Select Menu > Preferences.
Last updated on
Sep 23, 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 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.
