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(Image credit: Getty Images / Nuttawan Jayawan)Did you know you can scan documents on iPhone? The iPhone has become the best scanning equipment in the world, thanks to the cameras on the best iPhones that allow you to quickly scan a document.
Not only can you scan your documents easily with the Notes app but you can turn them into PDFs, send them to friends, mark them up, and use them in other apps.
In the past, you had to rely on a massive scanner to scan files and other documents into your computer, but gone are those days, and now any iPhone will let you scan in just a few simple steps. Here's how to scan documents on iPhone to digitalize important information.
The document scanner can be found in the Notes app on your iOS device. With just a few taps, you'll have a well-scanned document ready to mark up, convert to PDF, and share with another app.
The scanned pages will populate in a new note in the Notes app. Feel free to add other text or images if necessary. The great thing about using the scanner in the Notes app is that it's still a note and works exactly the same way that you'll already be used to.
Once you've scanned a document, you can mark it up with any of the built-in markup tools in the Notes app. With the markup tools, you can highlight, handwrite, cut out, and move sections (magic rope style), and add a text box, shape, or arrows. You can also add your signature, all from within the Notes app — signing documents has never been so easy.
All of markup changes will now be saved.
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While you were previously required to turn your scanned documents into PDFs manually, the Notes app in iOS 17 does this automatically. Saving the PDFs in the Files app is the easiest way to keep on top of these documents, here's how to do it.
Want to send your scanned document to a friend, family member, or colleague? You can do that easily from the Notes app.
If you've accidentally scanned the same document twice or decide you want to try again after you've saved a scanned document, you can delete a single scan without having to delete an entire document.
You will only delete the specific scanned page you've selected. If you want to delete the entire document, simply delete the note.
This guide is everything you need to convert some physical documents into digital versions to make your life easier. Store them and share them right from your iPhone without any hassle. Once you've mastered this simple tool, you'll be well on the way to digitally decluttering your life.
Perhaps one of the greatest parts of being able to scan documents on iPhone is the camera's built-in reading functions. Not only can you scan your documents, but you can read them through the app, copy them, and then add them into a brand new doc. This can then be read aloud via screen readers, which can't be done with traditional physical documents.
Even if you don't have a reason to scan documents, doing so can go a long way when the person on the other end of your communication line has limited vision or struggles to read a picture.
There are many reasons to scan documents on iPhone and now you know how to use the feature you'll quickly see why.
The scan tool on your iPhone is located in the Notes app on your iPhone.
You can scan documents with your iPhone's camera by opening the Notes app on your iPhone, creating a new note, and then selecting the camera icon.