Sign a Document Using Google Docs
Whether it’s for school, work, or just personal use, Google
Docs is an easy and convenient writing platform. As compared to Microsoft’s
Word processor, it might not have that many features and be dependent on a
working internet connection. However, it has plenty of other benefits that make
up for these drawbacks. For instance, it automatically saves your work and
backs it up on your Google drive, it has all the basic tools and features to
craft a simple document, and best of all, it’s free!
And to add on to that list, you can also sign a document using Google
docs! Here’s how.
How to Sign a Document
Using Google Docs
Especially if you’re running a business, you might have to
draft and sign multiple documents in a day. This can be a big hassle if you
have to print the document, add
a signature manually, scan the document, and then send it through just
to sign it properly.
Additionally, you can even type your name on the document,
and that can suffice as your signature. However, sometimes, the document is too
important or sensitive to add a signature like that. So, you need to sign the
document the proper way.
Method 1: Add a Drawing
This is the quickest and easiest way to add a signature to your
Google doc. First of all, you will need to create a space for the signature.
You can easily do this by typing out a dotted or straight line using the
underscore under the place where you want your signature to go. After that
comes the actual sign.
For this, you need to go to the Insert tab on the
top. Once you click this, you will see a drop-down menu. From this menu, choose
Drawing, which will open another menu. Then, select New. This
will prompt a new pop-up window to open.
This new window is where you can draw whatever you want to.
Some of the options available include inserting shapes and drawing straight
lines. However, you can’t add
a signature with those tools. Therefore, you want to click on the Line
option, which looks like a line with arrowheads on both ends.
When you click on this option, you see a drop-down menu.
Towards the end of this menu, there’s an option for Scribble, and that’s
what you want to select. This option lets you draw anything freehand. So, you
can comfortably draw your signature using your mouse or touchpad. The best part
is that unlike with ink and paper, you get unlimited attempts to get the
perfect signature. And you should try to get your best signature because it
will get saved for further use as well!
Once you think you’ve got the perfect signature, click on
the Save and Close option in the upper-right corner. After this, your
drawn signature will appear as an image in your Google doc. You can resize this
image to the right size and drag it to the right place. And there you have it! Now
you know how to add a signature to Google docs. Since your signature is saved,
now whenever you need to add a signature, you can select that drawing again and
use it as your signature.
If the document is just for personal use, you can simply
stop there. However, if you plan to send the document further or plan to print
it out, it’d be better to convert the document into a PDF. This will preserve
its formatting and ensure that everything stays the same even if other people
open it on their phones or other platforms.
Alternatively, if you have a Microsoft Word document and are
struggling to add a
signature there, you can use this same method. All you have to do is
import the Word document into Google docs and sign it following our
instructions. Then, you can download it as a Word document again and continue
working on it.
Method 2: Use Add-Ons
If you plan to send this document to someone else for their
signature or you want something more official and legally binding for a crucial
and sensitive document, you can opt for an add-on. Add-ons for adding
signatures to your Google doc are safer and better in this regard because they
have additional features.
For instance, they can note down the identity and time stamp
of the signature for security reasons. So, if you don’t want to take any risks
with your signature or document, you can install an add-on to your Google doc
from the Chrome
add-on store.
To do so, click on the Add-ons option in the Google
doc. From the drop-down menu, click on Get Add-ons. This will take you
to a new window with the Chrome store. Over here, you can choose a relevant
add-on. Some add-ons which are great for adding a signature include:
·
PandaDoc
·
DocuSign
·
Dotted: Signature Creator
·
BitSign
·
PDFfiller
·
Signaturit
·
SignOnline
·
ScripTouch and Sign and
Save
·
HelloSign
·
Sign Request for Google
Docs
You can search for the add-on from the search bar and
install it. After installation, it will appear in your Add-ons menu. Now,
whenever you want to add a
signature, select the add-on from the Add-ons menu and follow its
instructions to add your signature. The first time you run the add-on, it will
ask for permissions. Click on Continue to use the add-on.
Conclusion
While we have shown you how to sign a document using Google docs, it is not an
official feature of the word processor yet. Therefore, you might find it
difficult to do so from the Google docs app on your phone. If you really need
to add a signature
through your phone, you might need to install and use a third-party app or
add-on.
However, these are not always free, and some might even
leave their own watermark on the document. So, stick to the methods we’ve
described and sign the document only from your laptop or computer.
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