Before you start
- A phone with a camera
- Good light and a dark, plain background under the paper
Method 1 iPhone: scan with the Notes app
You can also scan straight into the Files app: tap ⋯ at the top right of a folder and choose Scan Documents. The PDF is saved in that folder.
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Step 1: Create a note
Open Notes and create a new note.
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Step 2: Tap Scan Documents
Tap the paperclip (or camera) icon above the keyboard and choose Scan Documents.
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Step 3: Capture the page
Hold the iPhone above the page. In Auto mode, it captures as soon as the page is steady and in focus. Or tap the shutter button.
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Step 4: Adjust and keep
Drag the corners to fit the page if needed, then tap Keep Scan. Scan more pages, then tap Save.
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Step 5: Share as PDF
Tap the scan, then the Share button to send it by email or save it to Files as a PDF.
Method 2 Android: scan with Google Drive
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Step 1: Open Google Drive
Open the Drive app (preinstalled on most Android phones).
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Step 2: Tap Scan
Tap + New and choose Scan. Or press and hold the Drive icon on your home screen and tap Scan.
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Step 3: Capture and adjust
Take a photo of the page. Drive straightens and cleans it automatically. Use Crop, Filters or + to add more pages.
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Step 4: Save
Tap Done or Save, give it a name and pick a folder. It’s saved as a PDF in your Drive, ready to share.
Method 3 Samsung Galaxy: scan with the Camera
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Step 1: Turn on document scanning
Open Camera > Settings (gear icon) and make sure Scan documents and text (or Scene optimizer on older models) is on.
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Step 2: Point at the document
In Photo mode, point the camera at the page. A yellow frame and a Scan button appear.
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Step 3: Tap Scan
Tap Scan, adjust the corners and tap Save. The scan is saved in your Gallery. Open it and tap Share > PDF if needed.
Troubleshooting
The edges aren’t detected
Use more contrast between the paper and the background, and more light. You can always drag the corners manually after capturing.
The scan is blurry
Wipe the camera lens, hold still, and tap the page on screen to focus before capturing.
No Scan button in the Samsung Camera
Update the Camera app and check Camera > Settings. On older models, use Google Drive’s scanner instead.
Frequently asked questions
Are phone scans good enough for official documents?
Usually yes. Most banks, schools and employers accept a clear, straight PDF scan. Check whether they need colour or black-and-white.
How do I combine several pages into one PDF?
Keep scanning in the same session: Notes, Files, Drive and Samsung all add extra pages to the same PDF until you tap Save.
Where are my iPhone scans saved?
In the note you scanned into, or in the Files folder you chose. They’re in iCloud if Notes or iCloud Drive syncing is on.
Summary
Use Notes > Scan Documents on iPhone, Google Drive > + > Scan on Android, or the Samsung Camera’s Scan button. Good light and a dark background give the cleanest PDFs.
