Document Scanner — Scan Cards & Documents Free

How to scan documents using your phone camera

A document scanner converts a photo taken with your phone or webcam into a clean, professional-looking scanned document. Unlike a flat photograph, a scanned document is automatically cropped, de-skewed, and contrast-enhanced to look like it came from a flatbed scanner. This tool does all of this in your browser — your document is never uploaded to any server.

When to use a document scanner

Scanning physical documents to create digital PDF copies. Digitising handwritten notes, letters, and forms. Scanning ID cards, passports, and official documents for submission. Creating readable copies of faded or aged documents. Scanning receipts and invoices for expense records. Submitting scanned copies of educational certificates, degrees, and transcripts for job applications or university admissions.

Document scanning tips for best results

Place the document on a flat surface with even lighting — avoid shadows falling across the page. Use a dark or contrasting background so the scanner can detect the document edges clearly. Hold the camera directly above the document (not at an angle) for the most accurate perspective correction. Ensure there is adequate lighting — natural daylight is ideal, or place under a lamp. Clean the camera lens before scanning for sharper results.

Camera permissions on different browsers

In Chrome, click the camera icon in the address bar to allow camera access. In Firefox, click the shield icon and select Allow. In Safari on iPhone, go to Settings, then Safari, then Camera and select Allow. After granting permission, refresh the scanner page if it does not automatically detect the camera. If permission is denied, you must reset it in your browser or device settings before the scanner can access your camera.

Document scanner vs taking a photo

A plain photograph captures the document as-is including surrounding areas, shadows, and perspective distortion. A document scanner automatically detects the document boundary, crops to the exact edges, corrects perspective distortion caused by camera angle, and enhances contrast to make text sharper and more readable. The result is significantly more professional and easier to read than a raw photograph.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my document uploaded anywhere? No. Everything runs entirely in your browser. Your camera feed and the resulting scan are never uploaded to any server and remain completely private on your device.

Can I scan multiple pages? Yes. Scan each page individually and download each as a separate image. To combine multiple scanned pages into a single PDF, use the JPG to PDF tool after scanning all pages.

What is the output format? The scanned document downloads as a high-resolution JPG image. To convert to PDF, use the JPG to PDF tool.

Can I scan in black and white? Yes. The scanner offers both color and greyscale modes. Greyscale produces smaller file sizes and is ideal for text documents. Color mode is better for documents with colored graphics, stamps, or seals.