Open the PDF containing the signature and select Signatures from the right panel.
Last updated on
Sep 23, 2025
Learn how to validate digital signatures to ensure document integrity in Adobe Acrobat.
You can validate a signature in a signed document to verify the authenticity of the signer and the signed content. To verify authenticity, you can check if the signer’s certificate or its parent certificates are trusted.
Validate signatures
Select Options in the Signatures panel and select Validate Signatures.
In the Signature Validation Status dialog box, review the validation details of the signature.
To check the details about the signer’s certificate, select Signature Properties and then select Show Signer’s certificate.
To review the signature timestamp, open the Signatures pane and select Valid Certified Document. One of the following messages may appear:
- Signature time are from the clock on the signer’s computer: The time is based on the local time on the signer’s computer.
- Signature is time-stamped: The signer used a Timestamp Server, and your settings indicate that you have a trust relationship with that timestamp server.
- Signature is time-stamped but the timestamp couldn’t be verified: Timestamp verification requires obtaining the timestamp server’s certificate to your list of trusted identities. Check with your system administrator.
- Signature is time-stamped but the timestamp has expired: This is displayed if the timestamp signer’s certificate expires before the current time.
Note
To accept an expired timestamp, Select Menu (Windows) or Acrobat (macOS) > Preferences > Signatures. Select More under Verification option, and then select Use expired timestamps in the Signature Verification Preferences dialog box.
Validate all digital signatures
Open the PDF for which you want to validate all digital signatures.
Select All tools from the global bar.
Select Use a certificate > Validate all signatures.
Select OK. A confirmation text is displayed once all the signatures are validated.
