How to Create a Signature on iPhone and iPad: 3 Free Ways

Published 2026-08-13 · AI Signature Generator guides

You do not need a scanner or a computer to get a usable signature on an iPhone. Three free methods cover almost every situation: draw it in the Files app, draw it in a browser-based generator, or type it and let a script style do the drawing. Here is each one, step by step.

Method 1: draw it in the Files app (built in)

iOS has a hidden signature tool inside the Markup editor. It is meant for PDFs, and it works surprisingly well with a finger.

  1. Open the Files app and find a PDF. Long-press it and choose Quick Actions, then Markup.
  2. Tap the + button, then Add Signature.
  3. Draw your signature with a finger, or rotate the phone to landscape for more room. Tap Done.
  4. Drag the signature onto the document, resize it, and save.

The catch: this signature stays inside that PDF. To reuse it on other documents, you have to save it out first. Take a screenshot of the clean signature, crop it, and you have an image. Or skip the workaround and use Method 2.

Method 2: draw it in a browser generator, download a PNG

A signature generator runs in Safari and gives you a transparent PNG you can keep in Photos forever.

  1. Open the AI signature generator in Safari.
  2. Draw your signature with a finger or an Apple Pencil on iPad, or type your name and pick a handwritten style.
  3. Preview the styles, pick one, and download the transparent PNG.
  4. The image lands in Photos (on iPhone) or Files (on iPad). From there you can insert it into Word, Pages, PDFs, or anything else.

This is the fastest route to a reusable signature. The PNG has no paper background, so it sits cleanly on any document, and you can use it again for every document after that.

Method 3: sign a PDF directly in Mail

If the document already landed in your inbox, Mail has a shortcut. Open the PDF attachment, tap the Markup icon, and use the same Add Signature option from Method 1. Mail remembers the signature for future attachments, which covers the common "contract by email" workflow.

Which method for which job

  • One PDF, right now: Files or Mail Markup, in about a minute.
  • A signature you will reuse for years: a generator PNG saved to Photos.
  • Neatness matters and your finger drawing is shaky: type your name and use a script style instead of drawing.

Try it on your phone: draw or type your signature, download the PNG, and it is saved to your Photos in two minutes.

Related guides

How to add your signature to PDF, Word, and Google Docs How to make a signature with a transparent background How to create a digital signature

Frequently asked questions

Can I sign a PDF on my iPhone for free?

Yes. The Files app Markup tool and the Mail attachment preview both have a built-in Add Signature option, and neither costs anything.

Is a signature drawn on an iPhone legally valid?

Yes, for everyday documents. It is an electronic signature under ESIGN and eIDAS. The law cares about intent to sign, not about which device drew the line.

How do I save a signature as a PNG on iPhone?

The cleanest way is a browser-based generator: draw or type, download the transparent PNG, and it appears in Photos. The built-in Markup tool keeps signatures inside the PDF instead.

Is drawing with a finger good enough?

For most documents, yes. If the result looks shaky, type your name and use a script style. The typed version looks consistent every time.

What is the best free signature app for iPhone?

You may not need an app at all. Files Markup covers one-off PDFs, and a browser generator covers reusable PNGs. Both are free and require no install.