If you think that scanning documents and invoices requires downloading a specialized app from the App Store, you may not need to do so at all. iPhone devices already provide built-in tools that allow you to convert papers into digital copies and PDF files easily, without the need for external apps or additional subscriptions.

“Notes” app... a scanner within your phone

The “Notes” app provides a simple way to scan documents directly using the iPhone camera. You can access this feature quickly by pressing and holding on the app icon from the home screen, then selecting “Scan Documents”.

After directing the camera towards the paper, the phone automatically recognizes the edges of the document and captures it. The image can be captured manually if necessary. If the result is not good, you can rescan it. You can also precisely adjust the boundaries of the paper before saving it.

The feature is not limited to a single page; you can scan several consecutive pages and combine them into one PDF file, making it suitable for invoices, contracts, study documents, and important papers.

“Files” app for easy document organization

If you want to keep your documents in organized folders, you can rely on the “Files” app. By pressing and holding on the app icon and selecting “Scan Documents”, you can take pictures of the papers and then choose the folder where you want to save the file.

There is a faster way if you already know where the document is stored. You can open the required folder within the Files app, then press the three-dot menu and select Erase documents. This will save the file directly to the specified folder without the need for later transfer.

These tools make iPhone capable of performing basic tasks that many scanning apps provide, with an additional advantage of not needing to install a new app or pay subscription fees, especially if your usage is limited to scanning documents from time to time.