Yes, you can sign documents on Mac using Preview, Mail, Quick Look, or an iPhone/iPad through Markup.
If you landed here to learn how to sign on mac, you want a quick way to add a signature without extra apps or printing. This guide shows the quickest paths in Preview, Mail, Finder Quick Look, and with an iPhone or iPad. Each method is simple and works across most PDFs and images.
How To Sign On Mac: The 5 Minute Walkthrough
Here’s a quick flow you can use. Open the file in Preview, click the Markup toolbar, create a signature once, then drop it where you need. You can resize it, change its thickness, and move it into place. After you save, the file carries your signature like a scanned form.
Preview Basics You’ll Use Every Time
- Open the PDF or image in Preview.
- Click the Markup button (the pen tip icon).
- Click Sign, pick a saved signature, or create a new one.
- Drag the signature onto the page and resize it.
- Save the file or export a copy.
Ways To Create Or Insert A Signature
Preview can capture your handwriting from a trackpad, your Mac camera, or an iPhone or iPad. You can store more than one signature as well. The table below maps the common choices, when to use each, and quick notes.
| Method | Best Use | What To Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Trackpad | Fast setup on a MacBook | Draw with one finger; press Done to save |
| Camera | Clean look from ink on paper | Hold your signature on white paper up to the camera |
| iPhone Or iPad | Natural handwriting with finger or Pencil | Use Continuity to write on the device and send back |
| Mail Markup | Sign right before sending | Add a signature while composing a message |
| Quick Look | Speed without opening Preview | Press Space on the file, click Markup, add signature |
| Third-Party App | Forms with advanced fields | Use when you need extras like form validation |
| Scanner + Preview | Wet signature capture | Scan paper, then place a stored signature if needed |
Sign On Mac: Fast, Reliable Methods
Create A Signature With Trackpad
Open your document in Preview. Hit the Markup button, click Sign, then Trackpad. Write with one finger. If you need a steadier line, press and hold for slower strokes. Click Clear to retry. Click Done to save the signature to your list so you can insert it again later in any file.
Create A Signature With The Camera
Grab a sheet of white paper and write your name in black ink. In Preview, choose Sign, then Camera. Hold the paper so your signature sits on the guide line. The camera captures the shape and drops a crisp digital version into your library.
Use Your iPhone Or iPad With Continuity Markup
If your Mac and iPhone or iPad share the same Apple ID, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, you can write on the device and watch the signature appear on your Mac. In Preview, pick Sign, then iPhone or iPad. A canvas opens on the device. Sign with your finger or Apple Pencil, tap Done, and it arrives on the page on your Mac.
Place, Resize, And Style The Signature
After you create one, click Sign and choose it. Drag it into place. Use the corner handles to scale. Use the line weight control to adjust thickness. If the page background is dark, add a white rectangle shape behind the signature and send it behind so the ink stays readable.
Step-By-Step: Full Signing Flow In Preview
1) Open And Enter Markup
Open your PDF in Preview. Click the Markup button at the top. This reveals tools for shapes, text, highlight, and the Sign button.
2) Create Or Pick A Signature
Click Sign. If none are stored yet, create one with the trackpad, camera, or your iPhone or iPad. If you already saved one, pick it from the menu.
3) Place And Adjust
Drag the signature onto the right spot. Nudge with arrow keys for tight placement. Resize from a corner. If the baseline looks tilted, rotate slightly using the rotate option in the toolbar.
4) Save And Share
Press Command-S to save. If you need a clean copy for email, choose File > Export As PDF and send that version.
Use Mail To Sign Before Sending
Attach the file in a new message. Hover over the attachment and click the down arrow. Choose Markup. Click the Sign button, insert your saved signature, align it, and hit Done. Send the message. The signed copy stays in your Sent mailbox as your record.
Use An iPhone Or iPad To Sign From The Sofa
Sometimes the trackpad feels cramped. With Continuity, the canvas on your device gives you room for smooth strokes. Start in Preview and choose iPhone or iPad from the Sign menu. If the device sits nearby and uses the same Apple ID with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, the prompt appears right away. Write, tap Done, and it lands in your document.
Checklist: Make Your Signature Look Crisp
- Write with a bold pen when using the camera so the capture is sharp.
- Use a plain white background for camera capture.
- Set line weight so it matches the printed text on the form.
- Keep margins clear so the signature doesn’t touch form borders.
- Store two versions: one compact, one wider, for forms with tight boxes.
Troubleshooting And Requirements
If the Sign button is missing, open the Markup toolbar first. If Continuity doesn’t prompt your device, check that both devices use the same Apple ID and that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on for both. Airplane mode on the phone will block the handoff. If Preview won’t open the PDF, right-click the file, choose Open With, then pick Preview from the list.
| Issue | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Signature menu greyed out | Markup toolbar hidden | Click the Markup pen icon first |
| iPhone or iPad not showing | Devices not on same Apple ID or radios off | Sign in to the same ID; turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth |
| Jagged trackpad strokes | Finger moving too fast | Write slower; try the device canvas |
| Camera capture too light | Ink too thin or poor lighting | Use darker ink and brighter light |
| PDF won’t save edits | File locked or permissions issue | Save a copy or export as PDF |
| Preview not default | Another app took PDF default | Right-click > Open With > Preview |
| Form fields misalign | Zoom level off | Set 100% zoom when placing signature |
Privacy, Storage, And Deleting A Saved Signature
Preview stores your saved signatures inside the app. If you share the Mac, remove old signatures when you finish a project. Open a PDF in Preview, open the Sign menu, move the pointer over a stored signature, and click the small delete icon. If you use iCloud Keychain and Handoff, your devices can help with creation, but your saved list lives on the Mac you used to store it. Before you pass a Mac to someone else, clear any stored signatures.
Sign On Mac When You Only Have A Photo
If someone sends a photo of a form, drag the image into Preview, place the signature, then export as PDF. If you need to fill text boxes, drop text fields from the Markup toolbar onto the image first, then sign. If you ever forget how to sign on mac, open Preview and hit the pen icon.
Reference Guides From Apple
For full step lists and menus, see Apple pages: Preview: Fill out and sign PDFs and Markup in Mail on Mac. Learn how Continuity Markup links your iPhone or iPad with your Mac here: Use iPad or iPhone to sketch or mark up Mac documents.
That’s the playbook for fast signing on macOS with built-in tools. No printers, no fuss. Start signing today in seconds.