How do I check if a digital signature is valid in Acrobat?

Open the PDF document with the signature. Click directly on the digital signature in the document. Acrobat will show a message about the signature's validity and signer. Check the details to confirm the signature is trusted and has not been changed.

If a digital signature says 'valid but with warnings', what should I do?

Check the warning details. It might be about an expired certificate or a change after signing. Look at the certificate information to see who signed it and when. Verify the certificate's trust. If it's from an unknown source, it might not be fully reliable. Contact the signer if you are unsure about the validity or the warning message. Ask for clarification.

What is the difference between a digital signature and an electronic signature?

Feature Digital Signature Electronic Signature. Security Uses encryption and certificates for high security. Can be simple like a typed name or scanned image. Verification Can be validated to prove signer identity and document integrity. Often relies on context or audit trails for proof. Technology Based on PKI (Public Key Infrastructure). Broader term, can be any electronic mark of intent.

Run Renewal Audit Trail in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

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CDecide — “help me choose”Compliance asked for an audit trail of all agreements signed in Q2 and I have until tomorrow to…+

Compliance asked for an audit trail of all agreements signed in Q2 and I have until tomorrow to deliver it. Agreements live in multiple places and some were countersigned outside the main system. I don't know where to pull complete logs. Tell me which three places I must check first, the order to check them in, and a fast way to reconcile differences so I can hand over a defensible report.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the PDF document containing the digital signature you want to validate.
2
Locate the signature field or signature panel in the document.
3
Click directly on the digital signature or open the signature panel and select the signature you wish to validate.
4
In the signature details popup, click Signature Properties.
5
In the Signature Properties dialog, click Show Certificate to review certificate details if needed.
6
Close the certificate window, then click Validate Signature in the Signature Properties dialog.
Best practiceIf the signature status shows as 'Unknown' or 'Not Valid', check if the signer's certificate needs to be added to your list of trusted identities.
7
Review the validation result displayed in the Signature Properties dialog.

In the appWith the API

You can view detailed information about the signature's validity and certificate by clicking on the signature and opening Signature Properties.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

CertificateAn electronic file that proves a person's or organization's identity online, like a digital ID card.ExampleYour certificate confirms your identity when you access secure online government services.

Long Term Validation (LTV)Information added to a digital signature to keep it valid even if the signer's certificate expires later.

Who does this

3 roles

Contract ManagerLegal AssistantCompliance Officer

FAQ

about this task

Open the PDF document with the signature.
Click directly on the digital signature in the document.
Acrobat will show a message about the signature's validity and signer.
Check the details to confirm the signature is trusted and has not been changed.

A trusted identity is a certificate source that your Acrobat program believes is real and secure. It matters because Acrobat uses this trust to decide if a digital signature is valid. If a signature comes from an untrusted source, Acrobat cannot confirm it is real or safe. You can manage these trusted identities in your Acrobat settings to ensure only known sources are accepted, protecting you from fake signatures.

Check the warning details. It might be about an expired certificate or a change after signing.
Look at the certificate information to see who signed it and when.
Verify the certificate's trust. If it's from an unknown source, it might not be fully reliable.
Contact the signer if you are unsure about the validity or the warning message. Ask for clarification.

Long Term Validation (LTV) is important because it makes sure a digital signature stays valid even after the signer's certificate expires. Without LTV, a signature might become invalid over time, making it hard to prove its authenticity in the future. LTV embeds all necessary validation information, like timestamps and revocation status, directly into the PDF at the time of signing. This means you can verify the signature's status years later, without needing to connect to external servers, which is crucial for legal and archival documents.

Feature	Digital Signature	Electronic Signature
Security	Uses encryption and certificates for high security.	Can be simple like a typed name or scanned image.
Verification	Can be validated to prove signer identity and document integrity.	Often relies on context or audit trails for proof.
Technology	Based on PKI (Public Key Infrastructure).	Broader term, can be any electronic mark of intent.

Run Renewal Audit Trail

When to use it

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How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

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