How to create a document scanner from iPhone and Mac
In this tip we use the Continuity Camera function. You can use your iPhone as a camera for the Mac. You benefit from the better camera quality of the iPhone and can easily update your administration on the Mac. This way you create a workflow where you can process incoming mail, invoices, forms and other documents as quickly as possible. You no longer have to AirDrop the photos and scans you’ve taken between both devices and there’s no need to purchase an expensive document scanner.
- You need this
- Scan documents into an app
- Scan documents into a folder
You need this for a document scanner
To use your iPhone and Mac to scan documents, you need the following:
- A Mac with at least macOS Mojave 10.14
- An iPhone with at least iOS 12
- Both devices must be connected to the same WiFi network
- Both devices must have Bluetooth enabled
You can also use an iPad to scan documents, but an iPhone is often easier to use.
This is how scanning documents into an app works
You decide where the scanned documents are stored. Continuity Camera can forward the scans to a folder in Finder on the Mac, iCloud Drive or in various apps such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Notes, Mail, Messages and Text Editor. We have a separate tip about scanning documents in the Notes app on the iPhone.
We explain how it works with Pages, but the method is exactly the same for other apps:
- Open a new document in Pages.
- From the menu, choose Insert > Insert from iPhone or iPad > Scan Documents.
- Take photos of documents with iPhone.
Wait a few moments and the scan will automatically appear in the document. Recognizing and photographing the documents is automatic, so you can quickly scan a series of documents.
This is how scanning documents into a folder works
You can also save the scanned documents immediately in a folder, for example if you have created separate folders per week or month for incoming correspondence.
This is also very easy:
- Open a folder in Finder on Mac.
- Right-click in the folder and choose Import from iPhone or iPad > Scan Documents.
- Take photos of the documents.
The documents automatically appear in the folder in Finder or on the Desktop. If you choose to scan documents, they will be automatically optimized so that you can search them. You can also choose to take photos without text optimization.
Do the documents not appear? Then check whether your iPhone and Mac meet the system requirements and whether Bluetooth is enabled. They must also be connected to the same Wi-Fi network and logged into the same iCloud account. Finally, they must be close to each other (maximum a few meters). If it doesn’t work, temporarily switching WiFi and Bluetooth off and on or restarting the iPhone and Mac can help.
Would you rather use a special app? This is also possible with document scanner apps for the iPhone!
If you want to know more about Continuity Camera, read our more detailed tip.
