How to Scan and Send Documents with Your iPhone or iPad
Your iPhone or iPad can double as a portable scanner, making it simple to turn paperwork into digital files you can store or share. Whether it’s receipts, contracts, or forms, you don’t need a separate scanner—just use the built-in features or your email app. Here’s how.
Scanning with the Notes App
- Open Notes
Launch the Notes app and create a new note by tapping the + icon. - Start Scanning
Tap the camera icon and choose Scan Documents. Point your camera at the page. If Auto mode is on, the app will capture it automatically, otherwise tap the shutter button. - Add More Pages
Need multiple pages? Just repeat the scan. - Save
When you’re done, tap Save. The scan will be stored inside that note.
Sending Your Scan
- Open the scanned document in Notes.
- Tap the … (three dots) and choose Send a Copy.
- Select your email app (like Mail), enter the recipient’s address, and hit Send.
Scanning Directly from the Outlook App
If you’re using Outlook for email:
- Open Outlook and start a new email.
- Tap the camera icon → choose Document.
- Line up the page within the blue outline and press the shutter button.
- Adjust or retake if needed, then confirm.
- Add more pages if necessary, then tap Done.
- The document will be attached to your email, ready to send.
Where to Find Your Scanned Documents
- In Notes: All scans are saved inside the note you created. To quickly locate them, use the search bar in Notes and select Notes with Scanned Documents.
- On iCloud.com: Sign in with your Apple ID, go to Notes, and use the search field to find scans.
- In Third-Party Apps: If you use apps like Scanner Pro, Adobe Scan, or Microsoft Lens, scans are saved inside those apps. Many allow automatic uploads to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud.
Extra Tips
- Color Options: You can scan in color, grayscale, or black and white.
- Editing: For annotations or text editing, open your scan in apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader or Microsoft Word.
- Multiple Pages: Use the continuous scan option in Notes for multi-page documents.
- Sharing: From Notes or your scan app, you can export files to email, messaging apps, or cloud storage with the Share button.
In short: Your iPhone can handle scanning and sending documents without extra tools. Use Notes for quick scans, Outlook if you want to attach directly to emails, or third-party apps if you need more advanced features.
