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If you're anything like me, you haven't thought about the Preview app on your iPhone since the moment Apple introduced it as one of two new apps added in last fall's iOS 26 update. But that's a great disservice to Preview, which brings at least one key capability to my iPhone that wasn't really included before, allowing me to do more from the comfort of my phone.
iOS 26 Preview is a mobile version of the document viewer and annotation app that's been a mainstay of the Mac for years. The version that's arrived on your iPhone can do the same things you'd do on your desktops, such as marking up documents, making basic edits and — most crucially in my case — adding a signature to PDFs.
Finally, you can sign documents
We live in a digital age where many documents support electronic signatures you can apply simply by checking a box. But some documents still keep things old-school, requiring an actual signature in your writing. When I get such a form on my Mac, I simply launch the Preview app and use the signature tool to apply my John Hancock, save the modified document as a PDF and send the signed file on its way.
I haven't really been able to do that on the iPhone — not with the built-in apps that are a part of iOS. So when I've received a file in Mail that I need to sign and return, my course of action has been to wait until I'm back home so I can fire up the Mac version of Preview.
iOS 26 Preview saves me that step. Now I can sign a document from wherever I am, right from my iPhone, and resume my regularly scheduled business without having to remember to take care of things on my Mac once I get back home.
Here's a quick rundown of how to use the iOS 26 Preview app to fill out PDF forms and apply a signature to any document you've received.
Add text to a PDF in iOS 26 Preview
1. Select Text Form Box
From within a document, zoom into the field where you want to add text, as the iPhone's compact screen can make it hard to see what field you're editing in the default view. Then, tap the text icon in the menu bar at the bottom of the screen — it's a rectangle with a pencil sticking out of the upper right corner — and then tap the plus button that appears. From the pop-up menu, tap Add Text Form Box.
2. Adjust the font size
The Text Form box appears and you may have to drag it to the appropriate field with your finger. Tap the Aa icon in the floating menu to adjust font size as the default text is fairly small in my experience. Tap the number and select a font size — I tend to go with 36 to make things visible enough to work with.
3. Add your text
Tap on the text field bringing up an on-screen keyboard. Fill in your text. You may have to use the blue dots on either side of the text box to enlarge the field. You can also tap and hold on the text field to move it so that it fits better on the document.
Add a signature to a PDF in iOS 26 Preview
1. Select the Add Signature option
You're going to repeat the same steps as if you were adding text — tapping the text icon in the menu bar, followed by the plus button. This time, though, tap Add Signature.
2. Add a signature
Assuming you've used the signature tool on the Mac version of Preview, stored signatures will now appear on your iPhone. You can also add signatures if this is your first time using the feature by tapping Add or Remove Signature. On the ensuing screen, tap the plus button and then use your finger to draw a signature on the iPhone screen. Tap the checkmark when you're done.
3. Place your signature in the right field
The signature will appear in a floating text box. Use your finger to drag the signature to where it belongs in your document.
4. Add multiple signatures
The document in this example has signature fields for multiple people, but that's no problem for iOS 26 Preview. Just repeat steps 1 through 3 to add a second signature.
And that's how to use Preview to handle PDF forms on your iPhone. I think the Preview app is much better suited for larger-screen devices like the iPad — Preview is part of the iPadOS 26 update, too — but it's nice to have the ability to sign off on documents in a pinch on your phone.
Preview wasn't the only new app added to iOS 26. Apple also delivered a Games app, which I have to say I found rather underwhelming. For more tips on how to use other new iOS 26 features, though, I've got a guide on how to set alerts for Reminders thanks to the iOS 26.2 update. That same release also introduced new tools to customize your iPhone lock screen as well.
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