How to scan documents
You can scan your documents directly with your smartphone.
It doesn't matter what kind of smartphone you have. You can either use the pre-installed scan function or download a free app.
Here are some tips to help you and the steps to follow.
Scanning a document using an Android phone (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Google, etc.)
If you have a smartphone with an Android operating system, you can use the Google Drive app pre-installed on your device.
- To start, open the Google Drive app and tap '+' in the bottom right of your screen.
- Select 'Scan'.
Your document will be scanned using your smartphone's camera. Frame your document so that the entire content is visible, then tap the shutter button to take a photo.
- If you are happy with the photo, tap '✔️' to validate the scan.
The document will be saved to your Google Drive library (if you are connected via Wi-Fi).
If you want to improve the quality of the scan, you can edit your document in Google Drive before saving it (crop, rotate, black and white image, etc.).
Once you have made the changes, validate the result by tapping '✔️'.
Lastly, if you want to scan several pages in the same document, tap ‘+’ before validating the scan with the tick mark once all pages have been processed.
Scanning a document using an iPhone (iOS operating system)
If you are using an iPhone, the fastest way to scan a document is to use the Notes app pre-installed on your device (iOS 11 or higher).
To start scanning:
- Go to the Notes app on your phone
- Create a new note by clicking the button at the bottom right of the screen.
- In a note, tap the paperclip icon, then tap 'Scan Document'.
- When the camera is ready, position it over the document to be scanned and hold it as close as possible, ensuring the entire page fits within the frame.
- Once you have taken the photo, you can add more scans by repeating this operation. You can also edit the document directly in the app (for example, crop, rotate or add colour).
- Once all the documents have been scanned, select the ones you want.
- Tap the yellow tick icon when you have finished.
- Share your documents by tapping the icon of the service you want in the bottom left.
A few tips for taking the best possible images using a smartphone
Make sure you photograph the whole document. It's better to take a photo with a wider angle and crop the image afterwards than to have important parts that are outside of the frame.
Position yourself properly above your document to avoid distorting the image. Give the camera time to focus to avoid having blurry pictures.
Make sure there is enough light to ensure that the text is legible.
Scanning documents using apps
To choose the app that suits you best, go to:
• Google Play if you are on Android
• App Store on your iPhone