Using the iOS Notes App to Scan Documents

Sometimes individuals encounter hard copies of documents, such as a paper-based form, that need to be scanned and converted into a digital format. Some individuals might need or prefer to annotate a digital version of that document.

If the individual has an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running iOS version 10.0 or late, the iOS Notes app can be used to scan documents. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Notes app
  2. Select the camera icon at the bottom of the screen.
  3. In the menu that appears, select Scan Documents.
  4. Position the document in view and select the white shutter button to scan the document.
  5. You can choose to Retake or Keep Scan. Drag the corners to crop the scan if needed.
  6. If you choose to keep the scan, a prompt will appear saying Ready for next scan. If it’s only a one-page document, select Save. If it has multiple pages, repeat steps 4 and 5 for each page.
  7. You will see thumbnails of your scanned pages at the bottom of the screen. When you have scanned all of the pages, select Save. Then, select Done.
  8. When you look at your Notes, you will see your scanned document, which is automatically saved as a PDF file. You can Send a Copy via email, text message, or AirDrop. Your copy can then be uploaded to Google Drive or Schoology. Another option is to Save to Files, including your iCloud account.

LCPS staff and students have access to TextHelp’s OrbitNote Chrome extension. If your scanned PDF is uploaded to Google Drive or Schoology, you can use OrbitNote to edit the document by adding text, drawings, and more.

Check out the following videos for more information on using the Notes app for scanning, including some advanced features.

Happy scanning!

Improving Visibility of Content Displayed on iOS Devices

Display & Text Size

Display & Text Size in Accessibility Settings

Whether using an LCPS provided or personal Bring Your Own Technology device, iPhones and iPads have a number of useful features helpful for those who need assistance seeing the content on the screen which can be accessed through the Settings application. Some features include changing the contrast, increasing the font size, and bolding the text. The site Adjust the display and text size on iPhone explains each feature listed on the Display & Text Size menu embedded with the Accessibility portion of the Settings menu. The video Apple iOS Display and Text Size explains how to use a few of the more commonly used display options. Explore the different settings to see which adjustments should be made to improve the visibility and the usability of the content displayed on the screen.