You don’t need an old-fashioned flatbed scanner. Every iPhone and Android phone has a built-in document scanner hiding in plain sight.
On an iPhone or iPad
Open the Notes app
Yes — the built-in Notes app (yellow icon with a note pad). Start a new note.
Tap the camera icon, then Scan Documents
Tap the little camera icon above the keyboard, then Scan Documents in the menu. The camera opens.
Line up your paper and let it scan
Place the paper on a table with good lighting. Aim the camera over it. Your iPhone automatically finds the edges and snaps the picture. Tap Keep Scan.
If you have more pages, flip them under the camera one at a time — the iPhone scans each one as you go.
Tap Save, then share
When finished, tap Save. The scanned pages appear in your note. Tap them, then tap the Share button → Save to Files (pick a folder) or Mail to send it.
On an Android phone
Open the Google Drive app
Drive (the colorful triangle icon) is pre-installed on most Android phones. Sign in with your Google account if you haven’t already.
Tap the + button, then Scan
In the bottom-right corner, tap the rainbow + button. A menu appears with Scan near the top. Tap it. The camera opens.
Hold the phone steady over the paper
Put the paper on a flat, well-lit surface. Hold the phone 10-12 inches above it. Drive will automatically capture the page — or tap the shutter button yourself.
To add more pages, tap the + at the bottom and capture the next page.
Adjust and save
Use the crop handles on the corners to fine-tune the edges. Tap Done → Save and give the file a name. It saves automatically to your Drive.
Get the PDF off your phone
Once scanned, email the PDF to yourself or send it to someone else. You can also use AirDrop (iPhone → Mac) or Nearby Share (Android → Chromebook) for quick device-to-device transfer.