The simplest way to scan on iPhone

Your iPhone has a built-in scanner in the Notes app that works without downloading anything. Open Notes, tap the compose button (the pencil icon), then tap the camera icon and select "Scan Documents." Point your phone at the document, and iPhone automatically detects the edges, captures the image, and saves it as a PDF. You can scan multiple pages in one session by holding the document steady and tapping the shutter button for each page.

The scanned PDF lands in Notes first, but you can move it anywhere — email it, save it to Files, or send it to cloud storage like Google Drive or iCloud. This method works for receipts, contracts, letters, or any single-sided document you need to turn into a digital file.

Key Takeaways

  • The Notes app on every iPhone includes a document scanner that requires no setup or additional downloads.
  • iPhone automatically detects document edges and straightens the image, so you do not need to hold the phone perfectly level.
  • You can scan multiple pages in one session and save them as a single PDF file.
  • Scanned documents can be moved to email, cloud storage, or the Files app directly from Notes.
  • The scanner works best in natural light and produces clearer results when you hold the phone 6 to 12 inches above the document.

Opening Notes and starting a scan

Tap the Notes app on your home screen. If you do not see it, swipe left to search and type "Notes." Once inside, tap the compose button — a pencil on a square icon — in the bottom right corner to start a new note.

Tap the camera icon that appears above the keyboard. A menu will pop up with three options: "Take Photo," "Photo Library," and "Scan Documents." Tap "Scan Documents." Your camera will open and display a live preview of what it sees.

Position your iPhone so the document fills most of the screen. You do not need to be perfectly centered or level — iPhone will detect the document edges automatically. When the app recognizes the document, the corners will highlight in yellow or white.

Capturing and adjusting the scan

When the document is in frame and the corners are highlighted, tap the shutter button (the white circle at the bottom). iPhone captures the image and shows you a preview. At this point you can adjust the corners by dragging them if the app did not detect the edges perfectly, or tap "Retake" to capture the page again.

Once the preview looks correct, tap "Keep Scan." If you are scanning multiple pages, the app returns to the camera view so you can position the next page. Repeat this process for each page you need to scan. All pages will be combined into a single PDF file.

When you are finished scanning all pages, tap "Save" in the bottom right. The PDF appears in your note. You can now rename it, move it, or share it from there.

Moving your scanned document to other apps

The scanned PDF starts in Notes, but you may want it in email, cloud storage, or your Files app instead. To send it by email, tap and hold the PDF preview in your note, then tap "Share." Select "Mail" and compose your message. The PDF will attach automatically.

To save it to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox, tap and hold the PDF, tap "Share," and select the app you use. To save it to your Files app, tap and hold the PDF, tap "Share," scroll down, and tap "Save to Files." Choose the folder where you want it stored.

You can also leave the PDF in Notes if that works for you — Notes syncs across all your Apple devices, so the scan will be there on your iPad or Mac as well.

Getting the clearest scan possible

Light matters more than camera quality. Scan in natural daylight or under a bright lamp, positioning the light so it does not create a glare on the document. Avoid shadows across the page. If you are scanning a document with small text, hold your iPhone 6 to 12 inches above it — too close and the edges blur, too far and text becomes hard to read.

Keep the document flat and still while you frame the shot. If the document is curled or folded, flatten it first. iPhone's automatic edge detection works best when the document contrasts clearly with the background — a white page on a dark table scans better than a white page on a white surface.

If your first scan comes out dark or blurry, retake it. You can delete the bad scan by tapping and holding it in your note, then tapping "Delete."

Scanning documents that are longer than one page

The Notes scanner combines multiple pages into a single PDF, which is useful for multi-page documents. After you tap "Keep Scan" on the first page, position the second page in the camera frame and tap the shutter button again. Repeat for each page. When all pages are scanned, tap "Save" and they will be combined in order.

If you scan pages out of order by mistake, you can rearrange them. In your note, tap and hold the PDF, then tap "Edit." You can now drag pages to reorder them. Tap "Done" when you are finished.

If you need to add more pages to a scan you already saved, you will need to scan them separately and combine them later using a PDF app or your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I scan a document that is larger than my iPhone screen?

Yes. Position your iPhone so it captures one section of the document, tap the shutter, then move to the next section and scan again. You will have multiple PDFs instead of one, but you can combine them later using a PDF app or your computer if needed.

What if the document has two sides?

Scan each side separately. Flip the document over, position it in the camera frame, and tap the shutter button. You will end up with two separate PDFs — one for each side — which you can combine later using a PDF app.

Does the scan save automatically or do I have to do it manually?

You must tap "Save" to finish the scan. Until you do, the pages stay in the scanner preview. Once you tap "Save," the PDF is created and appears in your note.

Can I edit the scanned document after I save it?

You can rotate pages, delete pages, or rearrange them by tapping and holding the PDF in your note and selecting "Edit." You cannot edit the text or image content itself — for that, you would need to use a separate PDF editor app.

What file format does the scan save as?

Scans save as PDF files, which is the standard format for documents. PDFs preserve the layout and appearance of the original document and can be opened on any device.