Whether you need to digitise a business receipt, a signed contract, or a handwritten note, you do not need to buy a bulky flatbed scanner or download ad-supported third-party apps. Apple has built a highly sophisticated document scanner directly into the native iOS operating system.
The built-in scanner does much more than simply take a photograph. It automatically identifies the edges of the paper, corrects the perspective if you are shooting from an angle, removes shadows, and enhances the contrast so the text resembles a true photocopy.
How to Scan Documents Using the Notes App
The document scanner is integrated directly into the Apple Notes application, which comes pre-installed on every iPhone.
- Open the Notes app.
- Tap the compose icon in the bottom-right corner to create a new note (or open an existing note where you want to save the scan).
- Tap the Camera icon located in the toolbar directly above the keyboard.
- Select Scan Documents from the pop-up menu.
Your camera will activate. Position your iPhone over the physical document.
- If your device is in Auto mode (the default), the screen will highlight the document with a yellow box and automatically snap the picture when it detects the edges perfectly. You do not need to press the shutter button.
- If you prefer to capture it yourself, tap “Auto” in the top-right corner to switch to Manual mode, align the document, and press the shutter button.
- If you are scanning a multi-page contract, simply place the second page in front of the camera; it will continue automatically scanning and appending pages to the same file.
- When you have scanned all necessary pages, tap Save in the bottom-right corner.
How to Edit and Export Your Scan
Once saved in the Notes app, the scan will appear as an embedded PDF document. You can now edit it or send it to someone else.
- To crop or change colour: Tap directly on the scanned image in your note. At the bottom of the screen, you will see tools to crop the corners manually, rotate the image, or change the filter (e.g., forcing a colour document into Greyscale or Black & White for better contrast).
- To export or email the PDF: Tap the Share icon (the square with an upward-pointing arrow) in the top-right corner. From this menu, you can instantly email the PDF, send it via Messages, or tap Save to Files to store the raw PDF document in your iCloud Drive or local iPhone storage.