How to Use Your iPhone as a Scanner

How to Use Your iPhone as a Scanner

Need to scan a document but don’t have a scanner nearby? Good news: your iPhone can double as a powerful pocket scanner. With just a few taps, you can scan receipts, contracts, handwritten notes, or any paper document, and save them as PDFs or images. This makes it easy to share, store, or upload documents on the go.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the simple steps to use your iPhone as a scanner, whether through the Notes app, the Files app, or a third-party app.

1. Scan Documents with the Notes App

Apple’s built-in Notes app is the easiest way to scan documents:

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
   
2. Create a new note or open an existing one.
   
3. Tap the camera icon and select Scan Documents.
   
4. Position your document in view of the camera. The app will automatically detect the edges and capture the scan.
   
5. Adjust the corners if needed, then tap Keep Scan.
   
6. Save the scanned file within Notes or export it as a PDF.
   

This method is great for quickly saving documents without installing extra apps.

2. Use the Files App to Save Scans as PDFs

If you want your scans organized in iCloud Drive or local storage, try the Files app:

1. Open the Files app.
   
2. Tap the three-dot menu and select Scan Documents.
   
3. Point your camera at the document.
   
4. Save the scan directly to your chosen folder as a PDF.
   

This option is perfect for keeping files stored and accessible across all your Apple devices.

3. Try Third-Party Apps for Extra Features

If you need advanced scanning tools, there are plenty of third-party apps such as:

• Adobe Scan – converts scans to editable PDFs.
  
• Microsoft Lens – great for business cards, receipts, and whiteboards.
  
• CamScanner – offers OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to make scanned text searchable.
  

These apps provide features like text recognition, multi-page scanning, and cloud integration.

4. Tips for Better Scans

• Place your document on a flat, well-lit surface.
  
• Avoid shadows and glare.
  
• Hold your phone steady to get clear scans.
  

Your iPhone makes scanning documents fast, easy, and portable. Whether you use the built-in Notes and Files apps or download a third-party scanner app, you can digitize paper documents in seconds. Next time you need to scan something on the go, remember you already have a scanner in your pocket.

TechCity