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Why Your PDF Signature Isn't Working

Frustrated with "signature invalid" errors? Certificate problems? Signatures that don't work across devices? You're not alone. Here's why it happens and how SignItPDF fixes these issues.

Common PDF Signature Problems

"At least one signature has problems"

This error appears when Adobe Acrobat can't verify the signature certificate or detects document modifications.

Common causes: Certificate trust issues, timestamp problems, document changes after signing

"Signature is invalid"

Your signature shows as invalid across different PDF viewers or when others open the document.

Common causes: Certificate expiration, cross-platform compatibility issues, viewer-specific problems

"Certificate not trusted"

PDF viewers don't recognize or trust the certificate used to create your signature.

Common causes: Self-signed certificates, expired CA certificates, missing certificate chain

"Document modified after signing"

Even minor changes to the PDF after signing can invalidate all signatures in the document.

Common causes: File compression, metadata changes, form field updates, viewer optimizations

Why Traditional PDF Signing Is So Problematic

1. Complex Certificate Management

Traditional PDF signing relies on digital certificates that must be properly installed, trusted, and maintained across all devices and PDF viewers. When certificates expire, are revoked, or aren't recognized by different software, signatures fail.

2. Cross-Platform Compatibility Issues

A signature that works in Adobe Acrobat might fail in other PDF viewers. Different software handles certificates and validation differently, leading to inconsistent results across devices and applications.

3. Document Integrity Sensitivity

PDF signatures are extremely sensitive to any document changes. Even automatic optimizations by email systems or cloud storage can invalidate signatures, making documents appear tampered with.

4. Server-Side Processing Risks

Many online PDF signers upload your documents to their servers, introducing additional points of failure, security risks, and potential document modifications that can break signature validation.

How SignItPDF Solves These Problems

Client-Side Processing

Your documents never leave your device. All signing happens locally in your browser, eliminating server-side risks and ensuring document integrity.

Universal Compatibility

SignItPDF creates signatures that work consistently across all PDF viewers, devices, and platforms without certificate dependencies.

No Certificate Required

Skip the complexity of certificate management. Our signatures are embedded directly into the PDF without relying on external certificate validation.

Tamper-Resistant

Our signatures remain valid even when documents are compressed, emailed, or processed by various systems, providing reliable long-term validity.

Traditional PDF Signing vs. SignItPDF

Traditional PDF Signing

  • ❌ Requires certificate installation
  • ❌ Cross-platform compatibility issues
  • ❌ Signatures often invalid across viewers
  • ❌ Document upload required
  • ❌ Complex certificate management
  • ❌ Frequent "signature has problems" errors

SignItPDF

  • ✅ No certificates needed
  • ✅ Works on all devices and viewers
  • ✅ Signatures always valid
  • ✅ Complete privacy - no uploads
  • ✅ Simple, intuitive process
  • ✅ Zero signature errors

Ready to Sign PDFs That Actually Work?

Stop wasting time with signatures that don't work. Try SignItPDF and experience reliable, error-free PDF signing that works every time, on every device.

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