how to get green tick in digital signature in pdf

TL;DR

A green tick in a PDF signature area usually indicates a verified and valid electronic signature and certificate trust. Using signNow, users can prepare PDFs, apply compliant eSignatures, authenticate signers, and preserve an audit trail so recipients and reviewers see status indicators and verification metadata.

What the green tick means in PDFs

A green tick in a PDF indicates the document's signature can be cryptographically verified and the signing certificate is trusted by the PDF viewer. Think of it like a notary stamp replaced by software: the tick shows the signature matches the signer and the file is unchanged. In electronic workflows, platforms such as signNow create secure eSignatures, store signing metadata, and embed verification details so recipients and auditors can confirm integrity without needing paper records.

Legal standing and appropriate uses

Use signNow when closing remote sales contracts or collecting employee onboarding signatures at scale. Electronic signatures via compliant platforms meet ESIGN and UETA requirements in the United States and provide faster processing, consistent audit trails, and clear verification markers that simplify legal and administrative review.

Common obstacles to seeing a green tick

• PDF viewer trust settings block certificate validation and prevent the green tick from appearing.
• Unsigned or image-only signatures lack cryptographic data required for verification and a green indicator.
• Self-signed certificates are not trusted by viewers and often show warnings instead of a green tick.
• Missing audit metadata or altered files break integrity checks and remove verification indicators.

Who needs a verified digital signature

Organizations that require legal certainty and fast processing use verified eSignatures across functions.

• Real estate agents and brokers completing leases and closing documents remotely with traceable verification.
• Healthcare administrators collecting consent forms and HIPAA-protected signatures with BAA-backed signing workflows.
• Finance and legal teams executing contracts and approvals that must stand up to audit and compliance checks.

User roles in signature workflows

IT Administrator

An IT Administrator configures account-wide settings, SSO, and API keys, and enforces authentication policies. They map integrations with systems like Salesforce and NetSuite, set retention rules, and ensure encryption aligns with organizational security requirements.

Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel reviews signature processes for enforceability, confirms ESIGN and UETA compliance, drafts consent language, and validates the audit trail and certificate attributes to reduce litigation risk and ensure admissibility.

Security and compliance facts

In-transit encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3

At-rest encryption: AES-256

Audit and assurance: SOC 2 Type II

International standard: ISO 27001

Healthcare compliance: HIPAA, BAA required

Legal eSignature acts: ESIGN and UETA

Risks if verification fails

Invalid signature: May be unenforceable

Regulatory fines: Possible penalties

Reputational harm: Trust erosion

Contract disputes: Increased litigation

Operational delays: Rework required

Data breach exposure: Legal liability

Real-world examples using signNow

Practical instances show how verified eSignatures and visible indicators accelerate workflows in small and large organizations.

Optica Ventures — COO

Optica Ventures adopted signNow to reduce in-person handoffs and simplify customer signing processes.

• The interface is simple and easy-to-use for both staff and clients.
• That ease reduced back-and-forth and improved turnaround on agreements.

Resulting in faster closings and higher customer convenience while preserving audit logs and signature verification for future reference.

Tech Data — CEO

Tech Data integrated airSlate SignNow to centralize contract execution and internal approvals.

• The team used templates and automated routing across departments.
• This cut manual processing and eliminated postal delays for signed documents.

Leading to improved internal response times, clearer compliance records, and consistent verification indicators on executed PDFs across teams.

Step-by-step: get the green tick with signNow

Follow these clear actions to prepare a PDF so that viewers show a verification mark when the file is signed and validated.

• 01
  Upload Document: Open signNow, click Upload, and select the PDF file from your computer or cloud storage.
• 02
  Add Signature Fields: In the editor, drag Signature fields to the required lines and assign signer roles and order.
• 03
  Set Authentication: Enable email verification or two-factor to confirm signer identity before sending for signature.
• 04
  Send for Signature: Use Send for Signature, enter recipient emails, include instructions, and send with reminders configured.

How sending and signing produce verification

A correct signing flow embeds cryptographic data and metadata so PDF viewers can detect document integrity and show verification indicators.

• Prepare in Editor: Place signature and form fields, and lock fields as needed before sending.
• Authenticate Signer: Require email confirmation, SMS code, or SSO to verify identity.
• Apply Cryptographic Seal: The platform timestamps and records signature cryptographic hash in the document.
• Preserve Audit Trail: Store event logs and certificate attributes for later validation and audit.

Essential features that enable the green tick

Key platform capabilities ensure signed PDFs contain the data needed for viewer verification, trust chains, and visible confirmation marks.

Legally Binding eSignatures

Creates signatures compliant with ESIGN and UETA by capturing signer intent, producing tamper-evident signatures, and attaching timestamps and signer metadata that PDF viewers can use to show verified status.

Audit Trail

Generates a detailed event log with timestamps, IP addresses, and signer actions so auditors and recipients can confirm the signing sequence and validate integrity against the embedded signature hash in the PDF.

Signer Authentication

Supports email, SMS, phone, and SSO authentication options to confirm signer identity, reduce fraud risk, and increase the likelihood that PDF viewers will trust the signature certificate and display verification markers.

Document Templates

Store reusable templates with pre-placed signature and form fields to standardize signing flows, reduce errors, and ensure each signed PDF includes consistent verification metadata and branding.

Best practices to ensure the green tick appears

Follow these recommended steps to maximize the chance a PDF viewer will display a green verification tick and to maintain legal defensibility.

Enable strong signer authentication methods

Require two-factor or SSO where available, and validate signer contact details before sending to reduce impersonation risk and strengthen certificate trust in the signed PDF.

