What are you trying to verify?
| Question | Check | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Is the handwritten mark visible? | Open the exported PDF and inspect the correct page at normal zoom | Visibility does not prove who placed it |
| Will the mark survive sharing? | Open the exact attachment or shared copy in a second viewer | A local editing preview is not the sent file |
| Is there a digital signature? | Use a PDF viewer’s Signatures panel | A drawn or scanned image will not appear as certificate data |
| Is the digital signature valid? | Validate the signature and inspect signer certificate and document-change status | An unknown certificate is not automatically trusted |
| Does the recipient accept this method? | Check the form instructions or ask the recipient | Technical visibility does not settle legal or contractual acceptance |
Step by step
- 01
Open the exact finished file
Do not inspect only the editor preview. Locate the exported filename in Files or Downloads and open that copy.
- 02
Check the correct page and scale
Confirm the signature is on the intended page, does not cover labels, and is still readable at a realistic document zoom.
- 03
Test another viewer
Open the copy in a second PDF viewer. This catches annotations or fields that one viewer displays differently.
- 04
Use the Signatures panel for digital signatures
In a compatible desktop viewer such as Acrobat, open the Signatures panel and validate the signature when certificate status matters.
- 05
Read the validation details
Check whether the certificate is trusted, whether the document changed after signing, and whether the status is valid, unknown, or invalid.
- 06
Confirm the recipient’s requirement
A visible handwritten electronic signature and a validated certificate signature solve different requirements. Ask before relying on the wrong one.
A before-send checklist
- Keep the original PDF and the signed copy separately.
- Inspect the same attachment the recipient will receive.
- Use certificate validation only for actual digital signatures—not scanned images.
Questions
How can I tell if a PDF has a digital signature?
Open it in a compatible viewer and look for a Signatures panel or certificate status. A visible handwritten image alone is not enough.
Does a signature image show as valid in Acrobat?
No. An image has no signing certificate to validate. Acrobat validation applies to certificate-based digital signatures.
Why does the signature look present on my phone but missing to someone else?
You may have sent the original, or the recipient’s viewer may handle the annotation differently. Open the exact sent attachment in another viewer.
Does a visible signature mean the PDF is accepted?
Not necessarily. Acceptance depends on the recipient’s instructions, workflow, document type, and applicable rules.