Use the Notes app to scan documents without downloading anything

Your iPhone has a document scanner built into the Notes app — you do not need to download a separate app or pay for a service. Open Notes, start a new note, tap the camera icon, and select "Scan Documents". Point your iPhone at the document and tap the shutter button. The phone automatically crops the image, adjusts the angle, and converts it to a PDF that you can save, email, or share.

The scanner works best in good lighting. If the room is dim, turn on overhead lights or use a lamp. Shadows across the page confuse the scanner and make text harder to read later. Hold the phone 6 to 12 inches above the document and keep it as level as possible — tilting the phone at an angle distorts the scan.

After you tap the shutter, the scanner shows you a preview. You can retake the photo, adjust the crop by dragging the corners, or change the filter. Tap "Keep Scan" when it looks right. The app will ask if you want to scan another page. If you have multiple pages, scan them all in one session — the app combines them into a single PDF.

Key Takeaways

  • The Notes app has a document scanner you can use without downloading anything — open Notes, tap the camera icon, and select "Scan Documents".
  • Good lighting and a level phone produce the clearest scans; dim rooms and tilted angles make text blurry and hard to read later.
  • You can scan multiple pages in one session, and the app combines them into a single PDF file.
  • After scanning, you can email the PDF, save it to Files, or share it through Messages, Mail, or AirDrop.
  • If the automatic crop misses part of the document, drag the corner handles in the preview to adjust the edges before you save.

Adjust the crop and filter before you save

After you take a photo, the Notes app shows a preview with a blue border around the document. If the border cuts off part of the page, drag the corner handles outward to include the missing text. Drag inward if the border includes too much background. Tap "Done" when the crop looks right.

Below the preview, you will see filter options: "Original", "Grayscale", "Black and White", and "Color". "Black and White" makes text sharper and reduces file size, which is useful if you are emailing the scan. "Grayscale" keeps some shading and works better for photos or documents with colored ink. "Original" keeps the colors as your phone captured them. Tap the one you want, then tap "Keep Scan".

Save the scan to your phone or send it somewhere else

When you finish scanning all pages, the app asks where you want to save the PDF. By default it saves to the note you opened. You can also save it to the Files app, which stores it on your phone where you can find it later. Tap "Save to Files", choose a folder (like Documents or Downloads), and tap "Save".

To email the scan, open the note, tap the three dots in the top right, and tap "Share". Select "Mail" and the PDF attaches automatically. You can also share through Messages, AirDrop, or any other app that appears in the share menu. If you want to send the PDF to someone without opening an app, tap and hold the note, then tap "Share" — this gives you quick access to your most-used sharing methods.

Scan from the Files app if you want to organize as you go

If you scan documents regularly and want to keep them organized in folders, use the Files app instead of Notes. Open Files, navigate to a folder where you want to save the scan, tap the three dots in the top right, and tap "Scan Documents". The process works the same way — take photos, adjust the crop, choose a filter, and save — but the PDF goes directly into the folder you selected.

This method is faster if you are scanning multiple documents and want each one in a different folder. You do not have to open a note first or move files around afterward. The downside is that Files does not show you a preview of the scan before you save it, so make sure the crop and filter look right on the phone screen before you tap "Keep Scan".

Fix a blurry scan by retaking the photo

If text in your scan is hard to read, the most common cause is poor lighting or a tilted phone. Delete the scan and try again with brighter light and the phone held level. If you already saved the scan, open Notes or Files, find the PDF, and delete it — then scan the document again.

Before you retake the photo, check the lighting. Move closer to a window, turn on more lights, or use a desk lamp pointed at the document. Shadows make the scanner struggle to read text. If you are scanning in a room with only one light source, position yourself so the light comes from behind you and shines on the document, not from the side or behind the document.

Hold the phone as level as possible — imagine the document is a table and your phone is a camera on a tripod directly above it. If you tilt the phone, the edges of the scan will look slanted and text will be distorted. Some people find it easier to rest their phone hand on the table or a book to keep it steady.

Use a different app if you need advanced features

The Notes app scanner works for most everyday documents — receipts, contracts, forms, letters. If you need features the built-in scanner does not have, other apps are available. Some let you organize scans into projects, add handwritten notes on top of a scan, or convert scanned text into editable words. These apps cost money or show ads, so use the Notes app first and only switch if you need something it cannot do.

The built-in scanner is also faster than most third-party apps because it does not ask you to create an account or sign up for a service. You open Notes, scan, and save — three steps. If you decide later that you want more features, you can export your PDFs from Notes and import them into another app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I scan a document that is folded or wrinkled?

Yes, but the scan will show the folds and wrinkles. Flatten the document as much as possible before you scan. If it is a contract or important paper you need to keep, scan it as-is — the wrinkles do not affect the text. If you are scanning for readability, smooth it out first or place it under a clear sheet of plastic to flatten it.

What if my iPhone runs out of storage while I am scanning?

The scan will fail and you will see a message asking you to free up space. Delete old photos, videos, or apps you do not use, then try again. You can also save scans directly to iCloud Drive or another cloud service instead of your phone — open Files, tap "Locations", and select your cloud service before you scan.

How do I find a scan I saved to Notes?

Open Notes and scroll through your notes to find it. If you have many notes, swipe down to show the search box, type a word from the note, and tap the result. If you saved it to Files instead, open Files, navigate to the folder you chose, and tap the PDF to open it.

Can I edit a scan after I save it?

The Notes app scanner saves scans as PDF files, which you cannot edit in Notes. You can view the PDF, share it, or delete it. If you need to edit the text, you would need to use a different app designed for editing PDFs, or retype the content into a document.

Does the scan include the back of the document?

No, the scanner only captures what your phone sees. If you need to scan both sides, scan the front, tap "Scan Another Page", flip the document over, and scan the back. The app combines both into one PDF with the front on page one and the back on page two.