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How to Remove the Signature From PDF

Not only permissions passwords can restrict editing on PDF documents, but also digital signature would make signed PDF documents not editable. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Remove the Signature From PDF. Let’s begin!

But if I want to edit PDF document after it is signed with a digital ID, how can I do to remove edit restrictions from a signed PDF document? The following passage will show you how to do it by PDF document conversion. And then list some other opinions about removing PDF document digital signature from the Internet for reference.

It is kind of easy to remove the signature as long as you are the one that signed it in the first place. You also have an option to remove another person’s signature. But it requires some extra work. Without further ado, let us see how to do it.

Remove the Signature

This action assumes that you are the one who created the document. In addition, the document should be unlocked for editing. Of course, if you are the one who placed the lock then it is should be easy to lift it. But more on that later.

In order to remove the signature, open your PDF document, locate the signature itself, and select it. Then, you need to right-click and choose “Clear Signature” from the pop-up menu. There might be a pop-up menu asking you to confirm the decision. And when you hit OK, the signature is gone.

If possible, you can ask the signatory to remove the signature for you. But this usually turns out to be more work than you have bargained for.

Locked PDF | Remove the Signature

After locking, the document is read-only and you can’t make any changes to it. To be exact, you can’t remove or add a signature, or make any other changes to the document.

The signature box gives you the “Lock document after signing” option, and you only need to tick the box in front of it. This is advisable when you are the sole or the last signatory of the document. And it may be useful for some sensitive documents.

As indicated, when someone signs the document you won’t be able to remove the signature. In this case, it is best to ask the signatory or document owner to send you the unsigned copy or lift the signature.

Important Notes:

When you receive a document that is already signed by other members. Then you can add your signature but you can’t edit the document. If one signatory opts to lock the PDF, it becomes read-only for all users.

Signature Passwords | Remove the Signature

Adobe Acrobat allows you to set a password to protect your signature after you create it. The password unlocks the signature for editing and allows you to reposition, redo, or delete it.

But what are the necessary actions when you forget the password but need to delete the file. Does that contain the signature?

A bit more work is involved, but you should be able to do everything without too much hassle. Note that the methods vary slightly based on the Acrobat version and/or your operating system.

Acrobat XI

Launch the tool and select Edit, then click on Preferences. On a Mac, you click on Acrobat in the toolbar and choose Preferences from the drop-down menu. The quick way to do it is just hit Cmd + comma on your keyboard.

Then navigate to signatures and select it. The option should be at the bottom of the menu on the left of the Preferences window. On the right-hand side, there is an Identities & Trusted Certificates option. Click on the More button and choose Digital ID Files in the next window.

Now, it is only a matter of choosing the file and also detaching it to allow more actions.

Acrobat X

In Acrobat X, things are a bit easier, if the action is basically the same.

Navigate to the Tools tab and click the “Sign & Certify” option to reveal more actions. Choose “More Sign & Certify”. And then click on Security Settings in the pop-up window.

There you will find the option to detach the ID file and also get more editing options

Third-Party Software | Remove the Signature

It is obvious that the article covers the methods for Adobe Acrobat since it is the most popular tool for manipulating PDFs and signatures. If you are using any other app, the option to remove the signature is pretty much the same.

Select the writing, right-click on it, and choose to Remove or Delete from the menu. It is worth noting that there are also mobile applications. Such as DocuSign that makes the actions easy on your smartphone or tablet. But do you really need third-party software?

The quick answer is iPhone users do not need it and the same may apply to some Android smartphones. For the purposes of this article, we will show you what is available on an iPhone. Open a PDF document on your phone and tap on the pin icon in the top right corner of the screen. Hit the plus icon in the bottom right corner and then select Signature.

You can add, resize, or delete a signature from your iPhone. But if the document comes with a signature from Acrobat or other apps. You won’t be able to delete it this way.

Sign Your Name

So, as you can see, deleting a signature from PDF is pretty straightforward. And all is not lost, even if the document is locked. Additionally, you get most of the options on the Android and iOS Acrobat app.

Conclusion

Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this Remove the Signature article and find it helpful to you. Also if you guys have further queries related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.

Have a Great Day!

Also See: How to Use the House Party on MacOS – Steps

About the author

Windy Moore

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