Did you know there’s a native iPhone app that allows you to scan, edit, and sign documents? We’ve written a lot about Apple’s Notes app in the past, including general tips and tricks and new features rolled out with iOS 18.
While other specialized document scanning apps and dedicated scanners (let’s face it, they can be a pain) may be of higher quality, it’s nice to know this functionality is already built into your iPhone — and it’s been there since 2017 when iOS 11 came out.
It’s particularly convenient when you need to sign and share a document quickly. Here’s how to scan a document on your iPhone with Apple’s Notes app. It works on your iPad, too.
- To start, find and open the Notes app on your iPhone.
- Start a new note by tapping the square icon with the pencil in the bottom-right corner of your screen) or open an existing note.
- Tap the paperclip icon (Attachments). If you’re running iOS 17 or older, you’ll tap the Camera icon above the keyboard.
- Select Scan Documents from the menu.
- The Camera app will open. Position your iPhone so the camera captures the document within the yellow rectangular guides. The camera will automatically “scan” the document, or you can tap the camera’s shutter as if taking a picture.
Once you’ve “scanned” a document, you can edit it before saving it. You can crop your scan, rotate it, and adjust the color filters. If you’re not happy with how it turned out, tap Retake in the top-right to re-take the photo of the document. If it’s good to go, tap Done in the top-left corner, and you’ll be able to save your scan.
Now that your scan is saved, tap the down arrow next to the label “Scanned Documents.” A menu will appear, allowing you to Rename the document, save it to a specific location, or share it, among other things.
Finally, you can sign your scan if necessary. Here’s how.
- Tap the Markup icon (the pen within a circle).
- Tap the + icon in the bottom-right of your screen.
- Tap Add Signature.
That’s all there is to it! Remember, the quality may not be sufficient for every scenario. It’s a serviceable alternative to physical scanners and quicker (sometimes cheaper, too) than downloading a specialized app. Now you know next time you need to sign a document on the go, the Notes app can get the job done.
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