Why are my document scans so large After iOS 18 update?

Go to the App Store and download the Apple Support app.

So just off the phone with apple support. You’ll notice if you check old scans that notes have always scanned to very large files. What appears to be happening is when you share the scan from Notes it normally would’ve automatically compressed it, this compression doesn’t seem to be working right now. That said, when I was talking with their support he was able to view my phones screen and he saw the message in email saying that the Notes file was too large to send, he put me on hold and after about 5 mins of holding he came back and we tried again and without changing anything my email now automatically compressed the same file. We both were surprised.

He then explained that Apple are aware of this sharing between Notes to Email compression issue and will hopefully be fixed in the next update or two.

Perhaps you could try a different email platform.

I think I have found the solution: don't scan before sending to emails, do email then scan file then you will get much smaller size. So, go to email, new email, attach file (the scan icon one), after attached then write the content or either way.

But I prefer to scan first then send it to email to get file.

APPLE please fix it.

I found solutions guys, if you need to scan document with colours and share it some messenger or email app for example:

1. Use Files, not notes
2. Choose some folder in Files and make scan documents
3. Click "Share" but don't choose your app, choose "Print" and after that, in "Print" menu make sure it's A4 size and click "Share" from this print menu and now choose your app finally, so now you can send the image in the correct format.

Hello from Russian Programmers with love >_<

Indeed. It worked fine with Files App. As a test, I scanned a document consisting of 18 pages (in color mode) and it created the file of 16 MB size, was easily able to mail it.

Thanks a lot Lannerrcranble. This should solve the problem for everyone.

Have you tried Files? I was soo frustrated when Notes app wouldn’t work anymore! I found that Files app now has scanning option within. You can adjust color or black and white options. I can now send my scans easily using Files scanning capability rather than Notes as used before.

i found a work around

i compressed my PDF using Ilovepdf

(type that in on browser)

good reduction and allows to merge pdf ‘s etc

at least I could email again

I have the same issue. Instead of Notes, I use TurboScan Pro. It costs $6 and does a great job. I've used it for years. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/turboscan-pro-pdf-scanner/id342548956

I have a solution.

After scanning the document hit the send box with an up arrow. Scroll down and hit print. Again hit the send box with an up arrow. Click email icon. Send to your email.

I just tried this. Scanning in files is bad, but not as bad as scanning in Notes.

For me, prior to IOS 18, a 5-page document with color would take ~1-1.5 MB, and email easily.

Now, on same iPhone, scanning from Notes in default Color is >34MB, too large to email, and it takes several seconds to process.

Same scan from Files, in color, takes ~10MB.

So "Files" scan seems ~10 times bigger than previous Notes scanning, and "notes" scanning seems ~40 times larger.

Check scans you might have saved from before the update, you should find they’re large also. The problem lies between notes and email I believe. Ie when you attach a scan to the email it should compress, that compression is happening intermittently at present.

I have updated iOS 18.2.1 (22C161) today and tested one Notes scan of 39.5mb, once attached to email 696kb.

Try to scan with the Files app instead.

I too had been used to using Notes to scan documents. After much frustration as you all have, I discovered you can scan from Files. I sent a 10 page document email with no problem.

Same issue. I was totally foxed when I faced this issue today. Thanks for the posts here on the subject. At least I can do the work around by changing to greyscale, was not even aware of this feature till I read it here...This large size file is really a big issue, I had been doing this document scanning very frequently through Notes. Apple must fix this issue.

I agree

Email is not the problem

i know for a fact that Greek visa portal requires less than 10mb files and I am sure there are more tools like that out there

Email is the most common for sure

to help get through I use compression took Ilovepdf it’s free at leat and gets by the email size etc

Check scans you might have saved from before the update, you might find they’re large also. I THINK the problem lies between notes and email. Ie when I attach a scan to the email it normally compresses, that compression is happening intermittently at present.

I have updated iOS 18.2.1 (22C161) today and tested one Notes scan of 39.5mb, once attached to email 696kb.

I use the term “I think”, because I’m not an Apple tech and can’t be sure. I do not have the resources to test this issue fully or correctly. Thought would’ve been obvious, no?

This isn’t my fault, I didn’t write the SW for this issue.