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iOS has a good document scanner built into the files app that creates PDFs. You need to long press and select scan document.

m463 5y ago
Yeah I was happy when they added scanning to the notes app, which I believe was the first time apple added scanning (the time period was before files).
schlupfknoten 5y ago
When I tried out this feature recently, the image resolution in the exported PDFs was abysmal (though it looked fine in the Notes app).
hrktb 5y ago
I don't know for the other commenters, my main use of a document scanner is to backup in PDF form on my NAS and in Google Drive so I can trash the physical copy. The scanning part is only the beginning, the phone -> network pipeline needs to be automatic and reliable, and Apple will do nothing for third party synching. Perhaps a Shortcut pipeline could do it ? If it still gave enough flexibility about batch scanning etc. ?
- twobitshifter 5y ago
  It’s possible to include your NAS and Google Drive in the files app which should give you what you want. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-the-files-app-to-connect-to-a-network-server-from-your-iphone-or-ipad/ https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-the-files-ap... I use iCloud to do exactly what you say and trash the physical copies, but it should be possible with anything in the files app AFAIK.
  - hrktb 5y ago
    Thanks, but those are just hooks in the app (and stuff like DSFile disconnect every here and there) You still need to manually save each document where you want it, instead of the app doing it automically in batch at every scan. With dedicated scan apps I never need to think about it, just scan and I know it's been done.
mtwittman 5y ago
Earlier this month I got tired fumbling through all the little steps to use notes app for scanning and then separating out the PDF so I blogged[0] up the steps (including screencaps). [0] https://wittman.org/blog/scan-paper-document-to-pdf-with-iphone-notes-and-send-to-laptop-via-local-network/ https://wittman.org/blog/scan-paper-document-to-pdf-with-iph...

m463 5y ago

Yeah I was happy when they added scanning to the notes app, which I believe was the first time apple added scanning (the time period was before files).

schlupfknoten 5y ago

When I tried out this feature recently, the image resolution in the exported PDFs was abysmal (though it looked fine in the Notes app).

hrktb 5y ago

I don't know for the other commenters, my main use of a document scanner is to backup in PDF form on my NAS and in Google Drive so I can trash the physical copy. The scanning part is only the beginning, the phone -> network pipeline needs to be automatic and reliable, and Apple will do nothing for third party synching. Perhaps a Shortcut pipeline could do it ? If it still gave enough flexibility about batch scanning etc. ?

twobitshifter 5y ago
It’s possible to include your NAS and Google Drive in the files app which should give you what you want. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-the-files-app-to-connect-to-a-network-server-from-your-iphone-or-ipad/ https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-the-files-ap... I use iCloud to do exactly what you say and trash the physical copies, but it should be possible with anything in the files app AFAIK.
- hrktb 5y ago
  Thanks, but those are just hooks in the app (and stuff like DSFile disconnect every here and there) You still need to manually save each document where you want it, instead of the app doing it automically in batch at every scan. With dedicated scan apps I never need to think about it, just scan and I know it's been done.

mtwittman 5y ago

Earlier this month I got tired fumbling through all the little steps to use notes app for scanning and then separating out the PDF so I blogged[0] up the steps (including screencaps). [0] https://wittman.org/blog/scan-paper-document-to-pdf-with-iphone-notes-and-send-to-laptop-via-local-network/ https://wittman.org/blog/scan-paper-document-to-pdf-with-iph...