SharePoint eSignature
Digital signatures are no longer a "nice to have." They’re critical for contracts, HR onboarding, policy acknowledgments, and more. Until now, many Microsoft 365 users turned to third-party services like DocuSign or Adobe Acrobat Sign to meet this need.
Enter SharePoint eSignature, a new capability within SharePoint Premium that lets you request and manage document signatures directly from your SharePoint document libraries. No extra tools. No data leaving your Microsoft 365 environment. And potentially, big savings on third-party licenses.
Here’s what makes this feature worth your attention, and how to get started.
Feature Highlight: Native eSignature in SharePoint
What it is
SharePoint eSignature is a built-in signing tool for SharePoint Online, powered by Microsoft Syntex. It allows you to:
Initiate signature requests on PDF documents from within SharePoint libraries
Send requests to internal users and external guests (with the right sharing settings)
Track signature status in real time
Automatically save signed copies back into SharePoint, along with a verification sheet
The service runs on pay-as-you-go billing via Azure, at $2 per signature request (after an initial free monthly capacity through June 2025).
Why it matters
For Microsoft 365 customers, this is a big win:
No extra licensing required: You don’t need separate DocuSign or Adobe licenses for basic signing needs.
Data stays in your trust boundary: Files never leave Microsoft 365.
Simple experience: Familiar SharePoint interface—no new tools to learn.
Cost-effective for low to medium volume: Great for distributed or occasional signature needs.
Real-world example: A regional HR team used to manage onboarding packets via DocuSign ($15+/user/month). By moving routine employee forms to SharePoint eSignature, they now save ~$8,000/year while keeping all signed documents natively stored.
How to get started
Enable Microsoft Syntex in your tenant with a linked Azure subscription.
In the Microsoft 365 admin center, navigate to Syntex setup > Documents and Images > eSignature, and turn on the feature.
Choose whether to enable eSignature for all SharePoint sites or specific ones (up to 100).
Upload a PDF to an enabled document library.
Click Request signatures from the toolbar and follow the 3-step wizard to assign recipients and drag/drop signature fields.
Track request status and receive completion notifications. Signed copies and verification sheets will be stored in SharePoint automatically.
Rollout & Next Steps
Enable Syntex and eSignature in your M365 tenant.
Pilot the feature with internal documents first (e.g. HR, Legal, Sales).
Review and adjust external sharing settings to allow guest signing where needed.
Communicate the feature to relevant business units.
Monitor the roadmap for upcoming integrations with DocuSign, Adobe Sign, and the new Microsoft Agreements app.
Conclusion
If your signature needs are straightforward and already revolve around documents stored in SharePoint, SharePoint eSignature offers a frictionless, low-cost way to streamline your workflows. For higher-volume or more complex needs, upcoming integrations with DocuSign and Adobe will provide a hybrid path forward.
Stay tuned—I'll cover those integrations and Microsoft’s new Agreements app in a future post. In the meantime, now’s a great time to pilot eSignature and simplify your signing processes from right inside Microsoft 365.
For more details, visit the official SharePoint eSignature documentation.