How to Scan Documents in iOS 12 Notes App

Yes, you can scan documents directly into the Apple Notes app on iOS 12. Apple introduced a built-in document scanner in iOS 11, and the feature remains readily accessible in iOS 12. This tool turns your iPhone or iPad camera into a portable scanner, allowing you to capture receipts, letters, and forms, digitize them into PDF format, and save them automatically inside a note without needing any third-party applications.

Steps to Scan Documents in iOS 12

1. Open the Notes App: Launch the Notes app on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 12.
2. Create or Open a Note: Open an existing note or tap the compose icon in the bottom-right corner to start a new one.
3. Open the Camera Menu: Tap the + (plus) icon located directly above your keyboard. If the keyboard is not visible, tap the + icon at the bottom of the screen.
4. Select Scan Documents: From the pop-up menu, tap Scan Documents.
5. Capture the Document:
   • Position your device over the document. By default, the camera operates in Auto mode and will automatically detect the edges of the page, focus, and capture the scan.
   • If the scanner does not capture automatically, switch to Manual mode by tapping the option in the top-right corner, then press the circular shutter button.
6. Adjust the Corners: If you captured the scan manually, drag the corner circles to fit the frame to the edges of your document. Tap Keep Scan when finished.
7. Save the File: Continue scanning additional pages if needed, then tap Save in the bottom-right corner to insert the scanned document directly into your note.

Managing and Editing Your Scans

Once inserted into a note, tap on the scanned document thumbnail to access additional controls:

• Crop: Readjust the document's boundaries.
• Color Filter: Choose between Color, Grayscale, Black & White, or Photo settings to optimize readability.
• Rotate: Rotate the scanned image to the correct orientation.
• Markup: Use the Share button to draw, sign, or annotate the scanned PDF.