How to Remove Signature from PDF: Secure & Effective Methods

Removing a signature from a PDF? It’s totally doable, but how you go about it depends on how that signature got there in the first place.

If it’s just a drawn or typed squiggle, you might be able to delete it right away. Certified digital signatures—those are a bit more stubborn and may need extra steps or permission.

Most PDF signatures can be removed using built-in editing tools, online platforms, or by unlocking the file first. The steps change depending on whether you’re dealing with a basic image signature, a regular electronic signature, or a locked-down digital certificate.

Knowing what kind of signature you’re facing is half the battle. Some are gone with a click, while others need special tools to unlock PDF restrictions first.

Key Takeaways

• Signature types dictate removal methods—sometimes it’s easy, sometimes not so much.
• Most PDF editors or online tools work for basic signatures, but certified digital ones need more care.
• Don’t remove signatures from legal docs unless you’re allowed to—seriously.

Understanding PDF Signatures

PDF signatures act as digital proof of authenticity and document integrity.

PDF signatures add authenticity and trust to a document, kind of like a digital version of your handwritten signature.

Types of PDF Signatures

Digital signatures rely on cryptography to verify authenticity and spot tampering. They create a unique fingerprint that changes if the document is edited.

Electronic signatures are usually just visual—think typed names, pasted images, or a finger-drawn squiggle. Not as secure, but much easier to use for everyday stuff.

Certified signatures take things further, letting the document creator control what can or can’t be changed after signing. You can lock down some parts but still allow things like form filling.

Self-signed certificates are do-it-yourself digital identities—no outside validation. Certificate Authority (CA) signatures are more official, issued by trusted organizations.

Common Reasons to Remove a Signature

Maybe you need to revise the document. Signature removal is often necessary if you want to make big changes.

Signed PDFs are difficult to edit by design since they’re built to lock things down.

Correcting errors comes up a lot. You might spot a typo, need to update info, or change terms before signing again.

Workflow changes happen too—sometimes new people need to sign, so existing signatures have to go.

If you’re reusing a signed document as a template for something new, signatures need to be cleared out so you can start fresh.

Legal and Security Considerations

Security restrictions can block you from removing signatures. You can only remove your own signature; other signers have to handle theirs.

Once a document is locked, it’s locked. You can’t take out signatures—even if you were the original signer.

Legal validity might be at risk if you remove signatures from contracts. It’s smart to check with legal counsel before messing with signed agreements.

Audit trails matter in business, especially in regulated industries. Some places require records of every change, including signature removals.

Methods for Removing Signatures from PDF

Signature removal isn’t one-size-fits-all. Drawn signatures can be deleted using PDF editors, but digital ones sometimes need to be unlocked first.

Remove Drawn or Image Signatures

Drawn or image signatures are usually the easiest to ditch from PDF files. They’re just visual elements you can click and delete.

Open your PDF in a PDF editor. Click the signature to select it—most editors show a border or box when it’s selected.

Press Delete or hit the trash icon. This works for signatures made with drawing tools, uploaded images, or typed text.

You can use Smallpdf’s Edit PDF tool for this. Upload, click, delete—done.

Heads up: If the PDF is password-protected or locked, this won’t work. Unlocked PDFs let you edit and remove these signature doodads easily.

Delete Digital Signatures

Digital signatures? They’re trickier. These often lock the document and block editing until you deal with the security.

First, see if your PDF has editing restrictions. Unlock it with an unlock tool and any passwords you have.

Digital signatures come in two flavors:

• Simple electronic signatures—can be removed after unlocking
• Certified digital signatures—might require the original signer

Once unlocked, try selecting the signature in your editor. Some are baked into the file and can’t be removed without breaking the whole thing.

Note: Removing certified digital signatures could mess with legal standing. If you need an unsigned copy, it’s best to ask the original signer.

Clear Signature Fields with PDF Editors

PDF editors are probably your best bet for clearing signatures—both visual ones and form fields.

Most editors let you right-click signatures and pick a removal option. Adobe Acrobat, for example, has this built in.

For form fields, find the signature field in your editor. Right-click and choose Clear or Reset—this clears the data but leaves the field.

