How to Scan on iPhone: A Complete Guide with Tips, Tricks, and App Recommendations

Introduction

These days, having a scanner at home or in the office can feel like a thing of the past. With smartphones becoming more powerful, it’s easier than ever to use them as portable scanning devices. But did you know that your iPhone can also scan documents and images with surprising accuracy? In this guide, we’ll teach you how to scan on your iPhone and give you tips and tricks to achieve the best results. We’ll also recommend some of the best scanning apps available for iPhone users. So, read on to learn how to use your iPhone as a scanner!

Learn How to Scan Any Document with Your iPhone Camera

Most iPhone users don’t know that the built-in camera app comes equipped with a scanning feature. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to access that feature and scan any document with your iPhone:

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the new note button (+ sign) to create a new note.
3. Tap on the camera icon.
4. Tap Scan Documents.
5. Point your camera at the document you want to scan, and make sure it’s lined up correctly within the orange box. The camera should detect the document and automatically snap a photo of it.
6. If needed, adjust the corners of the scan using the auto-cropping tool.
7. Tap Save.
8. You’ll now see a thumbnail of the scan within your note. Tap on it to open and view it.

You can also use this feature to scan multiple pages and combine them into one document, which can be saved as a PDF. It’s a game-changer, isn’t it?

5 Best Scanning Apps for iPhone

If you’re looking for more advanced scanning features than what the built-in camera app provides, take a look at some of the best scanning apps available for iPhone users.

1. Scanner Pro: This app allows users to scan receipts, business cards, and documents and then export them as PDFs or save them to cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Drive. The app’s signature feature is that it can scan documents even in low light and will automatically correct perspective distortion.
2. Adobe Scan: The Adobe Scan app provides advanced image processing technology that enhances the clarity of text in a scan. It features automatic OCR (optical character recognition) that can convert your scans to searchable text. Users can save their scans as PDFs or JPGs.
3. Genius Scan: With Genius Scan, users can scan any document to PDF or JPG format. You can also export your scans to different cloud storage options such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. The app’s batch scanning feature makes it easier to scan multiple pages and organize them into one document.
4. CamScanner: CamScanner allows you to scan and export your documents as PDFs. It also has the OCR feature which automatically recognizes text in your scans. This feature particularly comes in handy if you’re scanning in foreign languages.
5. Scanbot: Finally, Scanbot comes with a host of cool features such as Smart file naming, OCR, and a powerful editing tool. Scans can be sent directly to a cloud storage service or any other app that accepts PDFs or JPGs.

Maximize Your iPhone’s Scanning Capabilities: Tips and Tricks

Even if you’re using a scanning app, there are still things you can do to ensure that your scans come out looking sharp and crisp. Here are some tips and tricks for getting the best results when scanning on your iPhone:

• Lighting: To get the best results when scanning, make sure that the room is well lit. Natural light is usually the best option. Ideally, you should place your document near a window or another source of natural light. If you must scan in low light, consider using a flashlight or desk lamp to avoid shadows interfering with your scans.
• Angle: For the most accurate scan, keep your iPhone parallel to the document or image being scanned.
• Brightness and Contrast: If your scans are coming out too dark or with poor contrast, try adjusting the brightness and contrast settings on your iPhone camera app. Usually, underexposed scans result in poorly lit images, and overexposed scans will result in washed out scans.
• Avoid Blurry or Dark Images: This one’s kind of obvious, but it’s important to keep in mind. For the best possible scans, make sure your hands are steady and your hold your iPhone’s camera still. Otherwise, you may end up with a blurry or dark image.

How to Scan and Save Images as PDF on iPhone in Seconds

If you’re in a hurry and need to save images as PDFs almost instantly, you’ll love this tip. Here is how to do it:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Find the image or images you want to convert to PDFs.
3. Tap “Select” and select the images.
4. Tap the “Share” button on the bottom left corner.
5. Scroll right to select “Save to Files” and tap it.
6. Tap Save next to the “Cant Delete” folder. This PDF file will now be saved in your iPhone’s Files app.

That’s it! This method is great if you want a quick way to save images as PDFs.

Scanning Receipts for Expense Reports: How to Do It on Your iPhone

Keeping track of receipts for your expense reports can be a tedious task, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to quickly scan your receipts on your iPhone:

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
2. Create a new note.
3. Tap on the camera icon to select ‘Scan Documents’.
4. Place the receipt on the surface you have designated for scanning.
5. Let the scanner capture the picture of your receipt for a second or two.
6. Your scan should appear on the screen.
7. Tap the Share icon and select your desired location to download your scans.

If you need to keep track of multiple receipts, create a new note for each receipt and save them under different headings using the Notes app’s folder system. You can use the folder system to organize and store receipts for different trips or different expenses.

Scanning on iPhone: Best Practices for High-Quality Results

To get the most out of your iPhone’s scanning capabilities, it’s important to follow some best practices when scanning your documents or images. Here are some tips:

1. Ensure that your document or image is flat.
2. Make sure the lighting is sufficient, and the room is well lit.
3. Keep your iPhone steady and as parallel as possible to your document or image.
4. Use the cropping tool to remove any unwanted areas around the document or image.
5. Finally, review the scan to ensure that it is legible and of good quality.

By following these tips, your scans should come out looking professional and crisp.

How to Scan Documents on iPhone and Save Them to Cloud Storage

Saving your scanned documents to cloud storage is an excellent way to keep them organized and secure. Here’s how to save your scans to cloud storage using your iPhone:

1. Open the scanning app of your choice and start scanning your document or image.
2. Once you have finished, select the “Export” or “Save” option.
3. Choose your preferred cloud storage option from the list of available destinations.
4. Follow the prompts to log in to your cloud storage account and give permission to save your document or image to that account.
5. Finally, select the folder where you would like to save your document or image.

That’s it! Your scan should now be safely stored in your cloud storage account.

Conclusion

Scanning on your iPhone can be a game-changer, as it allows you to create high-quality scans of images and documents while you’re on the go. In this article, we’ve provided step-by-step instructions for scanning on your iPhone, tips and tricks for getting the best results, and recommended some of the best scanning apps for iPhone users. So, next time you need to scan something, give it a try on your iPhone.