How to Scan Documents on Android Phone

Google Drive is the most convenient option, but Adobe Scan also works well.

How to Scan Documents on Android Phone
How to Scan Documents on Android

What to Know

Easiest: Tap Google Drive > the plus sign (+) > New > Scan. Place the camera over the document, press the shutter button, and then the check mark button.

Use Adobe Scan: Continue by tapping the screen. To edit and save the document, tap its thumbnail.

This article explains two methods for scanning documents with your Android phone running Android 11 or higher.

How to Use Google Drive to Scan Documents on Android

To scan documents with Android, you must first install Google Drive. The app is usually pre-installed on Android devices; if not, you can get it from the Google Play store.

Once installed, follow these steps to scan documents with your phone:

1. Open Google Drive and tap the + symbol.

2. Under the Create New tab, select Scan.

3. When you're ready to capture the image, place the phone camera over the document and press the Shutter button.

4. To keep the scan, tap the check mark, or the back arrow to retake it.

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5. Tap the + symbol to scan more images, or Save to finish your document and upload it to Google Drive. There are also options to crop, scan, rotate, or change the colour of the scan.

6. When you've finished scanning your documents, give your new PDF a file name and select a location to save it. Then click Save.

How to Scan Documents Using Adobe Scan

Tiny Scanner, Genius Scan, TurboScan, Microsoft Office Lens, CamScanner, and other scanner apps are available, but Adobe Scan covers all the essentials in its free version. It's simple to navigate and use, with little learning curve.

If you haven't already created a free Adobe ID, you'll need to do so in order to use this app.

To scan documents with Adobe Scan, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to the app using your Google, Facebook, or Adobe ID.
  2. When you're ready to scan the document, tap the screen or the shutter button. The app detects the borders and takes a photo for you.
  3. If necessary, drag the handles to adjust the borders, then tap Continue.
  4. If more scans are required, the app will perform them automatically. If you don't want to do that, tap the thumbnail of the scan to see the editing and saving options. You can rotate it, crop it, change the colour, and do other things here. When you're finished, tap Save PDF in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Tip: After you select Save to PDF, tapping the More icon displays new file options. You can save it to Google Drive, copy it to your device, print it, delete it, and do other things.

Note: Adobe Scan provides a paid in-app subscription to access additional features and options. However, the free version includes enough features to meet the needs of the majority of users.

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FAQ

How do I scan QR codes on my Android?

To scan QR codes with your phone, launch the Camera app, point it at the QR code, and tap the notification that appears. You may need to download a third-party QR code reader app on some devices.

What Is Optical Character Recognition?

OCR, also known as text recognition, is a process that makes text within a PDF recognizable, searchable, and readable by other types of programs or apps. Many scanner apps, such as Adobe Scan, apply it to PDFs automatically, and you can also enable it in your phone's settings. Google Drive's scanning feature does not perform OCR on scanned documents.

How do I scan photos on my Android?

Use a photo scanner app like Google PhotoScan, Photomyne, or Microsoft Lens to scan colour photos on your phone.