Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Notes Document Scan Produces PDF Images Instead of Desired PDF Documents

Sometimes when scanning documents via Notes app on my iPhone 14, my resulting "document" is an image of multiple pages instead of a pdf document with separate pages. Other times, using this same procedure, I actually get a document. Often this requires several scans to get. Why are my results so inconsistent and/or the app so unintuitive in it's behavior?


  • I have a two-page document.
  • I scan each page via Notes app per scan instructions provided to many others with this same issue (fwiw this instruction is not very helpful judging by lack of any resolution -- eg. new note, camera, scan documents)
  • Save 2 pages
  • Air drop to my computer - shows up in notes... The format below results.
  • Attempt to change it into an actual PDF DOCUMENT (it is actually an image for some reason)
  • Select "File" -> "Export as PDF" (NOTE: when it works - this step is not needed. Unsure what happens to prevent transmission of an "actual" pdf document instead of an image pdf.)
  • Get this unhelpful format..(note - this is just an example. The actual tax document and others I've had this issue with are all plain text with no images. Not that it should matter.)


Obviously, the image of a document is not as useful as an actual document. As such it is not helpful for transmission or collaboration with others.


Posted on Jan 31, 2023 7:20 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 31, 2023 8:17 AM

Solution found though not exactly intuitive. It seems lighting or presence of anything but strict text results in the unhelpful "image" format.


I performed the exact same procedure above:

New note

"Camera" button -> Scan Documents

Instead of letting the app decide, I turned the FLASH from "Auto" to "On"

Auto-scan completes

The resulting document is produced with two pages.

When air dropping to my computer, instead of it opening in Notes app it correctly opens a prompt with option to "Show in Finder" and saves as a two-page PDF document that can be printed on two pages.


So in closing it seems if the scan detects any shading from lighting in the room it will not produce a scan of the document.

Similar questions

2 replies
Sort By: 
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 31, 2023 8:17 AM in response to dogofob

Solution found though not exactly intuitive. It seems lighting or presence of anything but strict text results in the unhelpful "image" format.


I performed the exact same procedure above:

New note

"Camera" button -> Scan Documents

Instead of letting the app decide, I turned the FLASH from "Auto" to "On"

Auto-scan completes

The resulting document is produced with two pages.

When air dropping to my computer, instead of it opening in Notes app it correctly opens a prompt with option to "Show in Finder" and saves as a two-page PDF document that can be printed on two pages.


So in closing it seems if the scan detects any shading from lighting in the room it will not produce a scan of the document.

Reply

Notes Document Scan Produces PDF Images Instead of Desired PDF Documents

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.