How to remove a digital signature from a PDF
Reviewed November 11, 2026
If you are the only signer and the PDF allows changes, you may be able to clear your own certificate signature in Adobe Acrobat. For a locked document or a signature from someone else, request an unsigned original.
Clear your own signature in Adobe Acrobat
Open the PDF in desktop Acrobat and locate your signature. Right-click the signature field and choose Clear Signature if the command is available. Review the result and save it as a separate copy so you can retain the signed original.
If Clear Signature is missing or the PDF is locked
Check that the digital ID in Acrobat matches the one used to sign. If another person signed, ask the signer to clear their signature or ask the sender for an unsigned original. A lock or document certification can restrict edits even for the original signer.
Tell a digital signature from a visible mark
Check Acrobat’s Signatures panel for a certificate signature. A visible mark alone may be an annotation, an inserted image or part of a scan. The local PDF tool checks for certificate indicators and stops editing when it detects them. Acrobat can show certificate details and validation status.
Remove a selectable annotation from an unsigned copy
Open an unsigned PDF in the local tool and check the list of supported annotations. Select the mark, preview the affected page and download an edited copy. Marks embedded in the page image require a different workflow.