{"schemaVersion":1,"kind":"article","path":"/help/en-us/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/","htmlLang":"en-US","localeRoute":"en-us","slug":"upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors","title":"Upload a PDF and fix upload errors | Sign For Free Help Center","description":"Upload a local PDF smaller than 5 MB to a Sign For Free Envelope and resolve file type, size, empty, or unreadable PDF errors.","chrome":{"brandLabel":"Sign For Free","helpCenterLabel":"Help Center","skipLabel":"Skip to main content","publicNavigationLabel":"Sign For Free navigation","publicNavigation":[{"href":"/#features","label":"Features"},{"href":"/#pricing","label":"Pricing"},{"href":"/verify","label":"Verify"},{"href":"/blog","label":"Blog"},{"href":"/help/en-us/","label":"Help Center"}],"loginAction":{"href":"/envelopes","label":"Log in"},"createAction":{"href":"/envelopes/new","label":"Get started"},"languageLabel":"Help language","themeLabel":"Theme","themeModes":{"system":"System theme","light":"Light theme","dark":"Dark theme"},"localeOptions":[{"route":"en-us","htmlLang":"en-US","label":"English","href":"/help/en-us/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"ko-kr","htmlLang":"ko-KR","label":"한국어","href":"/help/ko-kr/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"ja-jp","htmlLang":"ja-JP","label":"日本語","href":"/help/ja-jp/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"ru-ru","htmlLang":"ru-RU","label":"Русский","href":"/help/ru-ru/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"de-de","htmlLang":"de-DE","label":"Deutsch","href":"/help/de-de/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"fr-fr","htmlLang":"fr-FR","label":"Français","href":"/help/fr-fr/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"zh-tw","htmlLang":"zh-TW","label":"繁體中文","href":"/help/zh-tw/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"zh-cn","htmlLang":"zh-CN","label":"简体中文","href":"/help/zh-cn/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"},{"route":"es-es","htmlLang":"es-ES","label":"Español","href":"/help/es-es/articles/upload-a-pdf-and-fix-upload-errors/"}],"footerGroups":[{"title":"Product","links":[{"href":"/verify","label":"Verify"},{"href":"/#pricing","label":"Pricing"},{"href":"/licenses","label":"Open-source licenses"}]},{"title":"Resources","links":[{"href":"/blog","label":"Blog"},{"href":"/help/en-us/","label":"Help Center"}]},{"title":"Compare","links":[{"href":"/blog/free-docusign-alternative","label":"Sign For Free vs DocuSign"}]},{"title":"Legal","links":[{"href":"/legality","label":"E-signature legality"},{"href":"/legal-docs/terms","label":"Terms of Service"},{"href":"/legal-docs/privacy","label":"Privacy Policy"},{"href":"/legal-docs/cookie-policy","label":"Cookie Policy"},{"href":"/cookie-settings","label":"Privacy choices"},{"href":"/legal-docs/account-deletion","label":"Delete your account"}]}],"footerTagline":"Sign simply. Keep the proof.","verifyLabel":"Verify"},"breadcrumbsLabel":"Breadcrumb","breadcrumbs":[{"href":"/help/en-us/","label":"Help Center"},{"href":"/help/en-us/#send-envelopes","label":"Send Envelopes"},{"label":"Upload a PDF and fix upload errors"}],"eyebrow":"Send Envelopes · Sender","headline":"Upload a PDF and fix upload errors","summary":[{"kind":"text","value":" Add a supported PDF to a new Envelope and check the file when Sign For Free cannot accept it. "}],"role":"sender","plan":"free basic","platform":"web","categoryId":"send-envelopes","metadataHeadingId":"applies-heading","metadataHeading":"Applies to","metadata":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Role"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" Sender"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Plans"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" Free, Basic Monthly, Basic Yearly"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Platform"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" Web"}]}]}],"sections":[{"headingId":"outcome-heading","title":"Outcome","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Your PDF loads in the Envelope authoring screen and is ready for fields."}]}]},{"headingId":"before-heading","title":"Before you start","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Use a PDF file. Other file types are not supported."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Confirm that the file is smaller than 5 MB. A file that is exactly 5 MB is rejected."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Open the PDF on your device to confirm that it has pages and can be read."}]}]}]},{"headingId":"steps-heading","title":"Steps","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ol","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Open your Dashboard and start a new Envelope."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Enter an Envelope title."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Select the local upload option and choose the PDF from your device."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Wait for the document preview to finish loading."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Review the visible pages before you add Recipients and fields."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"figure","attributes":{"id":"local-pdf-upload-control"},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"img","attributes":{"src":"/help/assets/screenshots/local-pdf-upload-control.png","alt":"Conceptual PDF upload step showing a sample PDF selected to start an Envelope.","width":1440,"height":900,"loading":"lazy","decoding":"async"},"children":[]},{"kind":"element","tag":"figcaption","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":" Conceptual mockup — final interface will change. Staging use only: upload a PDF to start an Envelope. "}]}]}]},{"headingId":"next-heading","title":"What happens next","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":" After the preview loads, add at least one Recipient and place at least one Signature, Date, Text, or Stamp field for the Sender or a Recipient. "}]}]},{"headingId":"warnings-heading","title":"Warnings and limitations","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Only PDF files are supported."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"The PDF must be smaller than 5 MB, not 5 MB or smaller."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Empty PDFs and PDFs that Sign For Free cannot parse are rejected."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Upload the PDF from your device."}]}]}]},{"headingId":"troubleshooting-heading","title":"Troubleshooting","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"table","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"caption","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Common PDF upload problems"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"thead","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"tr","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"th","attributes":{"scope":"col"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Problem"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"th","attributes":{"scope":"col"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"What to check"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"th","attributes":{"scope":"col"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Next action"}]}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"tbody","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"tr","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"th","attributes":{"scope":"row"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Unsupported file type"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"The file name does not end in "},{"kind":"element","tag":"code","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":".pdf"}]},{"kind":"text","value":"."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Export the source document as a PDF, then upload the exported file."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"tr","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"th","attributes":{"scope":"row"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"File is too large"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"The PDF is 5 MB or larger."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Create a smaller PDF and confirm the new file is below 5 MB."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"tr","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"th","attributes":{"scope":"row"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Empty or unreadable PDF"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"The file has no pages or does not open in a PDF reader."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Export a new PDF from the source and open it before uploading again."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"tr","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"th","attributes":{"scope":"row"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Preview does not finish"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"The selected file may be incomplete or unreadable."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"td","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Return to the Dashboard, start a new Envelope, and upload a verified copy."}]}]}]}]}]}]},{"headingId":"related-heading","title":"Related articles","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"a","attributes":{"href":"/help/en-us/articles/send-your-first-envelope/"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Send your first Envelope"}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"a","attributes":{"href":"/help/en-us/articles/add-recipients-and-assign-fields/"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Add Recipients and assign fields"}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"a","attributes":{"href":"/help/en-us/articles/free-and-basic-plan-limits/"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Free and Basic plan limits"}]}]}]}]}],"footerMeta":[{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Last reviewed:"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" July 22, 2026"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Product version:"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" dev snapshot — July 22, 2026"}]}]}
