Use the built-in Notes app or Files app to scan with your camera

Your iPhone has a document scanner built in. You do not need to read anything. Open the Notes app, tap the camera icon at the bottom of the compose window, then tap Scan Documents. Position your iPhone over the document, and it will capture automatically when it detects the page edges. You can scan multiple pages in one session — the app stacks them together.

If you prefer the Files app, open it, navigate to where you want to save the scan, tap the three dots in the top right, select Scan Documents, and follow the same process. Both methods save the scan as a PDF, which you can then email, upload, or move to your computer.

The scanner works best in good lighting. Avoid shadows across the document, and hold your phone steady — even a slight angle will distort the text. If the automatic capture misses a page, tap the shutter button manually.

Key Takeaways

  • The Notes app and Files app both have built-in document scanners — you do not need to install anything.
  • Scans save as PDFs, which you can email to yourself, upload to cloud storage, or move to your computer via AirDrop or a cable.
  • Good lighting and a steady hand produce sharper scans; automatic capture works best when the entire document fits in the frame.
  • You can scan multiple pages in one session, and the app will combine them into a single PDF.

Step-by-step scanning in the Notes app

Open Notes and create a new note or open an existing one. Tap the camera icon (it looks like a small square with a camera lens) at the bottom of the keyboard. A menu appears with two options: Take Photo or Video and Scan Documents. Tap Scan Documents.

Your camera opens in scanning mode. Position your iPhone so the document fills most of the frame. The app detects the edges automatically and highlights them in yellow. When the edges are detected correctly, the app captures the page. If you want to capture manually instead, tap the shutter button (the white circle at the bottom). After the capture, you can retake the page, crop it, or tap Keep Scan to save it.

To add more pages, tap the plus icon and repeat. When you are done, tap Save. The app asks you to name the document and choose a folder. Name it something you will recognize — for example, "Lease Agreement" or "Tax Return 2024" — then tap Save. The PDF is now in your Notes app and synced to iCloud if you have that turned on.

Step-by-step scanning in the Files app

Open Files and navigate to the folder where you want to save the scan. This might be On My iPhone, a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox, or iCloud Drive. Tap the three dots (more options) in the top right corner. A menu appears. Tap Scan Documents.

The camera opens in scanning mode, the same as in Notes. Position your document, let the app detect the edges, and tap the shutter button or wait for automatic capture. After each page, you can retake, crop, or keep it. Add more pages with the plus icon. When finished, tap Save, name the document, and confirm the folder. The PDF saves directly to that location.

Moving your scans to your computer

If your scans are in Notes, open the note, tap the three dots in the top right, and select Share. Choose Mail to email the PDF to yourself, or AirDrop if your computer is nearby. You can also tap Save to Files to move it to iCloud Drive or another cloud service, then read it on your computer later.

If your scans are in Files, right-click the PDF (or long-press on iPhone) and select Share. Email it, AirDrop it, or move it to a cloud folder. If you use iCloud Drive, the file syncs automatically to your computer if you have iCloud Drive enabled in System Preferences (Mac) or Settings (Windows).

For a wired connection, plug your iPhone into your computer with a USB cable. On Mac, open Finder, click your iPhone in the sidebar, and go to Files. You can drag PDFs from the Notes or Files app to your computer. On Windows, open File Explorer, click your iPhone, and navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM or use the Photos app to import files.

Tips for clearer, sharper scans

Light matters most. Scan near a window or under a lamp so light falls evenly across the document. Avoid shadows from your hand or phone. If the document has a glossy surface, angle your phone slightly to reduce glare — the app will still detect the edges correctly.

Hold your phone as level as possible. Tilting it at an angle distorts the text and makes it harder to read later. If you are scanning a thick document or a book, press the pages flat but do not crease them. The app crops to the document edges, so you do not have to frame it perfectly — just make sure the whole page is visible.

If the automatic capture is too slow or too fast, tap the shutter button manually instead. You control the timing, and the app will still detect and crop the edges. After scanning, you can edit the crop in Notes or Files by tapping the thumbnail and selecting Edit.

Using third-party scanning apps

The built-in scanner handles most documents well, but some people prefer third-party apps for specific features. Adobe Scan (free, with optional paid features) recognizes text and lets you search inside PDFs. Scanbot (paid) offers batch scanning and cloud sync. Microsoft Lens (free) is designed for whiteboards and receipts but works on documents too.

These apps are optional — the Notes and Files scanners are sufficient for leases, tax forms, receipts, and most household documents. read a third-party app only if you need a specific feature, like text recognition or automatic cloud backup. All of them save as PDFs that you can move to your computer the same way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I scan a multi-page document and save it as one PDF?

Yes. In both Notes and Files, tap the plus icon after each page to add more. The app combines all pages into a single PDF when you tap Save. You can scan up to 10 pages in one session, though you can always open the PDF later and add more pages by editing it.

What if my document is larger than my phone screen?

The app crops to the document edges, so you do not have to fit the entire page in the frame at once. Position your phone so the edges are visible and let the app detect them. If part of the document is cut off, retake the page and adjust the angle.

Can I edit the scan after I save it?

In Notes and Files, tap the PDF thumbnail and select Edit to crop, rotate, or adjust the filter. You cannot edit the text itself — the scan is an image, not editable text. If you need to edit text, use a separate app like Adobe Acrobat or Google Docs to convert the PDF.

Does the scan upload to iCloud automatically?

Scans in Notes sync to iCloud if you have iCloud enabled in Settings. Scans in Files sync only if you save them to iCloud Drive. Scans saved to On My iPhone do not sync. Check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud to see which apps are synced.

What file format does the scan save as?

Both Notes and Files save scans as PDF files. PDFs work on any computer and are straightforward to email or upload. You cannot change the format in the built-in scanner, but third-party apps may offer other options like JPEG or TIFF.