How to Sign a PDF on Windows 11 for Free

Windows does not have a Preview-style app for signing PDFs, but Microsoft Edge, which is installed on every Windows 11 PC, can open PDFs and draw on them. Here are three free ways to sign.

Method 1: Microsoft Edge

1. Right-click the PDF and choose Open with → Microsoft Edge.
2. Use the Draw tool in the toolbar and sign with a mouse, touchpad, pen or touchscreen.
3. Use Add text to type your name and the date.
4. Click Save (or Save as to keep the original).

Edge's drawing is basic, and mouse signatures can look shaky. If you have a touchscreen or pen, it works well. Edge's PDF features change between versions, so menus may differ slightly.

Method 2: Adobe Acrobat Reader

1. Install the free Acrobat Reader and open the PDF.
2. Choose Fill & Sign (sometimes under All tools).
3. Click Sign → Add signature.
4. Type your name and pick a style, Draw it, or upload an Image.
5. Click to place it, then save.

Reader saves your signature for reuse. It is reliable, but heavier to install than you may need for one document.

Method 3: a browser editor

1. Open Docento.app in any browser.
2. Choose your PDF.
3. Select the signature tool and draw, type or upload your signature.
4. Place it, add a date, and download.

The file is processed in the browser rather than uploaded, and saved signatures stay in your browser's local storage on that PC. Do not save your signature in a browser on a shared or public computer.

Making a mouse signature look better

• Type your signature in a script font instead. It looks cleaner than a shaky mouse drawing and is equally valid for most purposes.
• Upload a photo of your signature on white paper, cropped tightly. See how to create a transparent signature.
• Draw large and resize down.

Common problems

• "This document is protected": the creator restricted editing. Ask for an unlocked version. See PDF permissions explained.
• The signature moves or disappears in another app: annotations can display differently across readers. Flatten the PDF before sending. See how to flatten a PDF.
• The PDF prints without the signature: check print settings include "Document and markups". See how to print a PDF correctly.
• Someone asks for a digital ID signature: that is a certificate-based digital signature, different from a drawn one. See digital signatures vs electronic signatures.

Takeaway

On Windows 11, Edge works if you have a pen or touchscreen, Acrobat Reader if you sign documents often, and a browser editor if you want a quick, polished result with no install. For Macs, see how to sign a PDF on Mac.