# How to sign a PDF on Android for free, offline

> To sign a PDF on Android for free and offline, open the file in Scanly, use the Sign tool to draw or import your signature, place it on the page and save a signed copy. Scanly adds a visual, handwritten-style signature, not a certificate-based digital signature, and the original file is never changed.

Many forms, contracts and receipts only need a handwritten-looking signature added to a PDF. Scanly's Sign tool does that on your phone, with no printer, no scanner and no subscription.

It helps to know the limit before you start. Scanly creates a visual signature: your signature appears on the page, but it is not a certificate-based digital signature and does not carry the cryptographic identity checks those use. If the recipient needs a certified e-signature, use a service built for that.

## How to sign a PDF on Android

1. **Open the PDF in Scanly.** Open the file with Reader, or choose "Open in Scanly" from Files, Gmail, WhatsApp or Google Drive.
2. **Open the Sign tool.** Go to Tools → PDF → Sign.
3. **Create your signature.** Draw your signature or initials on the screen, or import a photo of your signature written on white paper.
4. **Place it on the page.** Put the signature on the signature line. Add initials, a date, text or a checkbox if the form needs them.
5. **Adjust the placement.** Move, resize or recolour each item (navy, black, blue or red) until it sits correctly on the page.
6. **Save the signed copy.** Save or share the signed result. The original PDF is not changed.

## What Scanly signing is and is not

- It is a handwritten-style signature image placed on a PDF, with optional initials, date, text and checkbox fields.
- It is not a certificate-based digital signature. It does not use an identity certificate to prove who signed the document.
- Your original is safe. Scanly never changes the original file, so the signed version is a separate copy.
- Your signatures stay on your phone. Saved signatures are kept on the device, not uploaded.

## Making a signature that looks right

You can draw your signature with your finger in the Sign tool, or write it on plain white paper and import a photo of it. When you import a photo, Scanly lifts the ink off the background so the signature sits cleanly on the page.

Create a separate initials mark if a form asks for initials. Choose a colour that suits the document: navy, black, blue or red.

## Placing and adjusting fields

Place the signature exactly where the signature line is. The same tool can add initials, a date, typed text or a checkbox to any PDF or scan. After you place an item, move it, resize it or change its colour until it lines up with the form.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I sign a PDF on Android for free without internet?

Yes. Scanly's Sign tool is free and works offline. Your signatures and the PDF stay on your phone.

### Is a Scanly signature legally binding?

Scanly adds a visual, handwritten-style signature. It is not a certificate-based digital signature. Whether a signed document is accepted depends on the recipient and the rules that apply to it, so check with them if it matters.

### Does signing change my original PDF?

No. Scanly never changes the original file. The signed version is saved as a separate copy.

### Can I sign a scanned document or a photo?

Yes. You can place a signature on any PDF or scan, including pages you scanned with Scanly.

### Can I use my real handwritten signature?

Yes. Import a photo of your signature written on plain white paper. Scanly removes the background so it looks clean on the page, and saved signatures stay on your phone.

### Can I add a date next to the signature?

Yes. Scanly can add a date, typed text, initials and checkbox fields to a PDF alongside the signature.

Get Scanly free on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.c1ph3rj.scanly

Last checked: 2026-10-22. Canonical: https://www.usescanly.co.in/sign-pdf-android