Earlier this year, WhatsApp added an option to natively scan documents within the app and send them to their intended recipients instantly. The catch was that this option was only available to iPhone users. Now, it is being rolled out for Android devices as well. If you have a habit of exchanging digital copies of notes, you no longer need to rely on third-party apps to scan them. Here is how you can scan and send documents on Android and iOS devices.
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In This Article
Tips to get the perfect scan
While scanning documents on your phone, keep these tips in mind to get the ideal scans.
- Make sure the physical document is well-lit.
- Rest the physical document on a flat surface.
- Position your phone’s camera directly on top of the document. Scanning it from an angle can create distracting slants.
- Let the document fill the frame.
- Once the document is scanned, crop its edges to focus on the text.
- Use a markup or eraser tool to get rid of the paper stains on the scanned document.
Scan and send documents on WhatsApp (Android)
Step 1: Launch the WhatsApp Messenger on your phone and open a conversation.
Step 2: Hit the clip icon in the text box.
Step 3: Tap on Document.
Step 4: Select Scan document.
Step 5: Choose Manual or Auto Capture.
Step 6: When a page is scanned, hit the plus icon to scan another.
Step 7: When you’re done, hit Next.
Step 8: Hit the green icon to send it.
Scan and send documents on WhatsApp (iOS/iPhone)
Step 1: Launch the WhatsApp Messenger on your iPhone and open a conversation.
Step 2: Tap the plus icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Tap on Document.
Step 4: Select Scan Document.
Step 5: Scan the document using your iPhone’s camera.
Step 6: Hit Save.
Step 7: The document will be saved as a PDF. Add a caption to the file and hit the green icon to send it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I scan a document on my Android phone?
Enable the Text Scanner mode on your phone’s native Camera app or use a third-party app like Microsoft Lens to scan a document.
How do I scan a document on my iPhone?
Launch the Notes app, tap the Plus icon, and select ‘Scan Documents’. Point the 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’. You can access the native document scanner in the Files and Preview apps as well.
Does WhatsApp have a document scanner?
Yes, WhatsApp allows you to scan and send documents. Open your conversation with the person to whom you want to send the file, tap the clip icon (plus icon for iPhone users), and go to Document>Scan document. Point the camera at the page(s), make the necessary edits, and hit ‘Send’.
How do I scan a QR code using WhatsApp?
If you want to make a UPI payment using WhatsApp, hit the barcode icon at the top of the screen and point the camera at the QR code.
How do I summarise unread WhatsApp messages?
Tap the ‘unread messages’ indicator in a chat to summarise them. WhatsApp uses Meta AI for this process.
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Final Thoughts
The native document scanner on WhatsApp lets you apply filters and clean up the marks or stains on the scanned file. If you want more editing options, a dedicated third-party scanning app would be more up your alley. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments!
