How to turn photos into a PDF on your phone

Scan paper into a PDF on iPhone

The Files app scans straight to a PDF:

1. Open Files and go to the folder where you want the PDF saved.
2. Tap the More button (three dots) at the top right and choose Scan Documents.
3. Hold the phone over the page. It captures automatically when the page is outlined, or tap the shutter.
4. Tap Keep for each page, then tap Save (a checkmark on some iOS versions). The PDF appears in that folder, usually named Scanned Document, ready to rename and share.

You can also scan from the Notes app: tap the paperclip in a note and choose Scan Documents. Then tap the small arrow next to the scan's name and choose Save to Files to get a PDF.

Scan paper into a PDF on Android

The Google Drive app has a built-in scanner:

1. Open Google Drive and tap the camera icon at the bottom right.
2. Point the phone at the page. A blue outline shows the edges it has found.
3. Crop or adjust the colours if needed, then tap Add for the next page.
4. When you're done, tap Done, name the file and tap Save. It's stored in Drive as a PDF.

Combine photos you already have

If the pictures are already in your camera roll, such as screenshots or photos of receipts, combine them in your browser:

1. Open the Altols JPG to PDF converter on your phone.
2. Tap Select JPG files and pick your photos.
3. Put them in order with the Up and Down buttons, and choose A4 or US Letter if the PDF will be printed.
4. Tap Create PDF and download it.

Your photos aren't uploaded; the PDF is made on your phone. For screenshots, use PNG to PDF.

Tips for clear scans

• Put the paper on a dark, plain surface so the edges stand out.
• Use daylight and avoid your own shadow falling across the page.
• Hold the phone flat above the page, not at an angle.
• Check that small print is readable before you send it.