How to Scan Documents Directly to Google Drive on iPhone or Android

Scanning paper documents into digital formats like PDF, Microsoft Word, or Excel and uploading them to Google Drive is an excellent ideal for long-term storage.

However, the process can be tricky for many inexperienced users. No worries. On this page, we’ll share 3 free and easy methods to scan documents to Google Drive on iPhone and Android phones.

Using the Google Drive App on Android

The Google Drive mobile app includes a scanning feature that utilizes your device’s camera to capture documents. Users can create PDFs by photographing documents, which the app then converts using optical character recognition (OCR), such as converting handwriting to text.

he scans can be cropped, rotated, and color-adjusted within the app before being saved directly to Google Drive, allowing for easy organization and cloud-based storage.

Step 1. Open the Google Drive app on your mobile device.

Step 2. Tap the “+” button, then select “Scan.”

Step 3. Position your phone over the document and let Auto capture scan it or tap the shutter button manually.

Step 4. Adjust the scan area and apply filters if necessary.

Step 5. Name your document and select the location in Google Drive where you want to save it. Tap “Save.”

Using a Free PDF Scanner on iPhone

While the Google Drive app for iOS does not natively support scanning documents directly into Google Drive, you can use the Files app to scan documents and then save them to Google Drive.

Alternatively, you can use the best free PDF scanner PDFgear Scan to scan documents to PDF and upload this compatible format to Google Drive easily.

Additionally, PDFgear Scan provides many other useful benefits like OCR, editing tools, and page management.

Step 1. Get PDFgear Scan on your iPhone or iPad from the App Store.

Step 2. Tap on the bottom Plus icon and then choose Camera to start a new scan with your iPhone’s camera.

Step 3. Hit the camera icon to scan the paper document as needed.

Step 4. Adjust the border of the scan and click the lower-right Done button to save it.

Step 5. When you’re satisfied with the file, click the lower-right Share button to save it to Files.

Step 6. Go to the Google Drive app, and click the lower-right Plus icon.

Step 7. In the popup menu, click Upload.

Step 8. From the Recents view, select the PDF file we just created.

Step 9. Simply wait for a while and you will upload the scanned document to Google Drive!

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Use Good Lighting

Ensure you have good lighting when using your mobile device to scan documents. Good lighting reduces shadows and improves OCR accuracy.

Flatten the Document

Before scanning, make sure your documents are as flat as possible to avoid distortions in the scanned image.

Use OCR for Editable Text

Take advantage of the OCR feature in Google Drive to convert images of text into text that can be edited and searched.

Batch Scanning

If your scanner or app supports it, scan multiple documents in one go, and then split or organize them in Google Drive afterward.

Double-Check for Accuracy

After scanning, review the document in Google Drive to ensure all pages were scanned and are legible.

Use Filters and Adjustments

Adjust contrast, brightness, and apply filters if your scanning app allows it to enhance readability.

FAQs

How do I add multiple pages to a scanned document in Google Drive?

After scanning the first page, tap the “+” sign next to the scan thumbnail to add additional pages before saving the document as a PDF.

Can I edit or enhance scanned documents in Google Drive?

Yes, after scanning a document, you can adjust, crop, rotate, or apply filters to the scan on the preview page before saving it.

How do I organize scanned documents in Google Drive?

You can organize scanned documents by naming files appropriately, choosing specific folders to save scans, using labels or tags (if available in your version of Drive), and utilizing the search function to find scanned documents later.

Is there a way to quickly access the scan feature on Android?

Yes, you can add a scanning shortcut to your home screen. Open your Android phone’s widgets, find the “Drive scan” widget, drag it onto your home screen, and select the folder where you want to save scans.

How good is Google Drive at recognizing text in scanned documents?

Google Drive is quite proficient at scanning and recognizing text in documents. It uses optical character recognition (OCR) to make scanned PDFs searchable, meaning you can search for specific text within scanned documents stored in your Drive.