Alternative: Flatten the PDF to turn everything into static images, then rebuild if needed. This wipes out signatures but also kills all interactive features.

If you delete the wrong thing, hit Undo right away. Don’t forget to save your work often, just in case.

Using Popular PDF Editors to Remove Signatures

Professional PDF editors are still the gold standard for removing signatures. Adobe Acrobat is the classic choice, but Foxit PhantomPDF and WPS Office are good alternatives—sometimes cheaper, too.

Remove Signature with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is kind of the king when it comes to PDF editing and signature management.

Right-click on the signature you want gone. Select “Clear Signature” from the menu. This usually works for signatures added through Acrobat.

For digital signatures with certificates, go to the Tools panel and pick “Certificates.” Click the signature field and choose “Clear Signature” or “Remove Digital ID.”

You can also use Edit PDF—just click the signature and hit Delete. This is best for images or drawn signatures.

Keep in mind:

• Removing certified digital signatures can invalidate the document.
• Password-protected signatures need the password.
• Some documents just can’t have signatures removed, period.

Clear Signatures with Foxit PhantomPDF or Similar Editors

Foxit PhantomPDF is a solid, budget-friendly option with similar features.

Open your PDF in Foxit. Head to the “Protect” tab. Pick “Digital Signature” and then “Clear Signature.”

Other editors like PDFtk Pro, Nitro PDF, or PDF-XChange Editor work pretty much the same way.

General steps:

1. Find the signature field or element.
2. Right-click and pick remove/clear.
3. Save the document.
4. Double-check the signature’s gone.

Delete Signatures in WPS Office

WPS Office is a cost-effective pick for simple signature removal.

Open your PDF in WPS Office. Click the signature you want to remove. Hit Delete or right-click and pick “Delete.”

For drawn signatures, use the Select tool. Drag around the signature area, then delete.

WPS Office is best for:

• Image-based signatures
• Text signatures
• Simple drawn signatures
• Non-certified digital signatures

It might not work with complex digital certificates. If you need heavy-duty features, consider a more robust editor.

Online Tools and Mobile Solutions

Web-based editors make it super easy to remove signatures—no installs, just upload and go. Mobile apps are handy for quick edits on the go.

Remove Signature Using Online PDF Editors

Online PDF editors like Smallpdf are straightforward. Upload your file, use the editor to select and delete the signature.

Popular online options:

• Smallpdf Edit PDF—click and delete signatures
• iLovePDF—delete digital signatures
• DocHub—remove signers from PDFs

Online editors work best with non-certified signatures—drawn, typed, or images. Just upload, wait a sec, and click to select the signature.

SignNow is another one that lets you manage signatures in-browser. Most of these tools are quick and don’t require an account for basic stuff.

If the PDF is password-protected, unlock it first using the site’s tools before trying to remove signatures.

Delete a Signature on iOS or Android Devices

Mobile PDF editors let you handle signatures right from your phone or tablet. The process is usually pretty similar to desktop, just touch-based.

Key mobile picks:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader (iOS/Android)—tap signature, delete
• Xodo PDF Reader—touch and remove
• PDFfiller mobile app—remove signatures

Usually, you tap and hold the signature until selection handles show up, then hit delete.

Touching small signatures can be fiddly—zoom in if you need to. Most apps work with cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Some mobile apps want you to pay for signature removal, others let you do it free—but with limits.

Troubleshooting Locked or Secured PDFs

Locked PDFs take a few extra steps. Passwords and digital certificates can get in the way, so you’ll need to deal with those before you can remove any signatures.

Unlock PDFs before Removing Signatures

Password-protected PDFs block signature removal until you enter the right credentials. Most PDF editors need owner-level permissions for digital signature changes.

Adobe Acrobat is still the most reliable option for unlocking secured PDFs. Open your file, enter the password, and check your access under File > Properties > Security.

Owner passwords let you edit everything, but user passwords only allow viewing. You’ll need owner-level access to delete digital signature elements from the file.

Other editors like Foxit PhantomPDF and PDFelement work similarly. Some online tools say they can bypass passwords, but honestly, that’s risky for your document’s security.

