How to Scan Documents to PDF Using Your Phone
Your smartphone is a powerful document scanner. Learn how to scan documents to PDF quickly and get professional-quality results.
You don't need a bulky scanner anymore. Your smartphone can capture high-quality document scans and save them as PDFs. Here's how.
Why Use Your Phone as a Scanner?
Advantages:
- Always available: Your phone is always with you
- Quick and easy: Scan in seconds
- Good quality: Modern phone cameras are excellent
- Free: No need to buy a scanner
- Portable: Scan anywhere
Common Uses:
- Scan receipts for expense reports
- Digitize contracts and agreements
- Save business cards
- Archive important documents
- Submit paperwork electronically
Method 1: iPhone (Built-in Scanner)
iOS has a native document scanner in Notes and Files:
Using Notes App:
- Open Notes and create new note
- Tap camera icon > Scan Documents
- Position document in frame
- Camera auto-captures (or tap manually)
- Adjust corners if needed
- Tap Save > Save as PDF
Using Files App:
- Open Files app
- Tap "..." menu > Scan Documents
- Scan your pages
- Save directly as PDF
Method 2: Android (Google Drive)
Most Android phones can scan via Google Drive:
Steps:
- Open Google Drive app
- Tap "+" > Scan
- Position document and capture
- Add more pages if needed
- Tap checkmark to save
- PDF saves to your Drive
Alternative: Built-in Camera
Some Android phones have document mode in the camera app. Check your camera settings.
Method 3: Third-Party Apps
Best Free Scanner Apps:
Microsoft Lens (iOS/Android)
- Free with Microsoft account
- Excellent edge detection
- Multiple scan modes
- Integrates with OneDrive
Adobe Scan (iOS/Android)
- Free with Adobe account
- Great OCR (text recognition)
- Saves to Adobe cloud
- Clean interface
CamScanner (iOS/Android)
- Free with ads/watermark
- Good edge detection
- Many export options
- Premium removes watermark
Tips for Better Scans
Lighting
- Use natural light or bright room lighting
- Avoid shadows on the document
- Don't use flash (creates glare)
Positioning
- Place document on contrasting background
- Keep phone parallel to document
- Maintain steady hands
- Use flat surface
Quality Settings
- Use highest resolution available
- Enable auto-enhancement
- Check sharpness before saving
Multi-Page Documents
Most scanner apps support multiple pages:
- Scan first page
- Tap "Add Page" or "+"
- Scan remaining pages
- All pages combine into one PDF
After Scanning: Next Steps
Organize Your Scans:
- Name files descriptively
- Create folders by category
- Back up to cloud storage
Process Further:
- Compress: If files are too large
- Merge: Combine multiple scans
- Convert: Change format if needed
Use our Image to PDF converter if you have photos to convert.
OCR: Making Scans Searchable
OCR (Optical Character Recognition) converts scanned images to searchable text.
Apps with OCR:
- Adobe Scan
- Microsoft Lens
- Google Drive (automatic)
Benefits:
- Search text within PDFs
- Copy text from scans
- Better accessibility
Troubleshooting
Blurry Scans:
- Hold phone steadier
- Ensure good lighting
- Clean camera lens
- Move closer to document
Crooked Pages:
- Use auto-edge detection
- Manually adjust corners
- Keep document flat
Poor Color:
- Avoid yellow lighting
- Use "Color" vs "B&W" mode
- Adjust brightness/contrast
Recommended Workflow
For Receipts:
- Scan immediately after purchase
- Name with date and vendor
- Store in "Receipts" folder
For Contracts:
- Scan all pages
- Review for clarity
- Name descriptively
- Store securely
For Notes/Cards:
- Scan with good lighting
- Use OCR for searchability
- Organize by category
File Size Considerations
Scanned PDFs can be large. To reduce size:
- Use black & white for text documents
- Lower resolution for non-critical scans
- Compress after scanning
- Use our image compressor
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best free document scanner app?
Microsoft Lens offers the best features for free. Google Drive's scanner is great for Android users.
Can I scan multiple pages into one PDF?
Yes, all major scanner apps support multi-page documents.
How do I make scanned PDFs searchable?
Use an app with OCR (Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens) or Google Drive's automatic OCR.
What resolution should I use?
200-300 DPI is sufficient for most documents. Use higher for important documents you'll print.
Conclusion
Your smartphone is all you need for quality document scanning. Use built-in features or apps like Microsoft Lens for the best results.
Need to convert scanned images to PDF? Use our JPG to PDF or PNG to PDF converter.
Related: Merge PDF Files | Image Compressor