How to scan documents with your phone

Updated 8 November 2026

Short answer: lay the page flat in good light, open a scanner app, hold the phone straight above the page, let it detect the edges, then save the pages as a PDF. iPhones have a scanner in the Notes and Files apps; on Android, Google Drive has one. Scanner apps add extras like ID modes, text recognition and direct printing.

How to scan a document with your phone

1. Prepare the page. Lay the page flat on a dark, plain surface in good, even light. Avoid shadows from your hand or phone.
2. Open a scanner. Use a scanner app such as Smart Printer or PDF Editor, or the scanner built into the Notes or Files app on iPhone, or Google Drive on Android.
3. Capture. Hold the phone straight above the page. Let the app detect the edges and take the photo, then repeat for each page.
4. Adjust. Check the crop, rotate if needed, and choose a filter such as black and white for text or colour for photos.
5. Save as PDF. Save all pages as one PDF, name it clearly, and share, print or fax it.

Which scanner should you use?

Tips for sharp, readable scans

• Contrast: a white page on a dark table makes edge detection reliable.
• Light: daylight or an even overhead light; switch the flash off to avoid glare.
• Angle: keep the phone parallel to the page so text isn't stretched.
• Filter: black and white for text keeps files small and easy to read, which also suits faxing.
• One file: save multi-page documents as a single PDF rather than separate photos.