This wikiHow teaches you how to scan a document to a computer, smartphone, or tablet. To scan a document through a computer, you must connect a scanner or scanner (or a printer with a built-in scanning device) to the computer. You can also use the iPhone's built-in Notes app to scan documents. Meanwhile, Android device users can use the scanner feature on Google Drive.
Step
Method 1 of 4: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Place the document face down on the scanner
You also need to make sure the scanner is turned on and connected to the computer before proceeding.
Step 2. Open the Start menu
Click the Windows logo in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Type fax and scan into the Start window
After that, the computer will search for the Windows Fax and Scan program.
Step 4. Click Windows Fax and Scan
It's at the top of the Start window.
Step 5. Click New Scan
It's in the lower-left corner of the Fax and Scan program window. Once clicked, a new window will be displayed.
Step 6. Make sure the selected scanner is correct
If you don't see the scanner name at the top of the window or the wrong scanner engine is selected, click the “ Changes… ” in the upper right corner of the window and select the correct scanner name.
Step 7. Select the document type
Click the "Profile" drop-down box, then select a document type (eg. Photo ”) in the drop-down box.
Step 8. Specify the color of the document
Click the "Color format" drop-down box, then select " Color ” (color) or “ Black and White " (black and white). The scanner may also display other color options on this page.
Step 9. Select the file type
Click the " File type " drop-down box, then click the file type you want to use to save the scanned document on your computer (eg “ PDF " or " JPG ”).
When scanning documents other than photos, it's a good idea to select the “ PDF ”.
Step 10. Change other options on the page
You may have other options (eg " Resolution ") that can be modified before the document is scanned, depending on the scanning engine used.
Step 11. Click Preview
It's at the bottom of the window. After that, an initial scan will be performed to show how the scanned document will appear.
If the document appears crooked, unbalanced, or cut off, you can adjust the position of the document on the machine and click the “button again. Preview ” to see if the position adjustment was successful in resolving the issue at hand.
Step 12. Click Scan
It's at the bottom of the window. The document will immediately be scanned to the computer with the options and formats selected.
Step 13. Look for the scanned document
To look for it:
-
Open menu Start
-
Open option File Explorer ”
- Click " Documents ” on the left side of the window.
- Double click the folder " Scanned Documents ”.
Method 2 of 4: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Place the document face down on the scanner
You also need to make sure the scanner is turned on and connected to the computer before proceeding.
Step 2. Open Apple menu
Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click on System Preferences…
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Printers & Scanners
This printer icon is on the right side of the “System Preferences” window.
Step 5. Select the scanner engine
Click the scanner machine name (or printer machine name) in the left column of the window.
Step 6. Click the Scan tab
It's a tab at the top of the window.
Step 7. Click Open Scanner…
This option is at the top of the “ Scan ” on the window.
Step 8. Click Show Details
It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
Step 9. Select the file type
Click the " Format " drop-down box, then click a file type (eg. PDF " or " JPEG ”) that you want to use to save the file.
When scanning documents other than photos, it's a good idea to select the “ PDF ”.
Step 10. Determine the color of the document
Click the " Kind " drop-down box at the top of the page, then choose a color option (eg. Black and White ”).
Step 11. Select a save location
Click the " Save To " drop-down box, then click the folder where you want to save the scanned document (eg “ Desktop ”).
Step 12. Change any other options on the page
You may be able to change the resolution or orientation of the files on this page, depending on the type of file being scanned.
Step 13. Click Scan
It's in the lower-right corner of the window. The document will immediately be scanned to the computer. Once done, you can find the scanned file in the selected save location.
Method 3 of 4: On iPhone
Step 1. Open
Notes.
Touch the Notes app icon to open it.
Step 2. Touch the “New Note” icon
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen.
- If the Notes app displays notes immediately, touch the “ < Notes ” in the upper left corner of the screen first.
- If the Notes app immediately displays the " Folders " page, tap the storage space before continuing.
Step 3. Touch
It's a plus sign icon at the bottom of the screen. After that, a pop-up menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Touch Scan Documents
It's at the top of the pop-up menu.
Step 5. Point the device camera at the document
Make sure all documents have entered into the screen.
The more centered the document is when displayed on the screen, the cleaner the scanned document will be
Step 6. Touch the “Capture” button
It's a white circle button at the bottom of the screen. Once touched, the document will be scanned.
Step 7. Touch Keep Scan
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen.
- You can also touch and drag one of the circles in the corners of the scanned document to enlarge or reduce the area to be saved.
- If you want to try scanning the document again, touch the “ Retake ” in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 8. Touch Save
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Step 9. Touch
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 10. Swipe the screen from right to left and tap Create PDF
Make sure you swipe from right to left in the options row below, not above it.
Step 11. Touch Done
It's in the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 12. Save the scanned document
Touch Save Files To… ” when prompted, then follow these steps:
- Touch " iCloud Drive ” or other internet storage options (cloud storage).
- Touch " Add ” in the upper right corner of the screen.
Method 4 of 4: On Android Device
Step 1. Open Google Drive
Tap the Google Drive app icon, which looks like a blue, green, and yellow triangle.
Step 2. Select a folder
Touch the folder you want to set as the storage folder for the scan results.
Step 3. Touch
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, a pop-up menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Touch Scan
This camera icon is in the pop-up menu. The camera of the phone or tablet will be opened after that.
Step 5. Point your phone's camera at the document you want to scan
The document should be placed in the center of the screen.
Make sure the document is completely flat and fits into the screen before continuing
Step 6. Touch the “Capture” button
It's a blue and white circle button at the bottom of the screen. After that, the document will be scanned.
Step 7. Touch
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. Once touched, the scan result will be saved.
- You can also crop the scan by touching and dragging the circles around each corner of the document.
- For other options (e.g. color), tap the “⋮” button in the top right corner of the screen.
- To add more pages to the PDF file, touch “ + ” and scan another page.
Step 8. Save the scanned document to your phone
Touch the “⋮” button in the lower right corner of the scanned document preview icon, then select “ Download ” in the pop-up menu that appears.
