01
Open your PDF
Choose it from Mail or Files.
If you don't care about apps
Lease in your email and no printer? You don't need to print twelve pages. Open the PDF on your iPhone, initial and sign where it asks, and reply with the signed file. If your landlord can't see your signature, flatten the file first.
First: how did your landlord send it?
Many property managers use DocuSign or their own resident portal. If your email has a Review Document or Sign button instead of a PDF attachment, just use that link. It's built for this, and you normally don't need to buy anything to sign someone else's document there.
This guide is for the other case: the lease arrived as a PDF attachment, and the landlord wants it signed and emailed back. That's common with smaller landlords and individual owners.
Going through the packet as a renter? Use the renter's checklist for signing a lease electronically. Landlord says your initials are missing? See can't sign a PDF on iPhone.
What a US lease usually asks for
A typical residential lease wants more than one signature. Expect initials at the bottom of every page and a signature and date on the last page. Some leases also add separate addenda: pet policy, parking, or a lead-based paint disclosure for older buildings. Some have checkboxes for utilities or renter's insurance.
If there are co-tenants, each person initials and signs. Each of you can sign the same file in turn on your own phone, or the landlord may send separate copies. Ask which they prefer.
Read the whole lease before you sign. Signing on a phone is easy, which makes it easy to skip the pages. Questions about the terms go to your landlord before you sign, not after.
How to sign a lease PDF on iPhone
1
Open the lease in eSign PDF
In Mail, tap the PDF attachment, tap Share, and choose eSign PDF. The lease stays on your iPhone; the app uploads nothing.
2
Create your signature and initials
Draw, type, or import your signature. Make a separate initials mark. The app keeps both for the next page and the next document.
3
Go page by page
Place your initials on every page that asks for them. Add the date with the date tool. Tick any checkboxes and fill in blanks like your phone number or move-in date.
4
Sign the last page
Place your full signature on the tenant line and date it. Scroll back through the pages once to check nothing is missing.
5
Flatten and send it back
Export. The app flattens the lease so your initials and signature show on your landlord's computer. Reply to their email with the signed PDF and save a copy in Files.
Mistakes that get a lease sent back
- ✕Missing initials on one page in the middle. Landlords check every page.
- ✕Signing but not dating the last page.
- ✕Forgetting the addenda at the end of the file.
- ✕Sending an unflattened Markup file to a property manager on Windows. They may see blank lines.
- ✕Not keeping your own copy of the signed lease.
- ✕Emailing the lease to a friend's printer to sign on paper, then photographing each page. It's slower and harder to read.
Is a lease signed on a phone valid?
In the US, the federal ESIGN Act says no one can deny a signature legal effect just because it's electronic. The law generally covers leases. Your landlord still decides how they want it returned. If they ask for their own signing platform or an ink signature, do it their way. This isn't legal advice; if the terms themselves worry you, talk to a local tenant resource or attorney.
For more on renting, see renters signing lease agreements. For the basic iPhone steps on any PDF, see how to sign a PDF on iPhone.
Cost of signing a lease on your phone
Apple Markup: free, fine for a short lease going to someone on a Mac. eSign PDF: $59.99 one-time (US), no account. The App Store shows other plans and local prices.
FAQ
Can I sign a lease on my iPhone?+
Yes. If the lease came as a PDF, open it from Mail, add your initials, dates, and signature, and email it back. If it came as a DocuSign or portal link, sign through that link.
How do I initial every page of a lease on my phone?+
Create a separate initials mark, then place it on each page. eSign PDF saves your initials so you don't redraw them.
My landlord can't see my signature. What happened?+
The file probably wasn't flattened, so your signature is an annotation their viewer doesn't show. Flatten the PDF and send it again.
Do I need DocuSign to sign a lease?+
No. If your landlord uses DocuSign, they send you a link and you sign there. If they emailed a PDF, you can sign it on your phone without an account.
Is a lease signed on a phone legally valid?+
In the US, the ESIGN Act says no one can deny a signature legal effect just because it's electronic. Your landlord can still ask for a specific signing method.