To sign a Google Doc, click where the signature should go, choose Insert > Drawing > New, open the Line menu in the drawing toolbar, select Scribble, and write your signature with your mouse or trackpad. Click Save and close to place it in the document. For a neater signature, insert a photo or scan of your handwritten signature with Insert > Image. If you have an eligible Google Workspace plan, Google Docs also has built-in eSignature for requesting legally tracked signatures from others.
Below are the steps for each method and when to use each one.
Method 1: Draw your signature
- Open the document and click where you want to sign.
- Click Insert > Drawing > + New.
- Click the arrow next to the Line tool and choose Scribble.
- Hold the mouse button and write your signature. Release to finish each stroke.
- Use the line weight and color buttons to make it look like ink, such as 2 px in dark blue.
- Click Save and close.
- Resize the signature with its corner handles and use the wrapping options below it to position it.
To edit it later, click the signature and click Edit.
Method 2: Insert a signature image
- Sign your name on white paper with a dark pen.
- Take a photo or scan it, and crop it tightly.
- In Google Docs, click Insert > Image and upload the file, or choose it from Drive.
- Resize it and set wrapping to In front of text to place it on a signature line.
Save the image in Google Drive so you can reuse it in other documents.
Method 3: Use Google Docs eSignature
On eligible Google Workspace plans, you can add signature fields and request signatures:
- Open the document and click Tools > eSignature.
- Drag Signature, Date signed and other fields into the document.
- Click Request signature, add the signers’ email addresses, and send.
Signers get an email and can sign without a Google account. Google creates a signed PDF with an audit trail. If you don’t see eSignature in the Tools menu, your account type doesn’t include it.
Method 4: Sign as a PDF
Download the document with File > Download > PDF document, then sign it in a PDF app such as Adobe Acrobat Reader’s Fill & Sign. This is useful when the recipient needs a PDF.
Which method to use
| Method | Best for | Proof of who signed |
|---|---|---|
| Drawn signature | Quick informal documents | No |
| Signature image | Documents you sign often | No |
| Google eSignature | Contracts and agreements | Yes, with an audit trail |
| PDF app | Forms returned as PDFs | Depends on the app |
Sign on a phone
The Google Docs mobile app can’t insert drawings. On a phone, insert a signature image with + > Image, or open the document in a mobile browser in desktop mode.
Related: sign a Word document on Android.
Related: sign a Word document electronically.
Frequently asked questions
Is a drawn signature in Google Docs legally binding?
Electronic signatures are accepted in many situations, but rules vary. For important agreements, use eSignature or a dedicated e-signature service that records who signed and when.
Can I save my drawn signature to reuse?
Not directly. Copy the drawing into a “signatures” document in your Drive and paste it when needed, or use an image instead.
How do I stop people from moving my signature?
Share the document as view-only or send it as a PDF.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.