---
title: "Someone sent you a PDFBetter link: what it is and what to do"
description: "Got an email or link from PDFBetter? See whether it's a document to sign, a form to fill, a shared file or a phone signature link, and what to do next."
url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/got-a-link-from-pdfbetter/
collection: "Getting started"
section: "Got a link from someone?"
updated: 2026-10-18
publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)"
---

# Someone sent you a PDFBetter link: what it is and what to do

> PDFBetter is the tool the sender used. You don't need an account, an app or a payment to sign, fill or view what they sent. Look at the email or link to see which kind it is, then follow the matching article below.

Someone used PDFBetter to send you a document. The email names the sender, and replying to it goes to them, not to PDFBetter. If you weren't expecting it, you can ignore it or reply to ask what it is.

## Which kind of link is it?

| What you got | What it is | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| An email saying **… sent you “…” to sign** (or **to approve**), with a **Review and sign** button | A signature request just for you | Open it, agree to sign electronically, fill your fields and click **Finish**. See [What signers see](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/what-signers-see/). |
| A link with `/f/` in it, often on a website or as a QR code | A form anyone with the link can fill | Answer the questions and click **Submit**. See [Fill out a form someone sent you](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/fill-out-form-sent-to-you/). |
| A link with `/s/` in it | A shared document to read, comment on, fill or edit | Open it in your browser. See [What people see when they open your link](https://help.pdfbetter.com/sharing/shared-link-recipient-view/). |
| An email titled **Draw your signature** with a **Draw my signature** button | A one-time link to draw a signature on your phone, started from a computer | Only use it if you started it yourself. See [Draw your signature on your phone](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/sign-with-phone-qr-code/). |
| An email with a PDF attached or a download link | A document the sender emailed you from PDFBetter | Open the attachment or the link. See [Email a PDF from PDFBetter](https://help.pdfbetter.com/sharing/email-pdf-from-pdfbetter/). |
| An email saying **… invited you to … on PDFBetter** | An invitation to join someone's team | Accept it to work in their team. See [Invite people to your team](https://help.pdfbetter.com/teams/invite-team-members/). |

## Do I need an account or to pay?

No. Signing, approving, declining, asking for a paper copy, filling a form and opening a shared link are free for recipients, and none of them needs an account. The only exceptions are links the sender restricted to specific people: those ask you to sign in with the email address they invited.

If you'd like to keep track of what people send you, [create a free account](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/create-account-keep-drafts/) with the same email address. Requests sent to that address then collect under **Received**, and documents shared with you for editing under **Shared with me**.

## Is it safe?

- Real PDFBetter links start with `https://pdfbetter.com/`. Check the address before you enter anything.
- Signing links are personal. Don't forward them; the email says so. If a second person must sign, ask the sender to add them.
- PDFBetter never asks recipients for a card number or a payment to sign, fill or view a document. A link may ask for a document password or a code the sender gave you, or ask you to sign in if the sender limited it to your email address.
- Not sure? Reply to the email and ask the sender, or [contact us](https://pdfbetter.com/contact/).

### The link says it couldn't be opened, expired or isn't my turn.

See [A signing or form link won't open](https://help.pdfbetter.com/troubleshooting/signing-or-form-link-wont-open/).

### I signed. Where's my copy?

When everyone has finished, we email you the signed PDF and the Certificate of Completion. Download links in that email work for 7 days, so save a copy.

### I didn't get the email the sender says they sent.

Check spam and promotions, then ask them to resend it. More in [Emails aren't arriving](https://help.pdfbetter.com/troubleshooting/emails-not-arriving/).

## Related articles

- [What signers see, and how to sign or decline](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/what-signers-see.md): Signers open Review and sign in the email, agree to use electronic records, fill the fields in their color and select Finish (approvers select Approve). No account or app is needed. They can also choose Decline or I'd rather use paper, which closes the request.
- [Fill out a form someone sent you as a link](https://help.pdfbetter.com/forms/fill-out-form-sent-to-you.md): Open the link, answer the questions in Form view or straight on the page in PDF view, and click Submit. You don't need an account or an app. Your answers go only to the person who shared the form.
- [What people see when they open your link](https://help.pdfbetter.com/sharing/shared-link-recipient-view.md): The link opens the document in the browser with "Shared by" your name. Depending on the permission, people can comment, fill fields and click Send to …, open it in the editor, or Download it. Passwords and named-people limits are checked first.
- [A signing or form link says expired, canceled or not your turn](https://help.pdfbetter.com/troubleshooting/signing-or-form-link-wont-open.md): The message on the page says why. Not your turn yet means others sign first and you'll get an email. Expired, canceled or declined means the request is closed and the sender has to send a new one. We couldn't open this link usually means a newer link replaced it.
- [Signing and notification emails aren't arriving](https://help.pdfbetter.com/troubleshooting/emails-not-arriving.md): Check spam, promotions and quarantine first; PDFBetter sends from no-reply@pdfbetter.com. If a signer didn't get an invitation, open the request under Sent, check Activity, and use New link / fix email to correct the address and send a new link.

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Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/got-a-link-from-pdfbetter/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com
