How to scan a document to PDF with iPhone or Android
2 min read·24 July 2026
Turning a paper document into a PDF does not require a scanner. With your smartphone you can scan documents in seconds — sharp, straight, and ready as a PDF. Here are the best methods for iPhone, Android, and traditional scanners.
Scan with iPhone
Open the Files app and tap the camera icon (top right), or use Notes → New Note → Camera icon → Scan Documents. iOS automatically corrects the angle and exports a PDF. You can also save to iCloud or share directly from the Files app.
Scan with Android
On Android, use Google Drive: open the app, tap the + button, choose "Scan", and photograph your document. Google Drive corrects the perspective and saves it as a PDF in Drive. Samsung phones also have a built-in document scanner in the Camera app.
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Improve scan quality
Place the document on a dark, flat surface. Use good, even lighting without shadows. Hold the phone directly above the document. Most apps automatically adjust perspective and brightness, but starting with a good setup always helps.
Compress or merge your scan
Got a scanned PDF that is too large to email? Use the PDF compressor on PDFrust to shrink the file. Want to combine multiple scanned pages? Drop them into the merge tool and combine them into one clean document.
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