How to scan a document with your phone
Where the scanner hides on each platform, and the trick for getting clean, OCR-able PDFs.
Quinn Yoo
February 11, 2026
iPhone (Notes app)
Open Notes → New Note → Camera icon → Scan Documents.
Hold over the document. The app auto-detects edges and snaps. Multi-page: just keep going. Save as PDF.
Android (Google Drive)
Open Drive → + button → Scan.
Same flow: aim at document, tap shutter, multi-page if needed. Saves to your Drive as a PDF.
Tricks for clean scans
High-contrast surface. Place the document on a dark surface; the edge detection works much better against contrast.
Even, diffuse light. Avoid direct overhead light or shadows from your hand. A window during day works great.
Both apps include OCR — text in scanned PDFs becomes searchable automatically.
People also ask
Should I get a dedicated scanner?+
Only if you scan 50+ pages a day. For a few-per-week, the phone is excellent.
How do I sign a scanned document?+
iPhone Markup tool has signature. Adobe Fill & Sign on either platform. Free apps work for most cases.
What about receipts?+
Same scanner apps. Or dedicated receipt apps (Expensify, Receipt Bank) if you need expense categorization.