Method 1: On iPhone (Native Notes App)
Apple has built a remarkably intelligent document scanner right into the default iOS Notes app. It automatically finds the edges of the paper, applies a flattening perspective shift, and boosts contrast.
- 1
Open the Notes app and create a new note.
- 2
Tap the Camera icon above the keyboard, then select Scan Documents.
- 3
Hold your phone directly over the document. A yellow box will appear over the paper. Hold still, and the phone will automatically snap the photo and correct the perspective.
- 4
Keep scanning pages if it's a multi-page document, then tap Save. You can then tap the document in your note and Share it as a PDF.
Method 2: On Android (Google Drive App)
If you are using an Android phone, the absolute best scanning tool is built directly into the Google Drive app, ensuring your documents are instantly backed up to the cloud as PDFs.
- Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
- Tap the large floating + button in the bottom right corner.
- Select Scan (the camera icon).
- Take a photo of the document. Tap the crop icon if you need to adjust the corners.
- Tap the + button to add more pages, or tap the checkmark to save the final PDF straight to your Google Drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why shouldn't I just take a normal photo of the document?
If you just snap a photo, the image will capture the desk behind the paper, shadows from your hand, and the paper will likely look skewed or tilted. A dedicated document scanner tool automatically detects the edges of the paper, crops out the desk, flattens the perspective, and boosts the contrast so the black ink looks like a digital PDF rather than a photograph.
How do I get the scanned PDF to my computer?
Once you scan the document using your phone, tap the Share icon. From there, you can email the PDF to yourself, AirDrop it to your Mac, or upload it to Google Drive to access from your PC.
Is it legal to sign a scanned document?
Yes. Scanning a signed contract and emailing it as a PDF is the universally accepted standard for business communication today. Flatbed scanners are almost entirely obsolete in modern offices.