Configure digital signature preservation - New

Preserve existing digital signatures in uploaded PDF files for supported agreement workflows.

Adobe Acrobat Sign can preserve existing digital signatures in uploaded PDF files instead of flattening the signatures into a visual appearance. This helps organizations use a PDF that was digitally signed before upload and still requires additional signatures in Acrobat Sign.

When digital signature preservation is enabled, Acrobat Sign performs lightweight cryptographic validation on existing digital signatures in uploaded PDF documents. Signatures that pass validation are preserved when the agreement meets the requirements for digital signature preservation.

Before you begin

• Use this setting for workflows that start with a single uploaded PDF file that already contains a digital signature.
• Non-PDF files and agreements with multiple uploaded documents aren’t supported.
• Library templates, web forms, Send in Bulk, custom workflows, reusable field templates, in-person signer roles, Sign with witness, and Notarize transactions aren’t supported.
• Test common workflows before enabling the setting broadly, especially workflows that use integrations or API-based agreement creation.
• Preserved digital signatures can limit authoring options because adding fields or changing document content can invalidate the existing signature.

Configuration

Availability

• Acrobat Sign Solutions: Supported.
• Acrobat Sign for Government: Supported.
• Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Pro: Supported when digital signatures are available for the account.

Configuration scope

To access this setting, go to Account Settings > Digital Signatures > Digital Signature Preservation.

Digital signature preservation can be configured at the account and group levels.

• Group-level settings override account-level settings.
• Default value: Disabled.

Dependencies

• Digital signatures must be enabled for the account.

Changing this setting does not change agreements that are already created. The setting is evaluated when a sender creates a new agreement.

Controls

Preserve existing digital signatures in uploaded PDF files

When enabled, Acrobat Sign performs lightweight cryptographic validation on existing digital signatures in the uploaded PDF. Signatures that pass validation are preserved when the agreement meets the requirements for digital signature preservation.

When disabled, Acrobat Sign still performs lightweight cryptographic validation on existing digital signatures in uploaded PDFs. Signatures that pass validation are flattened during standard document processing, and only their visual appearance is preserved.

If an existing digital signature does not pass validation, Acrobat Sign displays an error and prevents agreement creation.

Supported agreement conditions

Digital signature preservation is supported only when the agreement meets the requirements.

Supported:

• The agreement contains a single uploaded PDF document.
• The uploaded PDF already contains a digital signature.
• The agreement is created through the web application, a supported integration, or the public API.
• API-created agreements meet the same eligibility requirements as agreements created through the web application.

Not supported:

• Multiple uploaded documents.
• Non-PDF files.
• Library templates.
• Web forms.
• Send in Bulk.
• Custom workflows.
• Reusable field templates.
• In-person signer roles.
• Sign with a witness.
• Notarize transactions.

If an agreement does not meet the requirements, Acrobat Sign prevents agreement creation and displays a message explaining what must be changed before the sender can continue.

How the setting works

When a sender uploads a PDF that contains an existing digital signature, Acrobat Sign checks whether the agreement meets the requirements for digital signature preservation.

• If the setting is enabled and the agreement meets the requirements, Acrobat Sign preserves the existing digital signature and prevents actions that could invalidate it.
• If the setting is disabled, Acrobat Sign uses standard document processing. Existing digital signatures that pass validation are flattened, and only their visual appearance is preserved.
• If the uploaded PDF contains an existing digital signature that does not pass validation, Acrobat Sign prevents agreement creation.

Authoring behavior

When digital signature preservation applies, the authoring experience limits the sender's available actions.

• Unsupported field types are filtered out.
• An informational message explains the available authoring options.
• Existing digital signatures are displayed but cannot be selected, edited, or otherwise interacted with.
• Switching to the classic authoring experience is blocked.

Audit Report behavior

The Audit Report indicates that the uploaded document already contained a digital signature.

The validation status, trust source, timestamp validation results, or other signature validation details are not included in this record.

Best practices

• Enable digital signature preservation only for groups that use workflows with a single pre-signed PDF.
• Use clearly defined workflows so senders know when digital signature preservation applies.
• Avoid combining digital signature preservation with workflows that use templates, reusable field layers, multiple files, bulk sending, or custom workflow automation.
• Confirm that integrations and API-based sending processes meet the same requirements as web-created agreements.
• Do not use digital signature preservation as a full signature validation solution. This performs lightweight cryptographic validation only.
• Review the completed agreement and Audit Report to confirm the agreement completed successfully.

Things to know

• Digital signature preservation applies when a sender creates a new agreement and uploads a PDF that contains an existing digital signature.
• Agreements that do not meet the requirements are blocked before creation so the sender can correct the agreement setup.
• When digital signature preservation applies, authoring options are limited to help prevent changes that could invalidate the preserved signature.
• Existing digital signatures are visible during authoring, but they can’t be selected, edited, or otherwise interacted with.
• Switching to the classic authoring experience is blocked when digital signature preservation applies.
• The Audit Report indicates that the uploaded document already contained a digital signature, but it doesn’t include validation status, trust source, timestamp validation results, or other signature validation details.
• Digital signature preservation performs lightweight cryptographic validation only. Do not use it as a full signature validation solution.