Use platform audit trails and timestamps

Keep complete, immutable logs of when documents were sent, viewed, and signed so verification checks have supporting evidence if signature validity is questioned.

Avoid image-only signatures in PDFs

Use eSignature fields that embed cryptographic hashes rather than pasted images so PDF viewers can cryptographically verify integrity and present a trusted indicator.

Deliver final signed PDF with embedded metadata

Provide recipients with the signed PDF and the platform's verification report to enable easy validation and to ensure the viewer can display the green tick when supported.

Advanced capabilities for reliable verification

Beyond basic signing, these capabilities improve security, automate processes, and make signed PDFs verifiable across tools and organizations.

Bulk Send

Send a single template to many recipients at once with individualized fields and automated tracking so each returned PDF contains embedded verification data and separate audit entries.

API Access

Use signNow API to integrate signing into custom systems, programmatically create envelopes, and ensure returned PDFs include consistent verification metadata for downstream processing.

Conditional Fields

Show or hide fields based on input to ensure only required elements are present, reducing signing errors and preserving clear verification markers in the final PDF.

Mobile Signing

Allow signers to complete documents on iOS and Android apps, capturing device metadata and preserving cryptographic signatures for verifier display across devices.

Offline Signing

Support signing when offline with later synchronization so the cryptographic signature and timestamp are applied and the PDF contains verifiable evidence after upload.

Third-party Integrations

Connect with CRMs, cloud storage, and ERPs to route signed PDFs with embedded verification data directly into business systems for archiving and compliance.

Manage audit trails and verification records

Use these actions to capture, review, and preserve the information required for PDF signature verification and audit readiness.

01

Enable Detailed Logging:

Turn on full-event logging for signatures and access events.

02

Attach Timestamps:

Ensure each signature includes a trusted timestamp for non-repudiation.

03

Export Audit Reports:

Download audit logs in PDF or CSV for recordkeeping.

04

Preserve Signed PDFs:

Store final signed PDFs with embedded metadata securely.

05

Verify Certificate Chains:

Check the certificate chain for trust status before archiving.

06

Retain Compliance Logs:

Keep logs according to retention policy for audits.

FAQs about green tick and verification issues

Answers to common problems when a PDF fails to display a verification mark or when signature validation appears unclear.

• Why does my PDF not show a green tick?
  Some PDF viewers require the signing certificate to be trusted locally; if the certificate is self-signed or the viewer blocks remote validation, the green tick may not appear. Ensure the signed PDF contains embedded signature metadata and advise recipients to use a viewer capable of certificate validation or to import the signing certificate into the trust store.
• How do I confirm a signature's certificate chain?
  Open the signature panel in a compatible PDF viewer and inspect certificate details for issuer and validity. Confirm the signer certificate chains to a trusted root and that timestamps and hashes match the stored audit trail. If needed, export the certificate and consult your PKI administrator for validation.
• What to do if the audit trail is missing
  Check the signNow account settings to ensure audit logging is enabled and that the document was sent through the platform rather than exported prior to signing. If logs are absent, check account activity and contact administrator to retrieve preserved events or reissue signing through signNow with proper logging enabled.
• Signer cannot complete the signature
  Verify the recipient's authentication method, browser compatibility, and field placement. Recommend an alternate authentication route such as SMS or SSO, and resend the document. Ensure mobile app users have the latest version installed to avoid compatibility issues.
• Received file shows signature warnings
  Warnings often indicate an altered file, expired certificate, or untrusted signer certificate. Compare the PDF's signature hash against the platform audit entry, confirm certificate validity dates, and reissue signing if the file integrity cannot be confirmed.
• Where can I download the signed copy and report?
  In signNow, access the completed document from the Documents or Completed folder, download the signed PDF, and export the audit report. Retain both files in secure storage for compliance and future verification needs.

Supported platforms and requirements

signNow works via modern browsers, native mobile apps, and APIs to handle signing and verification tasks across environments.

• Web browsers supported: Chrome, Edge, Safari
• Mobile applications: iOS and Android
• API and integrations: REST API available

For best results, use updated browsers or the signNow mobile apps, ensure PDF viewers support certificate validation, and confirm API integrations preserve signature metadata during document handling and storage.

Typical workflow configuration for verification

These settings illustrate a common signNow workflow designed to produce verifiable signed PDFs and preserve audit data for compliance.

Workflow Setting Name and Configuration	Default Value
Reminder Frequency for Signature Follow-ups	48 hours
Signing Order and Role Assignment	Sequential
Signer Authentication Method Enforced	Email OTP
Audit Trail Retention Policy	7 years
Document Storage Location	Cloud

Feature comparison: verification-relevant items

Compare core verification features across signNow, DocuSign, and Adobe Sign that influence whether a PDF will display trusted indicators and maintain audit records.

Feature Criteria Compared: signNow vs Others	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign
Two-factor signer authentication available
Detailed audit trail provided
HIPAA-ready with BAA
Envelope cap or usage limits	no cap	100 env./yr	varies

Pricing and verification-relevant features

Prices and plan features as of the latest published information; compare starting costs and whether common verification features are included or require higher tiers.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo, annual	$8/user/mo, annual	$13/user/mo, annual	$19/user/mo, annual	$15/user/mo, annual
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Trial varies by plan	Trial varies by plan	Trial varies by plan	Trial varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes, Business Premium	Yes, select plans	Yes, select plans	Yes, available	Limited availability
Audit Trail	Yes, full audit trail	Yes, audit logs	Yes, audit logs	Yes, audit logs	Yes, audit logs
HIPAA Compliant	Yes, BAA required	Yes, BAA required	Yes, BAA required	Contact sales	Contact sales
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	No cap stated	No cap stated