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Free Document & Photo Scanner… Thanks Apple!

By iPad Pete 72 Comments

Did you know hidden away in your Notes App on your iPhone or iPad…

You have a Free Document & Photo Scanner!

With just a couple of taps, you’ll have a perfectly scanned document…

Ready to save, email, message, upload, mark up, fax, covert to PDF, share with another app, etc…

Also works great for making digital copies of all those photos you have hidden away in shoeboxes.

Here’s how to Scan Documents and Photos on your iPhone or iPad…

1) Open your “Notes” App.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is t-5731-1615991925464-df7bdf2c31b2a4a9e6551e8f298535af.jpg

2) Select the icon in the lower right corner of the screen. This is the “Create New Note” icon.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is t-5731-1615991925527-0674d348782d8c8fcb2cea7e553b8190.png

3) Tap anywhere inside the body of the note to bring up the “Options” menu. Select the “Camera” icon from the “Options” toolbar.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is t-5731-1615991925555-f3fcececa8bad178ae0ab3d35e7d1420.jpg

4) Select the option labeled “Scan Documents.”

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is t-5731-1615991925587-365e2d2c362ff12975fb88fe870cbd35.jpg

Now, all you have to do is lay your photo or document on a flat surface with good lighting. Just select the “Shutter” button from the camera window and that photo will now have a high quality digital version on your iPhone!

I like to do it near a window for good lighting, and keep the light in front of you so you don’t create any shadows.


If you have friends who would also love a free document & photo scanner, please use the Share Buttons below to share this blog post. I really appreciate you helping spread the word about my Free Daily Tech Tips! 🙂

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Filed Under: Features, iPhone Photography, Popular

Comments

  1. Alberto Bagdadi-Nathan says

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    Liked this scan

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Glad you liked it Alberto!

      Reply
  2. Karen says

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    Thank you, this is great news.

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      You’re welcome Karen!

      Reply
  3. Lucy says

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    I love all your tips. You make it so easy. Thanks, thanks

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Glad you find them useful Lucy!

      Reply
    • Myriamjoseph says

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      Yahooooooo!! Thank you Pete

      Reply
  4. Dianna L Cline says

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    Very helpful – thank you!

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      You’re welcome Dianna!

      Reply
  5. Sharon says

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    Will this work with the new iphone 12 pro max since close up photos are hard to take?

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      I haven’t tested it specifically on an iPhone 12 pro max, but I’m sure it works the same on any iPhone that’s been updated to the latest operating system.

      Reply
      • Lorry says

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        How is this different from just taking a picture with camera?

        Reply
        • Peter says

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          That’s what I’d like to know also.
          Thanks!

          Reply
          • Janice says

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            Same question

        • IStallion says

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          My thought too….great minds think alike.

          Reply
        • Carol says

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          The scanner brightens the background and doc looks like it has been scanned on a regular scanner.

          Reply
  6. Kathy Menard says

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    I need to know if it’s possible to sign a document to forward..
    I have copied my signature but don’t know how to transfer it to the document if possible.

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      I print out the document and sign it. Then scan and send it.

      Reply
  7. Merry Phillips says

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    Can’t wait to try it. Thanks

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Enjoy Merry!

      Reply
  8. Judy says

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    This is great but how do you attach it to an email?

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Just use the box-and-arrow icon in Notepad and choose the “Mail” option. That will attach it to an email right from within Notepad.

      Reply
      • Nancy Borreggine says

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        I can’t find the box and arrow on notes

        Reply
  9. Maxie says

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    This is a great feature, gonna try it.

    Reply
  10. Ruth G. Poley says

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    How is this different fro taking a picture of the document, and where is the scan stored?

    Reply
  11. Kathleen Kollar says

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    Where do I find the document?

    Reply
    • Carol says

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      It is stored in your notes. .I think you get a better image coping as a document vrs a photo.

      Reply
  12. Sheril says

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    This is awesome, thank you!!! I love that you include pictures as well as script, you make it so easy to learn!

    Reply
    • Rhonda Marie Rachal says

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      I do too

      Reply
  13. Bill Zeits says

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    So where does the scanned document go? It’s not in photos.

    Reply
  14. Bill Z says

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    Looks like it saves as a pdf in your Notes folder. Any other save options like jpeg?

    Reply
  15. Sharrell Ronald Taylor says

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    I love getting your messages. I learn something new always. Thanks

    Reply
  16. Carol Hill says

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    I used to be able to do this. But now when I touch in new note the selections with camera does not appear. I have updated to latest IOS 14.4.1. Any help appreciated. I have the 8plus iPhone

    Reply
    • Glenda says

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      I have the same question, Carol. I can’t find an online answer. I have the same IOS and phone as you do.

