Scan documents on iPhone directly in Preview

Open Preview to scan paper directly: on iOS 26 or later, you do not need to create a note first. You can capture several pages in one session and save them as a single PDF.

Scan your pages in one go

1. Open Preview on your iPhone and tap “Scan Documents”.
2. Put the first page flat on a well-lit surface and point the camera at it. Let your iPhone capture the page automatically.
3. Capture the remaining pages in the same session. Tap a thumbnail if you need to adjust the crop, rotate a page or change its colour treatment.
4. Check every page, tap “Done” and save the PDF. Give it a useful name, such as “Washing machine warranty”.

Why this beats a handful of photos

The scanner detects document edges and collects the captures into a multipage PDF. You can send one complete document instead of several separate pictures. Starting in the Preview app skips the detour through a new note; you still choose a suitable location for the finished file.

Check before you share

Zoom in on small print and check the edges, page order and readability. Rescan any page with shadows or blurred text. Afterwards, you can annotate the PDF, fill it in or add a signature in Preview.

Preview on iPhone requires iOS 26 or later. On older versions, use Notes or Files to scan documents instead. Scanning cannot automatically make an unreadable original legible.