How to fill out a PDF form
on your iPad.
Applications, permission slips and onboarding packs are easier to fill on an iPad: the page is close to paper size and you can sign with Apple Pencil. Here's how to fill out any PDF form on iPad with eSign, including forms that have no fillable fields.
Updated By Alina Bohuslavska, maker of eSign
Open the form in eSign, tap +, choose Form field and pick Text, Date, Checkbox, Radio, Dropdown, Initials or Signature. Place each field on its blank, fill it in, and use Next field to move through the form. Tap Share to send the finished PDF.
Fill a form on iPad in four steps
- 1
Open the form
Tap Sign a document and choose a PDF, Word file or image in Files, pick a photo, or scan a paper form with the iPad camera. You can also tap Share on an attachment in Mail and choose eSign.
- 2
Add a field on each blank
Tap +, then Form field, and pick the field type. Drag it onto the blank and resize it with the corner handle. eSign counts how many fields are still empty.
- 3
Fill it in, or autofill it
Tap a field to type. Your name, address or today's date can come from your autofill profile with one tap. Draw signatures and initials with Apple Pencil or your finger.
- 4
Review and share
Tap Next field until every field is filled, then Review and Share. Send it as a PDF, or as a Flattened PDF so the entries can't be changed.
Fill PDFs that aren't fillable
Many forms arrive as flat PDFs or scans with lines to write on, so there's nothing to tap into. In eSign you place your own fields exactly where the blanks are, which makes any page fillable on your iPad.
Field types you can add
- Text for names, addresses and anything else typed
- Date, with today's date one tap away
- Checkbox and radio buttons for yes/no and multiple choice
- Dropdown for a fixed list of answers
- Initials and signature fields, drawn with Apple Pencil or your finger
Reuse a form you fill often
Save the field layout of a timesheet, invoice or monthly report as a template. Next time, apply the template and only the values change.
Same app on iPhone and Mac
eSign is one app for iPhone and iPad, and there's a Mac version too. One Pro purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac with the same Apple ID. You can fill your first 2 documents for free, with no account.
Common questions
What's the best way to fill out a PDF form on iPad?
Use an app that lets you add your own fields, so flat PDFs and scans work too. In eSign you tap +, choose Form field, place it on the blank and fill it in, then share the finished PDF.
Can I fill a PDF form on iPad if it isn't fillable?
Yes. eSign lets you add text, date, checkbox, radio, dropdown, initials and signature fields anywhere on the page.
Can I sign the form with Apple Pencil?
Yes. Draw your signature or initials with Apple Pencil once, save it, and place it on any form.
Can I fill in a paper form on my iPad?
Yes. Scan it with the iPad camera from Sign a document, then add fields on the scan and fill them in.
Are my forms sent anywhere?
They're never sent to us. With iCloud Drive on, they sync through your own private iCloud between your iPhone, iPad and Mac; with it off, they stay on your device.
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