Important security note: Don’t trust random online services for sensitive documents. Password removal tools might store your files somewhere you don’t want.

If you don’t have the password, try reaching out to the document creator. Administrator accounts can obtain secure passwords for organizational files through official channels.

Revert to Unsigned Document Versions

Getting your hands on the original unsigned PDF is the cleanest way to avoid signature headaches. A lot of document management systems keep version histories with pre-signature copies.

Start by checking your file backup systems. Cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox save document versions automatically. Just go to version history and grab the unsigned one.

Email attachments might be a goldmine here. Search your inbox for the first version before anyone signed it—especially handy for contracts.

Document collaboration platforms like SharePoint and Box track every change. Look for the version right before the signature was added.

Local backup solutions could help too. Check your backup folders or restore points. On Mac, Time Machine; on Windows, File History—both keep older document states.

If all else fails, reach out to whoever sent you the document. They probably have a master copy without signatures.

Flatten and Rebuild PDFs

Flattening turns interactive PDF elements into plain images, stripping away signature functionality. Sometimes it’s the only thing that works.

Adobe Acrobat’s flatten feature merges every layer into a single image. Go to Advanced > Print Production > Flattener Preview and pick High Resolution for better results.

The Print-to-PDF trick is straightforward. Use Microsoft Print to PDF or a similar virtual printer. You’ll lose all interactive stuff, including signatures.

PDF converters can flatten during format changes. Convert to Word, then save back as PDF—signature fields gone.

Online flattening tools like SmallPDF are out there if you don’t mind uploading. Just upload, choose flatten, and download. The signatures become part of the page image.

After flattening, you might want to compress pdf files. Flattened PDFs can get pretty bulky since everything turns into images.

Quality considerations: Flattening can make text fuzzy and balloon file size. Try different resolution settings to get the best combo for your needs.

Helpful Tips for Editing Signed PDFs

Working with signed PDFs isn’t always straightforward. You’ve got to balance document authenticity with whatever edits you need to make.

Edit and Update Signed Documents

You can only remove your own digital signature from PDFs for security reasons. Other signers have to handle their own signatures.

Right-click your signature field and pick Clear Signature. That unlocks the document for editing but keeps the original layout intact.

If you run into trouble, check your Digital ID:

• Go to Preferences > Signatures in Adobe Acrobat
• Click More under “Identities & Trusted Certificates”
• Make sure your Digital ID matches the signature you’re trying to remove

Some documents are locked down tight. Owners can permanently lock PDFs, making edits—including signature removal—impossible.

Sometimes, PDFs get set to read-only after signing. Always check permissions before you try to edit.

Convert PDF to Editable Formats

Converting to Word is usually the easiest way to make big changes. Most PDF editors have built-in tools that keep your formatting intact.

Popular conversion options include:

Format	Best For	Editing Capability
Word (DOCX)	Text-heavy documents	Full text editing
Excel	Data tables	Spreadsheet functions
PowerPoint	Presentations	Slide modifications

Online converters are handy if you don’t have desktop software. Upload your unsigned PDF and download the new file in whatever format you need.

You can also edit PDFs directly with tools like Adobe Acrobat or free alternatives. This way, you keep the PDF structure and just tweak what you need.

When you’re done, save it back as a PDF. Add new signatures with digital signature tools to keep things official.

Maintain Document Integrity After Signature Removal

Track every change to previously signed documents with some sort of version control. Try using numbered file names like “Contract_v2_edited.pdf” so you can actually follow the revision trail later.

It’s a good idea to document why you removed a signature in your file management system. That way, if anyone ever asks, there’s a clear audit trail for legal or compliance stuff.

Preserve original formatting by making as few layout tweaks as possible. Focus on the actual content—there’s no need to mess with design elements unless you have to. That keeps things looking professional, which never hurts.

Double-check that removed signatures don’t leave visual artifacts behind. You don’t want empty signature fields or weird formatting gaps showing up, so clean up anything like that before you send the document out again.

Re-sign documents after you make edits, and do it promptly. Digital signatures bring back legal validity and help block unauthorized changes down the line.

Store both signed and unsigned versions in separate places. The original signed document should stay as your master copy, while you work on the editable versions for any tweaks.