Create self-signed digital IDs

Last updated on Aug 16, 2025

Learn how to create a self-signed digital ID in Adobe Acrobat when you need to e-sign documents without a certificate authority.

Self-signed digital IDs benefit personal use or internal business processes without a certificate authority. They allow you to sign and encrypt documents, ensuring their authenticity and confidentiality.

Windows

Select Menu > Preferences.

Select Signatures from the Categories menu, and then select More under Identities & Trusted Certificates.

Select Digital IDs and select the add digital ID icon.

Select A new digital ID I want to create now and select Next.

Select a storage option under Where would you like to store your self-signed digital ID.

Enter your identity information in the applicable fields. In Key Algorithm, select 2048-bit RSA for standard security or 1024-bit RSA for stronger encryption.

Select Next.

Type a password for the digital ID in the Password field and type the password again in the Confirm Password field.

Select Finish to create your self-signed digital ID.

Note

If a digital ID file with the same name exists, Acrobat will prompt you to replace it. Select OK to replace or browse and select a different location to store the file.

macOS

Select Acrobat > Preferences.

Select Signatures from the Categories menu, and then select More under Identities & Trusted Certificates.

Select Digital IDs and select the add digital ID icon.

Select A new digital ID I want to create now and select Next.

Enter your identity information in the applicable fields. In Key Algorithm, select 2048-bit RSA for standard security or 1024-bit RSA for stronger encryption.

Select Next.

Type a password for the digital ID in the Password field and type the password again in the Confirm Password field.

Select Finish to create your self-signed digital ID.