--- title: "What signers see, and how to sign or decline" description: "Signers need no account: they open the emailed link, agree to sign electronically, fill their fields and select Finish, or decline or ask for paper." url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/what-signers-see/ collection: "eSignatures" section: "For signers" updated: 2026-10-18 publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)" --- # What signers see, and how to sign or decline > 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. Do it in PDFBetter: https://pdfbetter.com/app/received/ 1. **Open the email**: The invitation names the sender and the document title. Select **Review and sign** (or **Review document** for approvers). The link is personal; don't forward it. 2. **Confirm it's you, if asked**: If the sender set a check, enter the 6-digit code we email you or the access code they gave you. 3. **Agree to sign electronically**: Read **Before you start**, use **Open the PDF** to check it opens on your device, tick the agreement and select **Continue to the document**. 4. **Fill your fields**: Your fields are marked in your color; other people's are shown dashed. **Next field** moves through them, and a counter shows how many required fields are done. 5. **Finish**: Select **Finish** (or **Approve**). You'll see **You're done — thank you**, and when everyone has finished you get the signed PDF and the Certificate of Completion by email. ## What happens in the background When a signer opens the request, their browser creates a signing key that stays on their device. When they finish, it signs a statement tying the document's fingerprint to exactly what they entered, and PDFBetter certifies that key. The signer doesn't have to do anything for this. The consent screen also tells them that the time, IP address and device type are recorded for the audit trail. ## Declining or asking for paper **Decline** and **I'd rather use paper** are on the consent screen, and under **More options** while signing. Either one closes the request for everyone: the sender is told (with the reason, if given) and nobody else is asked to sign. Asking for paper tells the sender you'd like to sign a paper copy instead. Withdrawing doesn't undo a signature that's already complete. ## Signing order If the sender chose **In order** and someone signs before you, you'll see **Not your turn yet**. You don't need to keep the page open; we email you when it's your turn. Approvers review and approve instead of signing, and people who get a copy only receive the finished documents. ## Seeing requests in your account You never need an account to sign. If you have one, **Received** in the sidebar collects every request sent to your confirmed email address: **Waiting for you**, **Coming up** (your turn comes after others) and **History**, with a **Sign**, **Review** or **View** button on each. ### The link says it couldn't be opened. The request may have been canceled, expired or replaced with a new link. Reply to the invitation email and ask the sender to resend it. ### I need to use a different email address. Reply to the invitation and ask the sender to resend the request to the new address. They can do that with **New link / fix email**. ### Does PDFBetter charge signers anything? No. Signing, declining and asking for a paper copy are free for recipients. ## Related articles - [Request signatures from other people](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/request-signatures.md): Open the document and switch to Invite to sign. Add each recipient's name, email and role, choose In order or All at once, place each person's fields, then choose Send, check the title, message, reminders and expiry, and select Send. - [Verify signers with an email code or an access code](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/verify-signers-email-code-access-code.md): In Invite to sign, open a recipient and tick Verify with an email code (every plan) or Require an access code (Pro and Business). A forwarded signing link alone then won't open the document. - [The signed PDF, Certificate of Completion and audit trail](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/signed-pdf-certificate-audit-trail.md): When everyone finishes, each person gets the signed PDF and a Certificate of Completion. Both are digitally sealed and, when the time-stamping service is reachable, independently time-stamped. The signed PDF carries the signing evidence inside it, so changing one byte makes PDF readers flag the file. - [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. - [Are PDFBetter e-signatures legally valid?](https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/esignature-legality-and-evidence.md): Electronic signatures are generally accepted for most business documents in many countries, but some documents need more. Signature requests give every signer their own device key and a sealed, time-stamped PDF with the evidence built in. Whether that's enough depends on the law that applies to your document. - [Someone sent you a PDFBetter link: what it is and what to do](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/got-a-link-from-pdfbetter.md): 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. - [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. --- Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/signing/what-signers-see/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com