Your iPad has two PDF scanners built in. No extra apps. The Files app and the Notes app both capture a document straight to PDF. You can do multiple pages, crop each one, and shrink the final file so it doesn't choke an email.

Scan with the Files App

Capture a Document in Files

  1. Open the Files app.
  2. Tap the More button (three dots, labeled …) in the top toolbar.
  3. Choose Scan Documents. The camera view opens.
  4. Position your paper document in the frame. The scanner captures automatically when it detects the page. Tap the shutter button to capture manually.
  5. After capture, drag the corners of the preview to crop the image exactly to the document edges.
  6. To add another page, tap the plus (+) button or keep capturing. Add as many pages as you need.
  7. When you have all pages, tap Save. The capture is saved as a PDF in the location you choose.

This workflow keeps everything inside the file manager you already use. No other app required.

Scan with the Notes App

Capture a Document in Notes

  1. Open the Notes app and open an existing note or create a new one.
  2. Tap the Camera button (near the keyboard or in the formatting bar).
  3. Choose Scan Documents from the menu.
  4. Capture your document the same way as in Files: automatically or manually, and adjust the crop by dragging the corners.
  5. Add more pages if you need to capture several. The app keeps them together.
  6. Tap Save. The pages are inserted into the note as a PDF.
  7. To export the PDF, tap the share icon and choose Save to Files or Send with email.

This is the quickest route when you already use Notes for other tasks.

Scanning Multiple Pages at Once

Both apps combine pages into a single PDF. After capturing the first page, look for the button to add another. In Files, it's a plus icon. In Notes, tap the camera button again while still in the capture flow. Keep adding until your document is complete. Each page is a separate image. When you tap Save, they merge into one PDF, pages in the order you captured them. No third-party app needed.

Crop and Adjust Each Page

After you capture a page, adjust the crop. The preview shows corner handles. Drag any corner to fit the crop rectangle tightly around your document. This removes extra background. The PDF looks cleaner. Adjust each page individually before saving. To recapture a page, tap the back button or delete the page and try again.

Saving and Finding Your Scanned PDF

When you tap Save, the app asks where to store the PDF. In Files, choose any folder. In Notes, the PDF is attached to the note. Move it or share it from there. The file is a standard PDF, openable on any device. Because the document is made of images, the file size may be large, especially if you captured several pages or used high resolution.

Shrink a Scanned PDF on IPad

A captured PDF contains embedded images, so it can be large. To shrink the file, use a free online tool. The Compress PDF tool downsizes the embedded images by reducing their resolution: it sets the longest side to up to 1600 pixels and uses JPEG quality 65. It never returns a file larger than the original. You always see a reduction, or the same size. Upload your PDF, wait a moment, and download the compressed version. The file becomes much easier to email or store. Readability stays intact.

Tips for Better Scans

  • Place the document on a flat, well-lit surface. Avoid shadows across the page.
  • Hold the iPad steady or use a stand to prevent blur.
  • If automatic capture struggles, switch to manual capture by tapping the shutter button yourself.
  • After capturing, review each page in the preview. If a page is crooked or cut off, recapture it before saving.
  • For very thin or glossy paper, place a dark sheet behind the document to improve contrast.