Guides
How to scan documents on iPhone
A step-by-step guide to scanning paper documents into clean, multi-page PDFs on iPhone — using the built-in Notes scanner or a dedicated app for auto-crop, OCR, and export.
Last updated June 23, 2026
Direct answer
Place the document on a flat surface, scan each page, confirm auto-crop edges, run OCR if needed, then export the final PDF to Files, Mail, Messages, or a cloud drive. If the scan needs a signature, open the exported PDF in PDF Toolkit.
Steps
- Put the paper on a flat surface with good light.
- Hold the iPhone steady above the page.
- Let auto-crop detect the edges.
- Add more pages for a multi-page PDF.
- Run OCR if you need searchable text.
- Export the PDF.
- Open the exported scan in PDF Toolkit if it needs a signature or markup.
Better scan quality
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Dark scan | Move near a brighter window or lamp |
| Crooked page | Reconfirm crop corners |
| Blurry text | Hold the phone steady and rescan |
| Multi-page form | Scan pages in order before export |
Scan paper into clean PDFs.
Document Scanner supports auto-crop, multi-page PDFs, OCR text export, page rotation and reorder, and PDF export.
FAQ
Can I scan multiple pages into one PDF? +
Yes. Document Scanner is built for multi-page PDFs.
Can scanned PDFs become searchable? +
Yes. OCR searchable text is included in Pro.
Can I sign a scanned document? +
Yes. Scan it first, export the PDF, then sign or annotate it in PDF Toolkit.
Are scans uploaded? +
Scans stay local unless you export, share, or use a clearly labeled feature that requires upload.
Related pages
Steps
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Step 1
Open Document Scanner and frame the page
Tap Scan. Hold the iPhone over the document; the camera auto-detects edges and shows a green outline when the angle is good.
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Step 2
Capture every page
Tap once per page (or let auto-capture handle it). Scan a stack of pages back-to-back; the app stitches them into one document.
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Step 3
Confirm auto-crop and perspective
Review each page; tap to re-crop if the auto-detect missed an edge. Apply OCR to make the text searchable (Pro tier).
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Step 4
Export as searchable PDF
Tap Export → PDF. Choose multi-page or per-page split. Share via Mail, Messages, Files, or upload directly to portal apps.
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Step 5
Sign the exported PDF if needed
Open the exported scan in PDF Toolkit to add signatures, highlights, or notes before sending a contract or form.
Frequently asked questions
Can I scan multiple pages into one PDF?
Yes. Document Scanner is built for multi-page PDFs.
Can scanned PDFs become searchable?
Yes. OCR searchable text is included in Pro.
Can I sign a scanned document?
Yes. Scan it first, export the PDF, then sign or annotate it in PDF Toolkit.
Are scans uploaded?
Scans stay local unless you export, share, or use a clearly labeled feature that requires upload.