                  Bernd Alheit
                  Community Expert
                  August 15, 2022
                  Thank for responding, however your suggestion does not work. None of the fields are fillable.

                  Can you share the form?

                  B
                  bradq11575501
                  New Participant
                  April 22, 2016

                  I have received a document that has been digitally signed. I need to apply my signature to countersign the contract. When I click 'Fill and Sign' on the right, I do not see my normal options for pasting in my signature. Is there a way to countersign a document like this? Or am I stuck printing it off and manually signing it. I have saved these PDFs as a Word file before, only to convert back into PDF. There has to be a way to get this done, but I am to much of a novice in Adobe. I have searched for a solution but have come up with nothing.

                  I appreciate any advice or help anyone can offer, thank you.

                  Sarojini_Nagar
                  Community Manager
                  Sarojini_NagarCommunity Manager
                  Community Manager
                  April 22, 2016

                  Hi Brad Qualls,

                  Could you please let us know the adobe application you are using and also the OS version on your system?

                  To digitally sign a document you need to select the certificates option from Tools.

                  You can navigate to tools pane and type " Certificates" in the search box. And then select "digital sign" option .

                  Please refer this article : Digital IDs in Acrobat DC  and  Certificate-based signatures, Adobe Acrobat DC

                  Let us know if this helps.

                  Regards

                  Sarojini

                    B
                    bradq11575501
                    New Participant
                    April 22, 2016

                    Hi Sarojini,

                    I am running OS X Yosemite 10.10.2. Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2015 Release ver 2015.006.30121.

                    M
                    MILMAN
                    New Participant
                    October 18, 2013

                    I have a problem. I have recd a pdf file (as an email attachement)which needs to be digitally signed by me,signing is allowed I have checked that on the security settings, I can click on tools, sign,comment etc. , but when i click on sign it shows three options, the first being I need to sign when i click on this it gets expanded but all the options like add text, add checkmark,place initials and place signature are greyed out.

                    When i click edit>preferences>signatures>identities and trust certificates (more) I can see my digital signature which i need to place on the pdf file right there.

                    Please help. It is urgent

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