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.
Updated 2 min read
On this page (4)
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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.
Tools in this article
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Related articles
- Request signatures from other peopleOpen 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 codeIn 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 trailWhen 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 arrivingCheck spam, promotions and quarantine first; PDFBetter sends from [email protected]. 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.