Last updated on
Sep 23, 2025
Learn about using Digital IDs to sign and encrypt PDF documents in Adobe Acrobat.
A digital ID is your unique digital signature for secure authentication in Acrobat. It allows you to securely sign documents, prove your identity, and protect sensitive information in your PDFs. Digital IDs have two main components:
- A private key that applies your signature to documents
- A public key that is shared with others for signature validation
Together, these components create a secure way to verify your identity in Acrobat workflows.
Types of digital IDs
Acrobat supports two types of digital IDs:
- Self-signed Digital IDs: These are digital IDs you create within Acrobat. They're quick to set up and suitable for personal or internal business purposes. Self-signed IDs can be a good option when you need to start using digital signatures immediately or for less official situations.
- Certificate Authority (CA) Digital IDs: These digital IDs are issued by trusted third-party organizations known as Certificate Authorities. They provide a higher level of identity verification because the authority confirms your identity before issuing the ID. CA-issued digital IDs are often required for official or legal transactions, especially when dealing with government agencies or regulated industries.
Digital ID usage
Acrobat requires using digital IDs for the following tasks:
- E-signing documents, such as contracts and legal papers
- Certifying that a PDF hasn't been altered
- Sending confidential PDFs that only specific people should access
- Proving your identity in official online transactions
Key benefits
Digital IDs are more secure than standard e-signatures and provide additional benefits, such as:
- Authentication and verification: Prove your identity and verify the integrity of documents
- Compliance: Meet regulatory requirements
- Convenience: Sign documents from any location and device
