Signing a document through DocuSign takes about two minutes and doesn’t require you to create an account. You’ll receive an email with a link, follow a series of guided prompts, place your signature where indicated, and click Finish. Here’s exactly how the process works on both desktop and mobile.
What You Need Before You Start
You don’t need a DocuSign account to sign a document someone sends you. All you need is access to your email and a supported web browser. DocuSign works with the latest stable versions of Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari on both desktop and mobile. On your computer, you’ll want Windows 10 or newer, or macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or newer. On a phone or tablet, Android 10 or newer and iOS 14 or newer are supported.
Make sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled in your browser, which they are by default for most people. If you’re on a corporate network with strict firewall settings, your IT team may need to allow traffic from DocuSign’s servers.
Signing on a Computer
Open the email from DocuSign and click the yellow “Review Document” button. This opens the document directly in your browser. You’ll first see a disclosure about using electronic records and signatures. Read it and click “Continue” to proceed.
Once the document loads, you can scroll through the pages or use the thumbnail navigation pane on the right side to review everything before signing. When you’re ready, click the yellow “Start” tag on the left side of the screen. This jumps you to the first field that needs your attention.
Click each highlighted field to fill it in. Some fields may ask for your name, date, or other information the sender has requested. When you reach a signature field, clicking it opens a window where you create your signature (more on your options below). After you place your signature, DocuSign automatically advances you to the next required field. Once every required field is complete, click the “Finish” button at the top or bottom of the page. You’ll receive a confirmation email with a copy of the signed document.
Signing on Your Phone
The mobile process is nearly identical. Open the DocuSign email in your phone’s email app and tap “Review Document.” If you don’t have the DocuSign app installed, your phone’s browser handles everything automatically. You’ll agree to the electronic signature disclosure, then tap “Next” in the upper right corner of the screen to jump to the first field you need to complete.
Fill out each required field by tapping on it. When you reach the signature field, tap it to sign. If you’re using the DocuSign mobile app, you may be prompted to rotate your phone to landscape orientation to draw your signature. If your phone won’t rotate, check that auto-rotation is enabled in your device settings. Tap “Finish” once all fields are filled in.
Three Ways to Create Your Signature
The first time you tap or click a signature field, DocuSign asks you to adopt a signature. You have three options, though the sender can restrict which ones are available.
- Choose a predefined style. DocuSign generates a signature from your name using a stylized font. Verify that your full name and initials are correct, then click “Change Style” to scroll through different font options until you find one you like. This is the fastest method.
- Draw your signature. Select the “Draw” tab and use your mouse, finger, or stylus to write your signature freehand. If it doesn’t look right, click “Clear” to reset the field and try again.
- Upload an image. Select the “Upload” tab and browse to an image file of your signature on your device. The file must be a GIF, JPG, PNG, or BMP, with a maximum size of 3MB. For the best results, use an image that’s roughly 400 by 150 pixels. After uploading, you can resize and rotate the image using the on-screen controls: drag the small white squares to adjust the dimensions, use the slider to scale it up or down, or click “Rotate” to turn it 90 degrees.
Whichever method you choose, DocuSign saves your signature for the current signing session. If you have a DocuSign account, it saves across future sessions too.
If the Finish Button Doesn’t Appear
The most common reason the Finish button is missing is that you still have unfilled required fields somewhere in the document. Click the yellow navigation tag to cycle through every required field and make sure each one is complete. It’s easy to miss a field on a long document, especially an initials box tucked at the bottom of a page.
If the document won’t load at all or behaves strangely, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, then reload the page. Switching to a different browser can also resolve display issues. If the document is temporarily inaccessible, the sender may be making corrections to it. Wait a few minutes and try again.
If You Never Received the Email
DocuSign notifications sometimes get caught by spam filters or corporate email security. Check your junk and spam folders first. If the email isn’t there, confirm with the sender that they have your correct email address and ask them to resend the document. To prevent future filtering, add docusign.net to your email’s trusted senders list.
Printing and Signing by Hand
If you prefer to sign a physical copy, DocuSign offers a “Print & Sign” option, but only if the sender has enabled it. Look for it under the “Other Actions” menu while viewing the document. If it’s not there, click “Finish Later” to save your progress, then contact the sender and ask them to resend the envelope with that option turned on. You’ll print the document, sign it by hand, and fax or upload the completed pages back through DocuSign.