How to scan documents with iPhone

To scan documents with your iPhone, you don't have to leave the iOS ecosystem, because Apple has a habit of incorporating user-important features into its iOS operating system that eliminate the need to install third-party apps for some users.

For example, Apple has added a document scanner, as well as the ability to sign, share and save scanned documents on your device. Having the world at your fingertips has never been easier than it is with today's technology.

Unfortunately, you can't always do everything with your smartphone and have to resort to using clunky old technology, like printers and scanners. The good news is that when you need to scan a document, you don't need to dust off your old desktop scanner. You can scan with iPhone. We offer you several options using different iPhone scanner apps.

Read also: How to scan documents with Android

How to scan documents with iPhone

The best apps to scan with iPhone

1. Use the Files app

As you scan a document with iOS 13, scanning documents via your phone and placing the scans in a convenient location is easy, thanks to the iPhone's Files app. You can scan receipts or sign documents and scan them instantly without having to take home a hard copy to get the job done. You need to make sure you are logged in to iCloud and can access iCloud Drive from both your device and desktop. Here's how to get started.

1. Find the Files app on your phone. That's where you can view all your iCloud files, like on your Mac, so you don't have to shuffle the document.
2. Create a special folder for your scans if you want them all in one place.
3. From the Scan folder, swipe down slightly from the top until you see the three-dot icon in the top left.
4. Tap the three-dot icon, then tap Scan Documents to activate the camera.
5. Place the document on a surface and place your phone on top of it until the Camera app recognizes it - you can tell if the document is highlighted in blue. Most often, the app takes the photo automatically, but there's also a shutter button in case it doesn't scan the document right away.
6. Tap the Save button and it will place the new scan in your scans folder, where it will be visible wherever you can access iCloud. From there, you can tap on the document to rename it.

To scan multiple documents in sequence, arrange them in a stack so that you can scan them in order one after the other.

After the camera takes the first page, you'll see a notation that says Ready for Next Scan at the bottom, so position the second page to grab it the same way. She continues to do this until the entire scan is complete. Tap Save and all scanned pages will be saved in one document. A badge will indicate how many pages are included.

You don't have to worry about getting the correct scan angle because the app will automatically correct the view to flatten the scan. When viewing the scans made, they will be properly aligned with a high quality representation of the content.

Once the scan is complete, there are even more options. Just tap the page at the bottom left and use the trash can icon to completely delete a page or use the Repeat button at the top right. 

This allows you to correct a single page in a series without having to start a multiple page scan again. You can crop or further edit the edges of the document, use a filter, or rotate it so it looks exactly the way you want.

2. How to scan a document on iPhone with the Notes app

The Notes app built into the iPhone has a special scan feature that you can access every time you create a new Notes document. Here's how to do it.

1. Open a note or create a new one.
2. Tap the Camera icon to capture documents.
3. Place the document on a surface and hover over the device's camera.
4. If your device is in Auto mode, the app will automatically scan your document highlighting it in yellow and the app will apply the flash depending on the lighting conditions.
5. Tap the filter control to fine-tune the scan for color, black and white, and grayscale.
6. You can manually acquire a scan by tapping the shutter button.
7. Drag the corners to adjust the scan to fit the page, if necessary, or to scan only a portion of the desired page.
8. Tap Keep Scanning.
9. Add more scans to your document if it's a multiple page scan and tap Save when you're done.

After the scan is complete, you can still make changes to the filter, crop or rotate on it, or delete it.

3. How to scan a photo to iPhone using Continuity Camera

Continuity Camera is a feature in MacOS and iOS that allows you to launch the camera on your iPhone (or other iOS device) from your nearby Mac, then transfer that photo or scan with MAC.

Continuity Camera works natively with Finder, Notes, Mail, Messages, TextEdit and Keynote 8.2, Numbers 5.2 and Pages 7.2 or later. It is available with MacOS Mohave and iOS 12 or later. Both your Mac and your device must have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and be connected to iCloud with the same Apple ID, using two-factor authentication. Here's how to scan using the feature.

1. Open one of the supported apps on your Mac.
2. Control-click or right-click in the document or Mac window where you want the scan to appear and choose Scan for Documents or, in the Finder, choose Import from iPhone> Scan Documents, which opens the file. camera app on your iPhone or iPad.
3. Place the document in front of the camera lens on your iPhone or iPad, then wait for the scan to finish. If you need to manually acquire a scan, tap or use one of the volume buttons.
4. Drag the corners to adjust the scan to fit the page or to scan only the part of the document you want, then tap Keep Scanning.
5. Add more scans to the document or tap Save when done.

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