      Reply
    • Pat says

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      I have the same phone. You have to start to form your note in iCloud not under email service like gmail or yahoo otherwise the camera icon does not come up. It took me a long time to discover this.
      Go into notes icon, iCloud, pick notes, start new note in bottom Right corner and camera icon appears above keyboard.
      Good luck

      Reply
  17. Paul Walker says

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    What if I don’t have a Notes App? How do I get it?

    Reply
  18. Nerisa says

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    ❤️

    Reply
  19. Dianna says

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    Thank you, I was able to use it yesterday to send an important document

    Reply
  20. covarrubia911 says

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    Thanks a million times over. You Help is Greatly appreciated.. Love the Arrows pointing to exactly where to click on that is an especially helpful.

    Reply
  21. Lisa Gilbert says

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    Thank you that I saw my emails about you and I never know that, I learn that.

    Reply
  22. Edie says

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    This is great information , thanks

    Reply
  23. M. Martin says

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    How do you convert to a pdf?

    Reply
  24. Renuka says

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    Thank you so much, great help!

    Reply
  25. Renuka says

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    Thank you so much, great help! Great informatio

    Reply
    • Annie says

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      Thank you, so easy to do!

      Reply
  26. Marta l. Reyes says

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    It is great !!!

    Reply
  27. Dianne Rowe says

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    I have had to scan and send my husband’s docs for years. I am set free. Thank you so much. Keep on sharing your stuff.
    Dianne

    Reply
  28. Dorothy says

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    Thank you for these helps,one at a time. Very clear.

    Reply
  29. Eileen says

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    So simple and easy, thanks!

    Reply
  30. Ellen J. Jenkins says

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    Imagine my surprise at suddenly hearing from iPad Pete again! I was a regular for many years then was cut off for at least two years. I do enjoy the tips that you deliver. Thanks for coming back.

    Reply
  31. Barb Bauer says

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    Loved this, but I can’t find the scan. I have no scan file.

    Reply
  32. Elena says

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    Tried and loved the scanner! Now, how can I forward the scanned document?

    Reply
  33. Nancy says

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    Where does the scanned document show up on your phone ?

    Reply
  34. Nancy and Bill Lively says

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    This is my first email from you. I love the scanning information. Please keep me on your email list.

    Reply
  35. Pat N Gail says

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    Thank you so much. This is very helpful

    Reply
  36. Rani Mahajan says

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    I just tried scanning a picture. Love this feature. Thanks and your tutorial is so easy to follow. The arrows pointing is great!

    Reply
  37. Mary says

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    OMG….so easy and quick. Just like making a deposit in to my checking account !!

    Reply
  38. Randall Wooten says

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    What’s the difference in this than using you camera?

    Reply
  39. Peggy Newsome says

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    Thanks! This is great info and I can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
  40. Karen+Griswold says

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    Right under our noses. Very helpful!
    Thanks!

    Reply
  41. Caryn P says

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    Note that Scan Documents function is also available from the ellipses (…) menu in the Files app which is on all iOS devices too.

    Reply
    • Rosaria says

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      That’s where I found it. Thanks very much.

      Reply
  42. Ann Marek says

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    Thank you very much for all your helpful tips. On another day could you address the problem of not getting a sound notification on your phone when a text comes in when you are wearing your Apple watch?

    Reply
  43. Maryhelen says

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    Thank you for all your helpful tips! I scanned a few photos which came out great, and forwarded them to my cousin. My question is how do I forward them to my photos?

    Reply
  44. Rosaria says

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    Thanks for the great tips.

    Reply
  45. Darci says

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    I have always appreciated all your tips! I have an “antique” IPhone 6… Instead of having a picture of camera on btm, I have a + sign in a circle. I can scan BUT I can’t ever get scan to go to an email.I always send to myself also and hear the “whoosh”, but it never goes through. I end up having to send as a text – which works, but in business it is embarrassing to have to ask to send to si so es phone…. Any ideas WHY???

    Reply
  46. Nancy says

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    Great….Fast and easy!!!! Thank you

    Reply
  47. Marcelyn says

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    OMG‍♀️! Love your tips. Thank You so much.

    Reply
  48. Darlene Herman says

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    I scanned the photo and saved it but I tried all the symbols below it and none let me open it to send as an attachment. I saw several comments asking for directions on how to send it. Can you help with those directions please. Thanks
    PS I also love your tips and this one is exciting to learn about.

    Reply
  49. Sandi says

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    I have been a student from the first IPad. I got the membership right from the git go. I’m so grateful. Being a senior. Simple directions on screen is awesome!!

    Reply
  50. Sandi says

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    Okay. Thanks

    Reply

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