Scan documents with the Notes app on iPhone and Android

Scanning documents with the Notes app on iPhone and Android

Did you know you don't need to install a separate app to scan documents with your smartphone? Both iPhones and Android phones have excellent scanning features built into their standard note-taking apps. In this article you'll learn how to get the most out of these hidden gems to digitize all your paper documents.

Scanning with the iPhone Notes app

Apple's Notes app includes one of the best built-in document scanners available. This feature is available on all iPhones running iOS 11 or later, which means virtually every iPhone still in use has it. The scanner is surprisingly powerful and delivers results that can rival dedicated scanning apps.

Scanning on iPhone step by step

To start scanning, open the Notes app on your iPhone. You can open an existing note or create a new one by tapping the icon in the bottom right. In the note, tap the camera icon above the keyboard. A menu appears in which you choose 'Scan Documents'.

Your iPhone's camera now switches to scan mode. Point the camera at the document you want to scan. The app automatically detects the edges of the document and highlights them with a yellow frame. As soon as the whole document is in view and the app is satisfied with the detection, a scan is taken automatically. You hear a shutter sound and briefly see the scanned image.

If you prefer to stay in control yourself, you can turn off automatic scanning by tapping 'Auto' in the top right corner. You then press the shutter button yourself when you are ready to scan.

Editing and saving scans

After scanning, you can adjust the corners of the document by dragging the points. This is handy if the automatic detection was not quite perfect. You can also apply a color filter: choose from color, grayscale, black and white, or photo. For text documents, black and white often gives the best result with maximum contrast.

When you are happy with the scan, tap 'Keep Scan'. You can then add more pages by repeating the process. Once all pages are scanned, tap 'Save' to store the document in your note. The scanned document is saved as a PDF and can be shared right away via AirDrop, email or other apps.

Scanning with Google Notes (Keep)

Google Keep is the default note-taking app on many Android phones and also offers scanning options, although in a slightly different way than the iPhone. Google Keep itself has no direct scanning feature, but it works seamlessly with Google Drive for scanning documents.

Scanning a document via Google Drive

The primary way to scan documents on Android is through the Google Drive app. Open Google Drive and tap the plus button in the bottom right. Choose 'Scan' from the menu that appears. The camera opens and you can bring the document into view. Just like on the iPhone, the edges are detected automatically.

After taking the scan, you can crop, rotate and apply a color filter. You can add multiple pages by tapping the plus icon. When you are done, tap the checkmark to save the scan. The document is automatically saved to your Google Drive and is immediately accessible from any device.

Samsung Notes scanning feature

Owners of a Samsung phone have an extra option: Samsung Notes includes a built-in scanning feature. Open Samsung Notes and create a new note. Tap the attachment icon and choose 'Scan document'. The scanner works much like the iPhone's and produces excellent results.

Benefits of built-in scanning apps

Using built-in scanning apps has several advantages over installing separate applications. First, they take up no extra storage space on your phone. The features are already there and optimized for your specific device.

Privacy is another important benefit. Built-in apps from Apple and Google are generally more trustworthy when it comes to data protection than some free third-party apps. Your documents stay within your phone's ecosystem and are not sent to unknown servers.

Integration with other features on your phone is also better. On iPhone, scanned documents are automatically synced via iCloud to your other Apple devices. On Android, the integration with Google Drive works seamlessly, so your scans are immediately available in your Google account.

Tips for better scans with note-taking apps

Optimal lighting

The quality of your scan depends heavily on the lighting. Make sure you have even, bright light without harsh shadows. Natural daylight is ideal, but avoid direct sunlight, which can cause reflections on glossy paper. With artificial light, a combination of a ceiling light and a desk lamp often works well.

Steady position

Hold your phone as still as possible while scanning. Although modern phones have good image stabilization, a steady position still gives the sharpest result. Rest your elbows on the table or use both hands to hold your phone.

Contrasting background

Place white documents on a dark background and vice versa. This helps the automatic edge detection identify the document correctly. A plain colored surface works better than a pattern.

Organizing scanned documents

After scanning, good organization is essential. Use descriptive titles for your notes so you can easily find your documents later. Create folders for different categories such as work, finances and personal. On iPhone you can also use tags for extra organization.

Consider exporting important documents to a central storage location. Although the note-taking apps work well for storing scans, a dedicated document management system or cloud storage service may be better suited for long-term archiving.

Limitations of built-in scanners

Although the built-in scanning features are excellent for everyday use, they have some limitations. The OCR functionality (text recognition) is limited compared to specialized apps such as Adobe Scan. If you work a lot with searchable PDFs, a dedicated app may be a better choice.

The editing options are also more limited. You can make basic adjustments such as cropping and applying filters, but advanced features such as combining documents from different notes or adding annotations are not always available.

Frequently asked questions

Does the iPhone Notes app have a built-in scanner?

Yes, the Notes app on iPhone has an excellent built-in document scanner. Open a note, tap the camera icon and choose 'Scan Documents'. The feature is available on all iPhones running iOS 11 or later.

Can I scan documents with Google Keep?

Google Keep has no direct scanning feature, but you can easily scan via Google Drive. Open Google Drive, tap the plus button and choose 'Scan'. The scanned documents are then available throughout your Google account.

Are scanned documents synced automatically?

Yes, on iPhone, scans in the Notes app are automatically synced via iCloud to all your Apple devices. On Android, scans are synced with your Google account via Google Drive and can be accessed on any device.

Can I scan multiple pages into one document?

Yes, both the iPhone Notes app and Google Drive support scanning multiple pages into a single PDF document. After each scan you get the option to add extra pages before you save the document.