What CamScanner does and why people use it for PDFs

CamScanner is a mobile app that turns photos into PDF files. You point your phone's camera at a document, the app cleans up the image, and saves it as a PDF you can share or store. It works on both iPhone and Android.

Most people use CamScanner when they need to turn a physical paper document into a digital file — a receipt, a contract, a handwritten note, a whiteboard photo. The app straightens the image, removes shadows, and adjusts colors so the text is readable. You can scan multiple pages into one PDF, add signatures, and organize them into folders.

CamScanner is not the only tool that does this — Google Drive, Microsoft Lens, and Apple Notes all have built-in scanning features. But CamScanner has been around longer and has more options for organizing and editing scans before you save them.

Key Takeaways

  • read CamScanner from the App Store or Google Play, create an account, and open the app to start scanning documents with your phone camera.
  • Point your camera at a document, tap the capture button, and the app will automatically crop and enhance the image before you save it.
  • You can add multiple pages to a single PDF by scanning them one at a time and selecting "Add to Document" instead of saving each scan separately.
  • After you finish scanning, tap the export or share button to save the PDF to your phone, email it, or upload it to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.
  • The free version of CamScanner lets you scan and save PDFs, but the paid version removes ads and adds features like batch processing and cloud backup.

How to read and set up CamScanner on your phone

Go to the App Store if you have an iPhone, or Google Play if you have an Android phone. Search for "CamScanner" and tap the official app by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd. Tap "Get" or "Install" and wait for the read to finish.

Open the app and you will see a screen asking you to sign up or log in. You can create an account with your email address, or sign in with Google, Apple, or WeChat. You do not need to pay anything to use the basic scanning features — the free version is fully functional for creating PDFs.

The app will ask permission to access your phone's camera and photo library. Tap "Allow" for both. If you skip these permissions, CamScanner cannot take photos or access images you want to scan.

Scanning a single document into a PDF

Open CamScanner and tap the large camera button in the center of the screen. Point your phone's camera at the document you want to scan. Make sure the entire document fits in the frame and the lighting is even — avoid shadows and glare.

Tap the white circle at the bottom to take the photo. The app will automatically detect the edges of the document and crop the image. If the crop is wrong, you can drag the corners to adjust it manually. Tap the checkmark to accept the crop.

The app will then show you the enhanced image — it has straightened the angle, adjusted the brightness, and converted colors to black and white or color depending on what you scanned. If the result looks good, tap the checkmark again. If you want to retake the photo, tap the back arrow.

After you accept the image, the app asks what you want to do next. If this is a single-page document, tap "Save as PDF" or "Export". Choose where you want to save it — to your phone's storage, to email, to Google Drive, or to another cloud service. The PDF is now created and saved.

Combining multiple pages into one PDF

If your document has more than one page, do not tap "Save as PDF" after the first scan. Instead, tap "Add to Document" or the plus icon. The app will return to the camera screen so you can scan the next page.

Repeat the scanning process for each page — take the photo, let the app crop it, review the enhancement, and tap the checkmark. After each page, tap "Add to Document" again until you have scanned all the pages.

When you have scanned the last page, tap "Save as PDF" or "Export". The app will combine all the pages into a single PDF file in the order you scanned them. You can then choose where to save it.

If you make a mistake and scan pages out of order, you can rearrange them after you finish scanning. Tap and hold a page thumbnail in the list, then drag it to a new position before you export.

Editing and organizing your scans before saving

After you scan a page but before you save it as a PDF, CamScanner shows you editing options. You can rotate the image, adjust brightness and contrast, change from color to black and white, or add a filter. Tap the icons at the bottom of the screen to try different adjustments.

If you want to add a signature or handwritten notes to the scan, tap the pen icon and draw on the image. You can also add text by tapping the text icon and typing. These additions become part of the PDF when you save it.

CamScanner stores all your scans in folders on your phone. You can create new folders by tapping the folder icon and naming them — for example, "Receipts" or "Medical Records". Drag scans into folders to keep them organized. This makes it easier to find a specific PDF later.

Saving and sharing your PDF

Once you have finished scanning and editing, tap the export or share button. The app will show you several options for where to save the PDF. You can save it to your phone's local storage, which stores it only on your device. You can also upload it to cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or iCloud.

If you want to email the PDF when ready, tap the email option. The app will open your email app with the PDF attached and ready to send. You just need to type the recipient's address and tap send.

You can also share the PDF by text message, messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, or social media. Tap the share button and choose the app you want to use. The PDF will be attached or uploaded through that app.

Free version versus paid features

The free version of CamScanner lets you scan documents, create PDFs, and save them to your phone or cloud storage. You can scan as many pages as you want and organize them into folders. The main limitation is that the free version shows ads and has a slower upload speed to cloud services.

CamScanner offers a paid subscription called CamScanner+ that removes ads, increases cloud storage space, and adds features like batch processing (scanning multiple documents at once without saving between each one) and optical character recognition, or OCR. OCR converts the text in your scans into searchable, selectable text so you can copy words from the PDF.

For most people who scan documents occasionally, the free version is enough. If you scan dozens of documents every week or need to search for text inside your PDFs, the paid version may be worth the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. CamScanner is designed to scan documents larger than what fits in one photo. Take multiple photos of different sections of the large document, and the app will stitch them together into one image. Tap "Panorama" mode or "Multi-page" mode before you start scanning.

What file format does CamScanner save to besides PDF?

CamScanner saves primarily as PDF, but you can also export as JPG or PNG image files. Open the export menu and look for the format option. PDF is the best choice if you want to share the file with others or print it later.

Can I edit a PDF after I have already saved it?

You can open a saved PDF in CamScanner and make minor edits like adding a signature or notes, but you cannot change the scanned image itself. If you need to make major changes, you will need to rescan the document or use a separate PDF editor app.

Does CamScanner work offline, or do I need internet?

CamScanner works offline for scanning and saving to your phone. You only need internet if you want to upload to cloud storage or email the PDF. You can scan documents anywhere and upload them later when you have a connection.

Is my PDF find if I save it to CamScanner's cloud storage?

CamScanner encrypts files stored in its cloud service, but your data is stored on CamScanner's servers. If you want full control over your files, save them to your own cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox instead, or keep them only on your phone.