DB LabsQuick Answer
Open the Notes app, create a new note, tap the camera icon at the bottom, and select Scan Documents. Hold your iPhone over the document — it automatically detects edges, corrects perspective, and captures a sharp scan. Tap Save when finished. To share as PDF, tap the scanned document in the note and use the Share button. You can also scan documents through the Files app by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting Scan Documents.
Method 1: Scan with the Notes App
1 Open Notes and Create a New Note
Open the Notes app and tap the compose button (pencil icon) to create a new note. You can also scan into an existing note.
2 Tap the Camera Icon
Tap the camera icon in the toolbar at the bottom of the note. A menu appears — select Scan Documents.
3 Position and Capture
Hold your iPhone over the document. The scanner automatically detects the document edges and highlights them in yellow. In Auto mode (default), it captures automatically when edges are detected. In Manual mode, you tap the shutter button. After capture, you can adjust the corners by dragging the handles.
4 Scan Additional Pages
For multi-page documents, keep scanning — the app captures each page sequentially. A page counter at the bottom shows how many pages you have scanned. When done, tap Save.
5 Export as PDF
Open the scanned document in your note. Tap the Share button to send it via email, AirDrop, Messages, or save to the Files app as a PDF. You can also use Markup to annotate the scan before sharing.
Method 2: Scan with the Files App
The Files app also includes a document scanner that saves directly as a PDF file.
- Open Files and navigate to the folder where you want to save the scan.
- Tap the three-dot menu (top right) and select Scan Documents.
- The scanner works the same as in Notes — point at the document and it captures automatically.
- Tap Save. The scan is saved as a PDF file in the selected folder.
Tips for Better Scans
- Good lighting: Scan in well-lit conditions. Avoid shadows falling across the document — they reduce scan quality and can confuse edge detection.
- Flat surface: Place the document on a flat, contrasting surface. A white document on a dark desk works best.
- Steady hands: Hold your iPhone steady and directly above the document. The closer to perpendicular you are, the better the perspective correction.
- Use filters: After scanning, you can apply filters — Color, Grayscale, Black & White, or Photo. Black & White is best for text documents. Color preserves original appearance.
- Live Text: On iPhone XS and later running iOS 15+, scanned text is automatically recognized via Live Text. You can copy, search, and translate text directly from your scans.
Scanned documents are relatively small (200-500 KB per page), so they will not significantly impact your storage. For broader storage management tips, see our complete iPhone storage guide.