You're away from your desk, someone sends you a PDF that needs your signature, and you need to sign it right now — on your phone. The good news: you don't need to install an app, create an account, or pay for anything. Your phone's browser is all you need.
How to sign a PDF on iPhone
- Open Safari and go to ihatesignature.com/sign-pdf-online/.
- Tap the upload area and select your PDF from Files, Mail, or WhatsApp.
- Tap "Add Signature" and draw with your finger, or upload a saved signature image.
- Drag the signature to the correct position, pinch to resize, and use two fingers to rotate.
- Tap "Download signed PDF" — the file saves to your Downloads folder.
The entire process takes under a minute. Your PDF never leaves your phone — everything happens in the browser.
How to sign a PDF on Android
- Open Chrome and go to ihatesignature.com/sign-pdf-online/.
- Tap to upload your PDF from your file manager, Google Drive, or email attachment.
- Tap "Add Signature" and draw with your finger, or upload a saved signature.
- Position and resize the signature on the document.
- Tap "Download signed PDF" to save the signed file.
Tips for signing on a small screen
- Zoom in first: Pinch to zoom into the signature area before placing your signature — it's much easier to position accurately.
- Create your signature on desktop first: Draw your signature on a computer with a mouse for better results, save it as a PNG, then upload it on your phone for instant placement.
- Use dark mode: If the tool supports it, dark mode reduces eye strain when reviewing documents outdoors.
- Save signed PDFs to cloud storage: After downloading, share the file to Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox for safekeeping.
Why browser-based beats app-based
Many PDF signing apps require installation, account creation, and often upload your documents to their servers for processing. Browser-based tools like ihatesignature.com process everything locally on your device — your PDF never leaves your phone. This is both more private and faster, since there's no upload/download step.
For a step-by-step desktop guide, see our complete tutorial on how to sign a PDF online.