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How to Scan a Document on iPhone: A Complete Guide

March 3, 2025 155 views


Gone are the days of big scanners; now, your iPhone can easily do all document scanning tasks. Whether you want to digitize receipts, contracts, or handwritten notes, the right tools can make it seamless. Though Apple itself provides scanning features, one far more efficient and feature-rich option is WPS Office. This all-in-one document management solution offers high-quality scans, OCR technology, and cloud integration, making it the ultimate choice for users in search of a professional scanning experience.

Why Scan Documents on iPhone?

Document scanning with the help of your iPhone means saying goodbye to bulky scanners and enables you on-the-go digitization of paperwork. Here are some of the advantages:

  • Convenience:Scan anywhere, anytime without needing special equipment

  • Quick Sharing:Email, share via messenger, or send them to cloud storage in a trice.

  • Better Organization:Save the digital copy of important documents.

  • Improved Security:Keep your sensitive documents right within your phone.

  • Eco-Friendly:Go paperless, avoid unnecessary prints, and thereby waste no paper.

Now, let's dive deep into how you can scan a document on an iPhone with different methods.

Method 1: Using Notes App (Built-in iPhone Scanner)

The Notes app by Apple features a powerful document scanner that allows you to scan and save documents as PDFs or images.

Step-by-Step Guide to Scan with Notes App

Step 1. Open the Notes App: Launch the Notes app on your iPhone.

Step 2. New Note: The Compose button is used to create a new note.

Step 3. Scanner: Click the Camera icon and select Scan Documents.

Step 4. Place Your Document: Place your document under the camera. The scanner will automatically detect edges and capture the document.

Step 5. Adjust if Needed: If the scan isn't perfect, you can manually adjust corners.

Step 6. Save the Scan: Tap Save; the scanned document will be stored in your note.

Step 7.Share or Export: Tap on the scanned document and select Share to send by email, messages, or save into Files.

Pros & Cons of Using the Notes App

Pros:

  • Free and integrated into iOS,

  • There is no need to download third-party applications;

  • It's simple and easy to use.

Cons:

  • You can't edit options.

  • No OCR to extract text.

For those who need more advanced features like OCR, cloud storage, and document editing, third-party apps like WPS Office offer better functionality.

Method 2: Using WPS Office for Advanced Scanning

If you need a more professional scanning solution, WPS Office is an excellent choice. It provides high-quality scans, OCR for text recognition, and multiple export formats, such as PDF and Word.

Step-by-Step Guide to Scan with WPS Office

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Step 1: Open WPS Office on your mobile device and tap the "+" icon.

Step 2: Select "Doc Scanner" to create a new OCR document.

Step 3: Choose the document you want to scan and tap the Camera button to open the scanning interface.

Step 4: WPS OCR will extract text from the document, with WPS AI enhancing the scanning process for better accuracy.

Step 5: After scanning, tap "Export" to proceed.

Step 6: Save the scanned document to access the extracted text easily.

Step 7: Copy and save the extracted text for future reference.

Why Use WPS Office for Scanning?

Pros:

  • Highest quality scanning with auto edge detection

  • OCR to extract text from images

  • Multiple export formats (PDF, Word, etc.)

  • Cloud storage integration for easy access

  • Batch scanning for multiple pages

Method 3: Using the Files App

Apple's Files app includes a built-in scanning feature that allows users to save documents directly to iCloud Drive or local storage.

Steps to Scan a Document:

Step 1: Open the Files app on your device.

Step 2: Navigate to the folder where you want to save the scanned document.

Step 3: Tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.

Step 4: Select Scan Documents.

Step 5: Capture the document and adjust it as needed.

Step 6: Save the file directly into the selected folder.

Pros & Cons of Using Files App

Pros:

  • Directly saves to iCloud Drive

  • No need to use third-party apps

Cons:

  • Limited editing options

  • No OCR feature

Method 4: Using Third-Party Scanner Apps

Apart from WPS Office, several other third-party apps offer scanning capabilities:

Popular Scanner Apps for iPhone

  1. Adobe Scan – Free, with OCR capabilities and cloud storage.

  2. Microsoft Lens – Integrates with OneDrive and Office apps.

  3. CamScanner – Advanced scanning with annotation and sharing options.

  4. Scanbot – High-quality scanning with AI enhancements.

Why Choose WPS Office for Scanning?

WPS Office is way beyond a simple document scanner; it's a complete document management solution. Here's why it stands out:

  • High-Quality Scanning: WPS Office ensures sharp and clear document scans with auto edge detection and enhancement features.

  • OCR Technology: The inbuilt feature of OCR feature extraction text from the scanned image is to make it editable and sharable.

  • Multi-Format Export: Save the documents being scanned into PDF, Word, and other image file formats.

  • Cloud Storage Integration: Store the scanned documents via WPS Cloud for easy and smooth collaboration and backup.

  • Batch Scanning: You can easily scan multi-page documents in one go and make them a single document with all the pages.

  • User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive design makes scanning really easy, even for beginners.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I scan documents to PDF on iPhone?

Yes! Both the Notes app and WPS Office allow saving scans as PDFs.

2. How do I scan multiple pages into one document?

With WPS Office, you just keep scanning pages, and they will automatically be combined into a single file.

3. Is WPS Office free for scanning?

Yes, WPS Office has a free scanning feature, but some advanced options, such as OCR, might be available with only a Value subscription. 4. How to scan and send a document by email from an iPhone? Just after scanning, tap the Share button and choose Mail to attach the scanned document in an email.

Conclusion

If you only need a basic scan, the default Notes and Files apps will do. But for something professional like OCR, cloud storage, and export into several formats, WPS Office should do. It provides seamless scanning, editing, and management of documents right from your iPhone.

WPS Office makes your iPhone a powerful document scanner for work, school, or personal use. Try WPS Office now for free and discover how easy document scanning can be.

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15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.