How to scan documents on your iPhone

YOUR iPhone and iPad have the ability to scan documents and you can do it with a few easy steps.

Apple devices have had the helpful feature for a long time, but many people forget about it.

How to scan documents on your iPhone and iPad

Gone are the days when you would need to own a scanner in order to scan a document.

Nowadays, your own iPhone can do the job.

One of the other million features such a small device can do is scanning documents, all for free.

Apple introduced the useful application with their operating system iOS 11 in 2017.

It was particularly beneficial to many during the periods of the national lockdown in 2020 and 2021.

The feature is supported on iPhones and iPads that run on iOS 11 all the way to Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 16.

Here is our guide on how you can use your iPhone or iPad to scan a document:

On your iPhone/iPad open the Notes app, and create or open a note.
On the bottom (or the top for some devices) you will see a range of different icons, tap on the camera icon.
Select the option to ‘Scan Documents’
Place your document in front of the camera, making sure you are in a well-lit room.
If your device has Auto mode on, it will automatically detect the document and capture it.
You can do it manually by tapping the Shutter button and then adjusting the scan to fit the document.
Tap save or tap additional scans if you need to scan more documents.

Just scanning a document is not the only feature that your device can do.

You can edit it and even sign it, all virtually.

Before the availability of such features, you would usually have to print the document, sign it and then use a scanner to scan it again.

But now, you are able to do it with a few simple taps on your iPhone or iPad.

Editing and signing scanned documents on your iPhone and iPad:

In the Notes app, tap on the document you wish to edit or sign.
Tap on the Share button, and then Markup.
After that, you should be able to access the editing features such as pen, highlighter and ruler.
If you want to add your signature, tap the Add button, and then select Signature
You will be able to add saved signatures or create new ones.
After that, you will be able to resize your signature and place it in the right place in your document.
In the end, Tap Done.

You could also simply use the Pen tool, following our first three steps.

The pen tool could be more sensitive so it will require you to use a stylus or an Apple Pencil.