How to Sign and Annotate PDFs in Safari on iOS and iPadOS

Apple’s built-in Markup tool seamlessly integrates with the Safari web browser on iOS and iPadOS, allowing users to annotate, highlight, and sign PDF documents directly from the web without needing third-party applications. This article explains how to access the Markup interface within Safari, utilize its annotation features to edit or sign documents, and save the finalized PDF to your device.

Accessing the Markup Tool in Safari

When you open a link to a PDF document inside Safari, the browser uses a native PDF viewer to display the file. You cannot edit the document directly in this standard view, so you must activate the Markup extension.

  1. Open the desired PDF webpage in the Safari app.
  2. Tap the Share button (the square with an upward-pointing arrow) located at the bottom of the screen on iPhone, or at the top right on iPad.
  3. Scroll down through the Share Sheet menu and tap Markup.

If you are using a recent version of iOS or iPadOS, a small Markup icon (a pen tip inside a circle) may also appear directly at the bottom or top right of the screen when viewing a PDF, allowing you to bypass the Share Sheet entirely.

Annotating the PDF

Once the Markup interface opens, a toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen (or can be moved around on iPadOS). This toolbar provides several drawing and highlighting tools:

  • Pen, Marker, and Pencil: Select any of these tools to draw or write freehand on the PDF. If you are using an iPad with an Apple Pencil, you can begin writing immediately.
  • Color Picker: Tap the colored circle to change the ink color and adjust its opacity.
  • Eraser: Select the eraser tool to remove freehand drawings. You can choose between a pixel eraser (erases only what you touch) and an object eraser (erases the entire stroke at once).
  • Ruler: Use the ruler tool to draw straight lines or measure angles on the page.

Adding Text and Signatures

For official forms and contracts, freehand drawing is rarely sufficient. Markup includes specific tools for typing text and inserting legally binding digital signatures.

Inserting a Signature

  1. Tap the + (plus) button on the far right of the Markup toolbar.
  2. Select Signature from the pop-up menu (in newer iOS versions, select Add Signature).
  3. If you have not created a signature before, a blank line will appear. Use your finger or Apple Pencil to sign your name, then tap Done. If you have existing saved signatures, simply tap the one you wish to use or tap Add or Remove Signature to manage them.
  4. The signature will appear on the PDF inside a blue bounding box. Drag the box to the signature line, and use the blue dots on the corners to resize it.

Adding Text Boxes and AutoFill

  1. Tap the + button on the Markup toolbar and select Text (or Add Text Form Box).
  2. A text box will appear on the document. Tap the box, then tap Edit to type using the on-screen keyboard.
  3. You can change the font, size, and alignment using the formatting options that appear above the keyboard.
  4. Additionally, on newer versions of iOS and iPadOS, tapping the AutoFill button (an icon with a pen and rectangles) in the Markup toolbar will automatically detect blank lines on the PDF and create text boxes for you, allowing you to quickly populate the document with your saved Contact Card information.

Saving and Sharing the Finalized PDF

Because the PDF was opened directly from a webpage in Safari, closing the tab without saving will result in losing all your annotations. You must export the file to keep your changes.

  1. Once you have finished signing and annotating, tap Done in the top left corner of the screen.
  2. A menu will appear with options to save or discard your changes. Tap Save File To...
  3. Choose a destination inside your Files app (such as iCloud Drive or On My iPhone/iPad) and tap Save in the top right corner.

Alternatively, before tapping Done, you can tap the Share button inside the Markup interface to immediately attach the signed PDF to an email, send it via Messages, or print it using AirPrint without saving a permanent copy to your device's local storage.