Signing a physical document and emailing its scanned copy to someone is a task that your iPhone can handle within seconds. The scanned copies are bright, clear, and perfectly legible. If you’re a student, you can use your phone to scan the notes of a missed lecture instead of spending hours jotting them down. Here are the 3 ways to scan a document on your iPhone.
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In This Article
Which method is best for you?
The document scanner is embedded into several native iPhone apps. The new ‘Preview’ app, introduced on iOS 26, is designed for the special purpose of annotating and editing PDFs. It is also capable of scanning digital documents from physical copies. If you want to work with something more familiar, the Files app has a scanner built into it as well. The scanning process requires pointing the camera at a page, and the iPhone does the rest.
These methods create standalone digital files from physical documents. If you want to scan a page from a book and place it as a reference in a note, your iPhone offers that option too. Once you’re in the Notes app, you can scan a document and add it to any note using the attachments menu.
Use the Preview app
Step 1: Launch the Preview app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap on Scan Documents.
Step 3: The Preview app will trigger your iPhone’s camera. Point it at the document.
Step 4: Once the document has been scanned, tap the tick icon in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 5: The scanned document will be automatically saved on your iPhone.
Use the Files app
Step 1: Launch the Files app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Hit the ellipses in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Tap on Scan Documents.
Step 4: The Files app will launch your iPhone’s camera. Point it at the document.
Step 5: The document will be scanned automatically. Once a page has been scanned, its preview will appear on the screen.
Step 6: Hit the tick icon in the top right corner of the screen when you’re done scanning the document.
Step 7: Go to the folder where you’d like to store the scanned document and hit Save.
Use the Notes app
Step 1: Launch the Notes app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap the icon to create a new note in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Hit the paperclip icon.
Step 4: Tap on Scan Documents.
Step 5: The Notes app will trigger your iPhone’s camera. Point it at the document to scan it.
Step 5: Once the document has been scanned, it will be added to the note.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where is the document scanner on my iPhone?
The document scanner is embedded in the Files, Notes, and Preview app.
How do I scan a document on my iPhone?
Launch the Notes app on your iPhone, tap the Plus icon in the top right corner of the screen, and select ‘Scan Documents’. Point your phone’s camera at the document. Once the scan is complete, tap the tick icon in the top right corner of the screen. Go to the target folder and hit ‘Save’.
What is the Preview app on my iPhone?
The Preview app is a new addition on iOS 26. This app can be used to create, edit, and annotate PDFs.
How do I scan a text from a page on my iPhone?
Launch the Notes app on your iPhone, create a new note, hit the attachment icon, and select ‘Scan Text’. A pop-up with the viewfinder of your iPhone’s camera will appear in the bottom half of the screen. Point the camera at the text. It will be scanned and pasted into the note.
Which third-party apps can I use to scan a document on my phone?
Adobe Scan, Doc Scanner, and Microsoft Lens are some of the best document scanner apps for the iPhone.
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Final Thoughts
The Preview app on iOS 26 unlocks a wide array of tools to annotate and markup scanned documents. If you need to quickly send a document to a friend, you can scan it directly within WhatsApp. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments!
