How to turn photos into a PDF on your phone (no app needed)

Scan a document in four steps

1. On your phone, open Scan to PDF.
2. Tap Take a photo and photograph the first page. Repeat for each page.
3. Keep the Document (white background) enhancement: it whitens the paper and darkens the text, like a real scanner.
4. Tap Create PDF and share or save the file.

Tips for a sharp result

• Light: daylight near a window is ideal. Avoid the flash, which creates a bright spot.
• Angle: hold the phone parallel to the sheet, directly above it, to avoid distortion.
• Background: place the sheet on a dark, plain surface so its edges stand out.
• Stability: lean your elbows on the table and wait for the focus before taking the picture.

Already have photos?

If the pictures are already in your gallery, use JPG to PDF: select them, choose A4 or Letter, and they are combined into one PDF in the right order.

Make your scan searchable

A scan is an image: you cannot search or copy its text. Run it through OCR PDF to add an invisible text layer. You will then be able to search for a word or copy a paragraph.

Lighten the file before sending

Phone photos are large. If the PDF exceeds the limit of an online form, use Compress PDF: scans usually shrink by 70 to 90%.