To scan a document on your iPhone, open Notes, tap the attachment button, choose Scan Documents, frame the page, and accept the capture. You can scan several pages in one session, correct the corners, and finish with Done. Use Files instead when you want the PDF saved directly in a folder; Apple also documents a Preview workflow for creating and adjusting PDFs.
Scan a document into Notes
Notes is the simplest choice when the scan belongs with meeting notes, a project, or other context. Apple says the scanned document is saved as a PDF in the note.
- Open Notes and select an existing note, or create a new one.
- Tap the attachment button, then tap Scan Documents. From an open note, you can also use More > Scan.
- Place the page inside the camera view. In automatic mode, hold the iPhone steady while it captures the page.
- For a manual capture, tap the shutter button. Apple’s current support instructions also describe using a volume button to trigger the capture.
- Drag the corner handles if the detected page edges need correction, then tap Keep Scan.
- Continue capturing additional pages if necessary. Tap Done when the document is complete.
Save the scan directly in Files
Choose Files when the destination matters more than the surrounding note.
- Open Files and navigate to the folder where you want the PDF.
- Tap More > Scan Documents.
- Frame each page and let automatic capture work, or switch to manual capture and use the shutter or a volume button.
- Adjust the detected corners and tap Keep Scan.
- Add the remaining pages, tap Done, select a destination if prompted, and tap Save.
Use Preview to create and adjust a PDF
Apple’s iPhone User Guide also documents scanning from Preview. Open Preview, tap Scan Documents, and capture the page. Automatic capture is the default; tap Auto to switch to Manual when you want to control the shutter.
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After capturing multiple pages, use the page thumbnails to crop, rotate, or adjust coloring, then tap Done. This route produces a PDF that you can manage in Preview.
Which iPhone scanning route should you use?
| Route | Best for | Result and destination |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | Keeping a scan with written notes or project context | A scanned document saved as a PDF in the note |
| Files | Placing the document in a specific folder immediately | A saved PDF in the selected Files location |
| Preview | Creating a PDF and making page-level adjustments | A PDF you can crop, rotate, and adjust for color |
None of these Apple-documented paths is established as universally better. Pick the app where you already organize that type of file.
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- WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan-to” destinations like PC, Network, cloud services, Email and OCR. (2) Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and TWAIN/WIA for PC/ICA for Mac/SANE drivers. (3)
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Scan several pages in one session
After you keep the first page, leave the scanner open and capture the next pages. Review each page’s boundaries before keeping it, then tap Done only after the final page. This creates one multi-page document rather than separate captures.
Sign, annotate, and work with the PDF
In Notes, open the scanned document and use Markup. Tap Add > Signature to insert a saved signature or create a new one. This adds a signature annotation; Apple’s instructions do not establish legal validity for every document or jurisdiction.
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- STAY ORGANIZED – Easily convert your paper documents into digital formats like searchable PDF files, JPEGs, and more.Power Consumption : 2.5W or less (Energy Saving Mode: 0.7W). Suggested Daily Volume : 500 scans..Does it contain liquid: no
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- FAST AND EFFICIENT – No technical hurdles or complicated setups here; easily scan both sides of a document at the same time, in color or black-and-white, at up to 12 pages-per-minute, and with a 20 sheet automatic feeder
- BROAD COMPATIBILITY – Works with both Windows and Mac devices, be it laptop or computer
Apple also supports viewing, editing, annotating, and collaborating on PDFs in Notes, including scanned documents.
Scanning documents is different from scanning text
Scan Documents photographs pages and creates a document scan/PDF. If you need editable text inserted into a note, use the separate Scan Text function instead. Apple documents Scan Text for supported languages, so it is not interchangeable with the document-scanning command.
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- IRIScan Express, portable scanner : scans color and black and white documents a blazing speed up to 8ppm simplex. Color scanning won’t slow you down as the color scan speed is the same as the black and white scan speed.
- IRIScan Express mobile scanner is powered via an included micro USB 2. 0 cable allowing you to use it even where there is no outlet available. Plug it into you PC or laptop and you are ready to scan. USB cable provided. AC Adapter not provided and not needed.
- IRIScan flatbed scanner uses a simplex scanning mode allows for quick and straightforward scanning of single-sided documents. IRIScan with its full portable features is the ideal document scanners for computers.
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- Receipt scanner and card scanner with Additional features include scanning business cards directly to Outlook, photo scanning, and receipt scanning for efficient document management
Can you search text in an iPhone scan?
Notes search can include text found in scanned documents, but Apple qualifies text search by supported language. Do not assume every scan will be searchable: recognition quality, document content, and language support affect the result. For locked notes, search results show only the note titles.
Troubleshoot a difficult scan
Automatic capture triggers at the wrong time
Switch from Auto to Manual and use the shutter or a volume button. Keep the phone parallel to the page and capture again.
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- Scanner type: Document
- Connectivity technology: USB
- With Auto Scan Mode, the scanner automatically detects what you're scanning
- Digitize documents and images
The page edges are wrong
Before tapping Keep Scan, drag each corner to the actual edge of the paper. Review the page after correction so text or signatures are not clipped.
You need a clean PDF, not a note attachment
Start in Files or Preview. Notes is designed to keep the PDF inside a note, while Files and Preview fit folder-based or PDF-focused workflows.
A button is in a different place
Labels and menus can vary by iOS release. Apple’s February 13, 2026 support instructions include iOS 26 capture options such as flash and image filters, while the iPhone User Guide includes a Preview scanning path for iOS 27. If your screen differs, look for the same command, Scan Documents, under the attachment or More menu.
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