How to scan documents on iPhone

Three ways to scan

Every iPhone has a document scanner. It is part of the camera system, so you do not need extra hardware. You can start a scan from three places:

• The Notes app. The scan goes into a note. This is good for a quick copy of a receipt or a letter.
• The Files app. The scan becomes a PDF in a folder you choose. This is good when you need a file to send or upload.
• A scanner app. Scanner App adds OCR with Copy All, an e-signature, folders and a password-locked Safe folder.

All three find the edges of the page and crop it. The difference is what you can do with the scan after you take it. iOS 26 also added a Preview app to the iPhone, which can scan documents too. The steps below use Notes and Files because they work on older iOS versions as well.

Scan in the Notes app

Notes is the fastest built-in method. Apple moved the scan button in iOS 18, so the icon may look different on your iPhone.

1. Open a note. Open the Notes app. Create a new note or open the note that will hold the scan.
2. Choose Scan Documents. Tap the attachment button at the bottom of the note. On recent iOS versions it is a paperclip. On older versions it is a camera. Then tap Scan Documents.
3. Capture the page. Hold the iPhone above the page. In auto mode the camera takes the shot when it finds the page. You can also tap the shutter button.
4. Fix the corners and save. Drag the corners to fit the page if needed, then tap Keep Scan. Scan more pages, or tap Save to put the scan in the note.

To get a PDF out of Notes, open the scan in the note and tap the Share button. From there you can send it or save it to the Files app.

Scan in the Files app

Use Files when the result must be a PDF in a specific folder, for example a folder you share with a colleague.

1. Open the folder. Open the Files app. Go to the folder where you want the PDF, on your iPhone or in iCloud Drive.
2. Tap Scan Documents. Tap the More button (three dots) at the top right, then tap Scan Documents.
3. Scan and save. Capture each page, then tap Save. Files saves the pages as one PDF in the folder.

Files gives the PDF a generic name. Touch and hold the file, then tap Rename to give it a name you can find later.

Scan with Scanner App

The built-in scanner is enough for a single page. A scanner app helps when you scan often, need the text from a page, or keep private documents on your phone. Scanner App runs on iOS 13 or later and is available in 11 languages.

1. Lay the page flat. Put the document on a table with even light. Open Scanner App and tap the scan button.
2. Let the edges lock. Hold the iPhone above the page. The app finds the four corners and crops the page straight. Add more pages to the same document if you need them.
3. Organize and finish the document. Put the scan in a folder or the password-locked Safe folder. Reorder pages, sign the page or tap Copy All to copy the recognized text.
4. Share or print. Share the document as a PDF or JPG in Original, Medium or Small quality, or print it.

Three functions save the most time:

• OCR with Copy All. Text recognition reads the words on the page. Tap Copy All and paste the text into Mail, Notes or a message.
• E-signature. Draw your signature with your finger. Set the color and the line thickness, then place it on the page.
• Safe folder. Put passports, contracts and medical letters in a folder locked with a password. Files are stored on your iPhone, not on our servers.

You can also import a PDF from another app and add pages or a signature to it.

Tips for a sharp scan

The scanner can only correct what the camera sees. These habits give a clean, readable page with every method:

• Use contrast. Put a white page on a dark table. The edge detection finds the corners faster.
• Use even light. Daylight from a window is best. Stand so that your own shadow does not fall on the page.
• Hold the phone parallel to the page. The app can straighten a page shot at an angle, but a flat shot keeps small text sharp.
• Avoid glare. Glossy paper and laminated cards reflect the flash. Turn the flash off and move the light to the side.
• Flatten the page. Unfold creases and hold a curled receipt down at the edges, outside the frame.
• Clean the lens. A fingerprint on the camera makes the whole scan soft.

Which method to use

Use Notes or Files for a quick, one-time scan. Use a scanner app when you scan every week or need the extra functions.

To compare dedicated scanner apps, read the best document scanner apps for iPhone. To scan without a connection, read the offline scanner guide.