Scanning paper with an iPhone

Step-by-step guides to scanning documents with the apps already on your iPhone, and what to do when the result isn't what the other person asked for: a file that's too big to upload, a scan stuck inside a note, an ID that needs both sides on one page.

• How to scan a document on iPhone

  Your iPhone already has a document scanner in Notes, Files, Preview and Mail. Here is how to use each one in iOS 26, and which to pick.

• How to scan a document on iPhone and email it as a PDF

  Two ways to send a scan as a real PDF attachment from iPhone, and how to get a scan that is already in Notes out of the note without losing pages.

• How to make a scanned PDF smaller on iPhone

  How to shrink a scanned PDF with Preview in iOS 26, how to check its size, and what to do when it still won't go under an upload limit.

• How to scan both sides of an ID onto one page on iPhone

  The iPhone scanner puts the front and back of a card on separate pages. Here is when that is fine, and a built-in way to get both sides onto a single page in iOS 26.

Written by the people building Paperfind, a document scanner for iPhone. It isn't out yet.