01
Open your PDF
Choose it from Mail or Files.
Why these PDFs are so hard
A form from a bank, credit union, county clerk, or benefits office is often a scan. Someone printed the form, maybe filled in part of it, and ran it through a copier. What you get is a picture of a page inside a PDF.
These are real, everyday documents: a direct deposit form, a change-of-address form for a credit union, a county permit application, a notarization cover sheet. They matter, and they tend to arrive with a deadline.
That means there are no fields. Tapping a blank does nothing. The lines might tilt, the text might look fuzzy, and a stamp might sit on top of the signature line. A W-9 you download from the IRS is fillable; the same W-9 after someone prints and scans it is not.
What an app can't fix
eSign PDF doesn't run OCR to turn a scan into editable text. It doesn't straighten or sharpen a bad scan. It can't open a password-locked file without the password. It also doesn't submit anything to a bank or agency portal. What it does: lets you put clean text, dates, checks, and a signature exactly where you tap, and flattens the result.
Can Apple Markup handle a scan?
For one signature on one page, yes. Open the PDF, tap Markup, add your signature, and drag it onto the line. Adding several text boxes for your name, account number, and date on a tilted page gets fiddly. The result is still an annotation layer that some office systems don't show. See Apple Markup vs a signing app.
How to fill and sign a scanned PDF on iPhone
1
Open the file in eSign PDF
From Mail or Files, tap Share and choose eSign PDF. If you only have a photo or paper, import the photo or scan the page with the in-app camera.
2
Zoom in and check the highlights
The app tries to highlight signature and date lines. On rough scans it will miss some. Pinch to zoom and work line by line.
3
Place text, dates, and checks
Tap where each answer goes. Use Text for names and numbers, Date for the date, Check for boxes. Shrink the size to fit small printed lines.
4
Sign and review every page
Place your signature on the right line. Zoom out and check each page, especially where stamps or smudges sit near the line.
5
Flatten and send
Export. The app merges your entries and signature into the page. The bank or office sees the same thing you do. Send it the way they asked: email, their upload page, or print at a branch.
Tips for messy forms
- ✓Don't print and re-scan a scan. Each copy gets blurrier. Sign the file you received.
- ✓Use block capitals for names and numbers so a person reading a fuzzy copy can make them out.
- ✓Match the date format the form shows, usually MM/DD/YYYY on US forms.
- ✓If a field is truly unreadable, call and ask what goes there instead of guessing.
- ✓Keep a signed copy in Files. Agencies lose paperwork.
These forms carry your most sensitive data
Bank and government forms usually include your Social Security number, account numbers, or date of birth. Uploading that to a free website to add a signature means a copy sits on someone else's server. The eSign PDF app works on your iPhone: no account, no upload, and it works offline. More on that trade-off in browser PDF tools vs a native app.
Some agencies require their own online portal, a specific IRS e-file process, or an original ink signature. If the instructions say so, follow them. For tax forms like a W-9, see signing tax documents on your phone.
Paying for scanned forms, or not
Apple Markup: free, fine for a single signature. eSign PDF: $59.99 one-time (US), no account. The App Store shows other plans and local prices.
FAQ
How do I sign a scanned PDF on my iPhone?+
Open it in Markup or a signing app and place your signature on the line. To add text, dates, and checkboxes on a scan, use an app that lets you place them anywhere, then flatten it.
Why can't I type into the PDF my bank sent me?+
It's a scan, so it has no form fields. You have to place text boxes on top of the page yourself.
Can eSign PDF make a scanned PDF editable?+
No. It doesn't run OCR or change the scanned text. It adds your text, dates, and signature on top and flattens them into the page.
Is it safe to sign bank forms on my phone?+
Safer than uploading them to a website. eSign PDF keeps the file on your iPhone with no account or upload.
What if the agency wants a wet signature?+
Follow their instructions. Some offices require ink or their own portal, and no app changes that.