How to fill in and sign a PDF for free

Most PDF forms fall into two camps, and knowing which you have makes filling them painless.

Interactive forms

If a PDF has real form fields (AcroForm), the Fill & Sign tool detects them and lists each one so you can type or tick directly. When you save, the values are written back into the fields.

Flat forms

Plenty of forms are just printed layouts with no interactive fields — often scans. For those, use Add text to drop a text box anywhere on the page, position it over the line, and type. It is stamped onto the page when you process.

Adding a signature

• Draw your signature with a mouse, trackpad, or touch screen.
• Or type your name and pick a signature style.
• Then click the page to place it, and drag to position.

Your document and your signature never leave your device — the signature travels only inside your browser.

An honest caveat

A drawn or typed signature is a visible mark, which many everyday documents accept. It is not a certificate-based digital signature and does not cryptographically prove who signed. If you need that, use a dedicated e-signature service.

Once you are done, you can flatten the PDF so the added content can’t be easily edited back out.