The demand for secure, legally binding digital signatures continues to rise, especially with the shift to hybrid and remote work. Microsoft has responded to this need by introducing SharePoint eSignature, a native feature designed to streamline signing workflows directly within SharePoint Online—without leaving the Microsoft 365 environment.
Whether you’re sending contracts, policy acknowledgments, or any PDF-based document, SharePoint eSignature simplifies the signing experience while keeping compliance, governance, and security front and center.
Here’s everything you need to know to get started.
What is SharePoint eSignature?
SharePoint eSignature is Microsoft’s built-in digital signing tool that allows you to send and manage signature requests right from SharePoint document libraries. It’s designed to handle signatures from both internal and external participants, providing an audit trail and automatic storage of signed files—all within your Microsoft 365 tenant.
As of now, this feature is available in the US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia Pacific regions. Microsoft has plans to expand availability globally later in 2025. If you’re using third-party eSignature solutions like Adobe Acrobat Sign or DocuSign, integration with these providers is available worldwide.
Note: Only PDFs are currently supported for SharePoint’s native eSignature flow. Support for Word documents in SharePoint eSignature is on the horizon, with rollout expected by the end of May 2025 for users in the Beta and Current Channels. This upcoming enhancement will expand the feature beyond PDFs, making it even more versatile for everyday document workflows.
Licensing Requirements for SharePoint eSignature
Before you start using SharePoint eSignature, here’s what you need:
- An Azure subscription linked to Microsoft Syntex pay-as-you-go.
- Admin setup in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
- Signature usage is billed based on volume and type of transactions.
And if you want to test it before committing—you can send up to 5 signature requests for free if pay-as-you-go billing is enabled!
How to Create a Signature Request from a PDF in SharePoint eSignature?
- From your document library, open the file you wish to send.
- Click the pen icon in the document viewer to launch the signature request process.
- You can add up to 10 signers, both inside and outside your organization. If signing needs to follow a specific order, enable the “Sign in order” option and reorder the list as needed.
- Drag and drop signature, initials, and date fields to the document. You can specify whether each field is mandatory.
- Give your request a title, include an optional message, and review the details. Once you click Send, the recipients will be notified via email.
Tip: You can include up to 50 fields per document
SharePoint also allows you to initiate electronic signature workflows using integrated third-party providers like Adobe Acrobat Sign and DocuSign—directly from your document library. Simply open a PDF, select the eSignature option, and choose your preferred provider. After a one-time authentication, you’re redirected to the provider’s platform to complete the signing process. Once finalized, the signed document is automatically saved back to SharePoint, ensuring secure storage and easy access.
How to Track SharePoint eSignatures?
All eSignature transactions are logged in Microsoft Purview’s audit logs. Here are some actions you can track:
- Request created or sent
- Recipient viewed or signed the document
- Request completed, declined, or expired
- Download of signed documents
These logs provide administrators with a reliable chain of custody for signature events.
SharePoint eSignature brings the power of secure, integrated digital signing right where your documents live—within Microsoft 365. Whether you’re sending a quick NDA or collecting multiple signatures across departments, this new capability saves time and enhances your governance strategy.
