This article will show you how to scan documents on your computer, smartphone, or tablet. To do this on your computer, use a connected scanner (or a printer with a built-in scanner). On iPhone, you can use the built-in Notes app, and on Android, you can use the Google Drive app scan.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: On Windows
Step 1. Place the document face down in the scanner
Make sure the scanner is turned on and connected to your computer.
Step 2. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 3. In the Start menu search bar, enter faxes and scan
This will search for Fax and Scan.
Step 4. Click Fax and Scan
You will find this program at the top of the Start Menu.
Step 5. Click New
It's in the upper-left side of the Fax and Scan window. A new window will open.
Step 6. Select your scanner
If there is no name for your scanner at the top of the window, or if you have selected a different scanner, click Change (at the top right of the window) and then select the scanner you want.
Step 7. Select the type of document
Open the drop-down menu "Profile" and select the type of document (for example, "Photo").
Step 8. Specify the color of the document
Click the Color Format drop-down menu, and then select Color or Black & White. The scanner can also have color settings.
Step 9. Select the file type
From the File Type drop-down menu, select the file format (for example, PDF or JPG) in which the final file will be saved.
We recommend choosing PDF if you are scanning a document, not an image
Step 10. Change other parameters on the page
Depending on the scanner, the page may display other options (for example, Resolution) that you can change.
Step 11. Click Preview
This button is at the bottom of the window. A preview window will open and you can see what the scanned document will look like.
If you don't like the way the document looks in the preview window, correct the document in the scanner, and then click Preview again
Step 12. Click on Scan
This button is at the bottom of the window. The document will be scanned with the specified parameters and saved in the specified format.
Step 13. Find the scanned document
For this:
- open the start menu
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Windowsstart ;
- open File Explorer
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Windowsstartexplorer ;
- click "Documents" in the left part of the window;
- double-click the Scanned Documents folder.
Method 2 of 4: On Mac OS X
Step 1. Place the document face down in the scanner
Make sure the scanner is turned on and connected to your computer.
Step 2. Open the Apple menu
Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the screen. A dropdown menu will open.
Step 3. Click System Preferences
It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Printers & Scanners
This printer-shaped icon is on the right side of the System Preferences window.
Step 5. Select your scanner
Click on the name of your scanner (or printer) in the left pane.
Step 6. Click the Scan tab
It's at the top of the window.
Step 7. Click Open Scanner
You will find this option at the top of the Scan tab.
Step 8. Click Settings
It's in the lower-right side of the window.
Step 9. Select the file type
From the Format drop-down menu, select the file format (for example, PDF or JPEG) in which the final file will be saved.
We recommend choosing PDF if you are scanning a document, not an image
Step 10. Specify the color of the document
Click the View drop-down menu (at the top of the page), and then choose a color option (for example, Black & White).
Step 11. Select the folder where the scanned document will be placed
From the Save to drop-down menu, select the appropriate folder (for example, Desktop).
Step 12. Change other parameters on the page
Resolution or Orientation may appear depending on the type of document you are scanning.
Step 13. Click on Scan
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The document will be scanned and sent to the specified folder.
Method 3 of 4: On iPhone
Step 1. Open the Notes app
To do this, click on its icon.
Step 2. Click on the icon to create a new note
It is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
- If a note is displayed on the screen, click "<Notes" in the upper left corner of the screen.
- If a list of folders appears on the screen, click on the desired folder.
Step 3. Click on
This icon is at the bottom of the screen. A pop-up menu will open.
Step 4. Click Scan Documents
It's near the top of the pop-up menu.
Step 5. Point the smartphone camera at the document
Make the entire document appear on the device screen.
The better the document is visible on the screen, the better it will appear in the final file
Step 6. Press the scan button
It looks like a white circle and is located at the bottom of the screen. The document will be scanned.
Step 7. Click Continue Scanning
It's in the lower-right corner of your screen.
- Drag one of the marks located in the corners of the scanned document to crop it.
- To scan the document again, click on “Rescan” in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 8. Click Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Step 9. Click the icon
It's in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 10. Scroll right and click Create PDF
Scroll through the bottom, not the top row of options.
Step 11. Click Finish
It's in the upper-left corner of the screen.
Step 12. Save the scanned document
Click Save To when prompted, then follow these steps:
- click on "iCloud Drive" or another cloud storage;
- click "Add" in the upper right corner of the screen.
Method 4 of 4: On an Android device
Step 1. Open the Google Drive app
Click the blue-green-yellow triangle icon.
Step 2. Select a folder
Click on the folder where the final file will be sent.
Step 3. Press +
This icon is in the lower right corner of the screen. A pop-up menu will open.
Step 4. Click Scan
This camera-shaped icon is in the pop-up menu. The smartphone (or tablet) camera will turn on.
Step 5. Point the smartphone camera at the document
Make the document appear in the center of the screen.
Make sure you see a complete and undistorted document on the screen
Step 6. Press the scan button
It looks like a blue and white circle at the bottom of the screen. The document will be scanned.
Step 7. Click on ✓
This icon is in the lower-right corner of the screen. The scanned document will be saved.
- To crop the scanned document, drag one of the marks around the scanned document.
- To change additional options (for example, color), click "⋮" in the upper right corner of the screen.
- To add additional pages to a PDF document, click + and scan another document.
Step 8. Save the scanned document to your smartphone
Click ⋮ in the lower-right corner of the scanned document thumbnail, and then click Download from the menu.