Scan to PDF

Use your device camera to capture pages, then export them as one PDF, quickly and securely.

Note: scanning from a separate phone via QR code isn't offered here — that requires a signaling server to connect the two devices, which conflicts with this site's zero-server design. Open this page directly on your phone's browser to scan with its camera instead.

How to scan a document with your camera

  1. Open this page in your phone's browser (or on a laptop with a camera) and allow camera access when asked.
  2. Frame the page so it fills the view, then tap Capture Page.
  3. Repeat for each page of the document.
  4. Create the PDF. Your captured pages are combined into a single PDF, in the order you took them.

Getting a good scan

  • Light it evenly. Daylight near a window is ideal. Avoid a single bright lamp, which creates glare and hard shadows.
  • Keep the camera parallel to the page. Holding the phone at an angle makes the far side look smaller and the text harder to read.
  • Use a plain, darker surface under the page so its edges are easy to see.
  • Hold steady and let the camera focus before you capture. Blurry text can't be fixed later.
  • Flatten the page. Creases and curved book pages cause distortion and shadows.

After scanning

A scanned PDF is made of pictures of pages, so you can't search or copy its text. If you need that, run the file through OCR PDF. Our guide to scanning documents with your phone has more tips. To change the page order, rotate pages or delete a blurry capture, use Rearrange PDF; to shrink the file for email, see Compress PDF.

Is it private?

The camera feed and the captured pages stay in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and the tool only uses your camera while this page is open — you can revoke the permission at any time in your browser's site settings.

Frequently asked questions

The camera doesn't start. What can I do?

Make sure you allowed camera access for this site, that no other app or browser tab is using the camera, and that you opened the page in a browser that supports it (recent Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox). If you dismissed the permission prompt earlier, re-enable it in the browser's site settings and reload the page.

Can I scan with my phone and download on my computer?

Not directly. Linking two devices would need a server in the middle, which this tool deliberately avoids so your pages never leave your device. Open the page on the device that has the camera, then move the finished PDF to your computer yourself (email, cloud drive or a cable).

Is it as good as a flatbed scanner?

For everyday paperwork — forms, receipts, certificates — a well-lit, steady capture is perfectly readable. For photographs, small print or archival work, a flatbed scanner still gives more detail.

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