📋 Verified Walkthrough
iPhone & iPad • Everyday Basics

How do I scan a document, receipt, or letter using my phone?

Direct Answer

On iPhone, open the built-in Notes app, tap the Camera icon 📷, and select "Scan Documents." Point your camera at the paper and it will automatically capture and straighten a clear PDF document.

Why You Might Want to Do This

  • You need to email or text a paper document, medical form, or insurance card without owning a bulky desktop scanner.
  • Your scanned document looks clean, straight, and sharp like a professional PDF instead of a shadowy, tilted photo.
  • You want to scan multiple pages together into a single file.

Before You Start

  • Have the paper document laid flat on a table or counter.
  • Make sure the room is well-lit (under a lamp or near a window to avoid phone shadows).

You do not need to download any paid scanner apps! Your phone has a 100% free scanner built right into the Notes app or Google Drive.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Open the built-in Notes app on your iPhone

    Find and tap the yellow and white "Notes" app icon on your home screen.

    👀 Notes app icon (yellow lined pad header).

  2. 2

    Create a new note and tap the Camera icon

    Tap the square compose button in the bottom-right corner to start a new note. Then tap the Camera icon 📷 located right above your keyboard.

    👀 Bottom-right Compose icon 📝 → Tap Camera icon 📷.

    3. ✅ Success Checkpoint: You're Doing Great

    If your screen matches the description above, you have followed the steps correctly. Continue to the next step.

  3. 3

    Tap "Scan Documents" in the menu

    A small menu will pop up above the camera icon. Tap the top option that says "Scan Documents."

    👀 Pop-up menu → Select "Scan Documents."

  4. 4

    Hold your phone flat over the paper document

    Hold your phone directly above the paper. A yellow box will highlight the edges of the page, and the camera will automatically snap the scan for you.

    👀 Yellow highlight box frames paper → Automatically snaps.

  5. 5

    Tap "Save" and send the PDF to anyone

    If you have more pages, point at page 2 and it will snap again. When done, tap "Save" in the bottom-right corner. Tap the Share icon (square with arrow ⬆️) at the top to text or email the PDF to your doctor, family, or accountant.

    👀 Bottom-right "Save" → Top Share icon ⬆️ → Choose Mail or Messages.

If You Don't See It / Troubleshooting

The camera is not snapping the picture automatically

Make sure the paper is on a contrasting background (like white paper on a dark table). You can also press the round white shutter button to take the picture manually, then drag the 4 corner circles to fit the paper.

I have an Android phone (Samsung or Google Pixel)

Open the Google Drive app, tap the large "+" button in the bottom-right, and tap "Scan" (the camera icon). Point at the paper and tap Save. On Samsung, opening the regular Camera app and pointing at a document will show a yellow "T" or "Scan" button in the corner.

My hand shadow is making the paper dark

Tilt the document toward the light or take a step back and zoom in slightly (2x) so your body does not block the ceiling light.

How do I combine multiple pages into one file?

Do not tap Save after page 1. Keep pointing the camera at page 2, then page 3. The counter in the bottom corner will say (2), (3), etc. When all pages are captured, tap Save once.

Good to Know

  • The scanner automatically converts colored background glare into clean, crisp black-and-white text that is easy to read.
  • Scanned PDFs take up very little email space and can be printed easily by whoever receives them.
  • You can also sign a scanned document by tapping the document in Notes, tapping the Share button, and choosing "Markup" to draw your signature with your finger.