Scan documents with your phone’s camera

Now that home offices are the norm for many people, you often need to send paper documents via email. Instead of using a traditional scanner, you can achieve scanner-like results with your smartphone.

Simply taking a photo is an option, but better results can be achieved by using digital scanner apps or specific features of select camera apps found on top Android phones or top iPhones.

This guide will walk you through the process of scanning documents with your phone’s camera, offering tips and presenting several apps to achieve the best results.

Tips for taking better photos of documents

Before we get to the apps themselves, here are a few tips to get the best quality: You don’t want skewed text or shadows that make them hard to read.

For lighting, use natural light by placing the document near a window or in a well-lit area. Be careful not to cast shadows on the document from your hands or nearby objects, and avoid bright light or direct sunlight, as this can cause glare.

When loading the document, place it on a flat surface to avoid warps or creases. Hold your phone directly over the document and make sure it is parallel to the surface to avoid distortion. Make sure the entire document is within the frame, with some margin around the edges for cropping.

For focus and stability, you can let your camera automatically focus on the document before taking the photo. Use both hands to steady your phone or rest your elbows on a stable surface.

Scan documents with Google Drive

You may not know it, but Google Drive has a built-in scanner feature that allows you to digitize documents, old photos, and other printed materials. To use it, do the following:

1. Launch the Google Drive app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Tap the ‘+’ button in the bottom right corner and select ‘Scan’.
3. Place your phone over the document and press the shutter button to capture the image.
4. Adjust the corners to fit the document, then tap Done.
5. Give your document a name and select the location where you want to save it. Tap ‘Save’.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The newly scanned image will then be saved as a PDF to your Google Drive folder so you can share it via email or another messaging app.

Scan documents on iPhone with Notes app

Similar to Google Drive, Apple’s Notes app also has a free built-in scanner that allows you to digitize your documents. Follow these steps:

1. Launch the Notes app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the ‘New Note’ icon and press the camera icon in the toolbar.
3. Select ‘Scan documents’. Then place your phone over the document and the app will automatically capture it.
4. If necessary, adjust the scan by dragging the corners.
5. Tap ‘Keep Scan’ for each page you scan.
6. When you’re done, tap “Save” to add the scanned document to your note.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

You can now share the scanned document or export it as a PDF directly from the Notes app.

Scan documents with other apps

If the above methods don’t quite do it for you, perhaps because you need a specific feature that they don’t provide, there are many alternatives. If you have a Microsoft 365 account then the Microsoft Office Lens – PDF Scanner is a great option, but you should also check out SwiftScan, Genius Scan and Simple Scan, as well as the many others available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

One that is completely free, with no limits and no ads, is FP Scanner-PDF&Image to Text. It’s unfortunately only for iOS, but it has several modes that let you ‘scan’ multiple pages of a book or document and share them as a PDF, as well as the ability to convert characters into editable text. Although, as mentioned at the beginning, that is somewhat redundant if you have at least iOS 15.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Scanning documents with your phone’s camera is a convenient and efficient way to digitize your paperwork. Whether you use built-in features like Google Drive and the Notes app or opt for specialized third-party apps, you can manage your documents digitally, right from your phone.