Signature option with iPhone/iPad no longer showing up in Preview on Mac mini

Trying to sort out where the breakdown is, when you choose Markup → Signature → Create Signature do you not see the option for "iPhone or iPad" at all, or is if that you do see the option but when you click Select Device your iPhone/iPad do not show up as choices?

cookie105 wrote:

Hi everyone,

I’m having trouble getting the Signature feature to work again in Preview on my Mac mini.

In the past, when I opened a PDF and chose Markup → Signature → iPhone/iPad, I could use my iPhone or iPad to sign the document — it would pop up automatically and let me draw my signature on the device.

Recently, that option disappeared. My Mac mini doesn’t have a built-in trackpad or signature pad, so I normally rely on using my phone or iPad for signatures. I suspect this stopped working after I turned off Screen Mirroring / AirPlay a while ago, and now I can’t get the connection back.

I’ve been troubleshooting for a while Handoff, AirPlay Receiver, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, same Apple ID, all are turned on but the iPhone/iPad option never appears under Signature anymore, even when I plug my phone in directly.

Can anyone guide me on how to restore this feature or confirm which exact settings make the Use iPhone or iPad for Signature option appear again?

hmmm... you do not have the option or your sig. are just not there?

Not seeing the issue:

verify your software is up to date—

The current stable release of Tahoe including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 26.1

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

The current stable release of iOS including bug fixes, security updates is iOS 26.1

Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Have you shut down all devices and restarted more than once since you upgraded or point-updated...(?)

To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

Unfortunately, I don't. There are 4 Macs on my desk and a couple more elsewhere in the house, but they're all notebooks with internal trackpads. I can't find any setting to control the signature behavior, but I don't see why you would not have the camera and iPhone/iPad options even with a desktop Mac. The iPhone must support Continuity and it must be enabled. For more details, see:

Fill out and sign PDF forms in Preview on Mac - Apple Support

I can tell you that even if I inactivate the internal trackpad (as best as one can, with a Magic Mouse connected, the lid closed for clamshell mode and the option selected to ignore the built-in trackpad with a wireless mouse connected), Preview remains blissfully unaware and still presents the Trackpad as an option when creating a signature. But given the instructions above, I suspect the Trackpad option should be there on a desktop Mac, since those can have a trackpad connected.

So, what do you see when you click the signature button in the markup toolbar, and then what do you see when you click the Create Signature (assuming that option is there)?

Take a screenshot on Mac - Apple Support