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How to sign a document on your iPhone using the markup tool in your Mail app

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You can easily sign documents and email them directly on your iPhone. Shutterstock
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In today's world, contracts are often expected to be signed digitally.

Luckily, the iPhone has a way to make this so easy that it might actually become your preferred method of signing any documents sent over email. 

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone Xs (From $999.99 at Best Buy)

How to sign a document on your iPhone

Using the markup tool, you can affix your signature to any document emailed to your Mail app in a valid format.

1. If the document was not sent to an email in your iPhone's Mail app, forward it to your address there. For more information, read our article, "How to add any email account to your iPhone.

2. Open the email and the attachment you need to sign. You may have to tap the document to download it first.

3. If there are lines set up for editing in the document, tap on those and your iPhone should allow you to type information in (printed name, date, or address).

4. To actually sign the document, tap the markup symbol (the pen-in-a-circle in the upper right corner).

5. At the bottom you should see an assortment of pens, then a plus ("+") sign. Tap on the plus sign.

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In the markup tool, tap the plus sign and then signature.  Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

6. Tap on Signature.

7. This will take you to a new screen with a signature line where you can draw your signature with your finger. When complete, hit done. This will also save your signature for the future.

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Sign your name and press Done.  Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

8. After hitting Done, you'll be sent back to your document where you can position your signature. 

9. Once your signature is in place, hit the markup symbol at the top to lock it in.

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Position your signature on the document and lock it in with the markup symbol in the upper right corner.  Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

10. Finally, hit "Done" in the upper left corner. 

Note that signing a document on your iPhone works best when it's a .pdf file.  The markup tool may not work on some files, such as ones in .docx format.

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Ryan Ariano grew up in Baltimore when the Macintosh was cutting edge, lived in Los Angeles as Blackberries gave way to iPhones, and now lives in Jackson Hole where his life is held together by Bluetooth. He writes on a wide range of topics but especially loves nerding out across the tech spectrum. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.