How To Scan Your Documents on an iPhone

Using your cellphone to scan documents offers convenience and ease. You no longer need to buy special equipment to send documents online. This is especially helpful as more people are relying on their smartphones. 

Nowadays, we use our mobile phones for nearly every aspect of our lives. We use it for entertainment, like playing games and taking videos of dogs. We use it for more serious matters as well, such as online banking and financial products like applying to refinance Parent PLUS loans. Being able to scan documents for these activities quickly is crucial.

Sadly, few people know how to use their iPhones to scan important documents on the go. But fret not! With the tutorials below, you’ll quickly scan what you need. 

Keep reading to learn more. 

Image by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Through the Files Application 

With iOS 11 and beyond, Apple added a file manager app for its devices. With this, you can access all your files, whether you store them on your iPad or iPhone. 

You can even scan documents stored in the iCloud or other third-party cloud services.

Check out this step-by-step guide.

• Before scanning, ensure you can access your phone and computer’s iCloud Drive. 
• Locate the Files application on your phone.
• Swipe down, and you will see an icon with three dots labeled “More.” Tap this. 
• Create a new folder for your scans. Select the “New Folder” option, name your folder, and tap done. 
• With this new folder, swipe down again. Then, tap the “More” button with three dots and select the “Scan Documents” option. This will activate your iPhone’s camera. 
• Grab your document. Position it on a flat and clean surface. 
• Hover your phone above the document until your camera recognizes it. It will highlight the document in blue. 
• Usually, the camera will automatically take the photo once it detects the document. But there is also a shutter button. Use this in case it does not capture your document right away. 
• Once the scanner captures the document, tap on the Save button. 
• Once you have saved the scanned document, it will go into the scanned folder. Now, your scanned copy is visible anywhere you can access iCloud. 
• You can also rename the document for organization purposes. 

What if you have a lot of documents you want to scan? The Files app also has an option that allows you to capture multiple pages in one sequence. Here is how you can do it: 

• Stack your documents in the order that you prefer. Make sure to place them on a clean and flat surface.
• Once the camera takes a picture of the first page, the app will give you an option called “Ready Next Scan.” You can find this at the bottom of the screen.
• Carefully remove the first page so your camera can capture the second page. 
• Repeat the process until you have finished scanning. 
• Tap the save button. The application will save all your pages to a single document. You can also see how many pages were scanned.  

One thing to know about scanning documents with the Files app is you don’t need to worry about the scanning angle. The app will correct the document angle for you. As such, it produces professional-quality scans of your documents and photos. 

Through the Notes Application 

The Notes application is highly praised on Apple products because of its convenience. It helps users take notes without needing pen and paper. It also comes with other features. You can type, scribble, and lock your notes. You can also use the app to scan documents. Here is how you can do it: 

• Open your Notes application.
• You can choose to either create a new note or open an existing one. 
• You will see the camera icon. Tap that and select the option to scan your documents.
• Place your document on a flat surface.
• Hover your device over it.
• The Notes app will immediately scan the document if you place your iPhone in automatic mode. It will also apply flash, depending on the lighting conditions. But there is also a manual procedure to personalize the scan.  
• Fine-tuning options include color, black and white, and grayscale. 
• A small square with four corners will appear on your screen. Drag these corners to adjust the fit if needed. This also allows you to scan only one part of the page.
• Once done, tap “Keep Scan.”

Download a New Scanning Application

If you want to explore more options for scanning, download a new application. Click the App Store, and do your search. Countless applications with different features may better suit your needs. Some examples include:

1. Adobe Scan: This app lets you scan and save what you need as PDFs.
2. CamScanner: CamScanner is another popular choice. It offers features like OCR (Optical Character Recognition) that convert images to editable text.
3. Microsoft Office Lens: This app integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft Office suite. It lets you capture documents that you can save to Microsoft apps like OneNote and Word.
4. Scanner Pro by Readdle: Scanner Pro offers advanced features like automatic edge detection, perspective correction, and integration with cloud storage services.
5. Scanbot: Scanbot is a powerful scanning app. It offers OCR, smart file naming, and iCloud and Dropbox integration. It also offers security features like passcode protection and encryption.

Effortlessly digitize and organize your documents using your iPhone with just a few taps. Say goodbye to clunky scanners and embrace the convenience of a reliable solution right at your fingertips.