Scanning a document and emailing it from your iPhone takes a few steps: capture the page, turn it into a PDF or image, and attach it to an email. The built-in Notes app handles this for free, while a dedicated scanner app gives you cleaner output, smaller file sizes, and the option to extract or edit text before sending.
Two ways to scan and email on iPhone
| Method | Best for | Compression | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Notes | Quick, single-page scans | Yes, via share sheet | No | Free |
| Dedicated app (AlignScan) | Clean multi-page PDFs, smaller files | Yes | Yes | 20 free saves, then subscription or lifetime |
Method 1: Scan and email with Apple Notes (free)
This is the fastest method when you need to send a single page and do not need to edit the file.
- Open Notes and create a new note.
- Tap the camera icon, then Scan Documents.
- Frame the page; Notes detects the edges. Tap Keep Scan.
- Tap Save, then open the scanned page.
- Tap the share icon and choose Mail. Notes shares the scan as a PDF.
- Enter the recipient and send.
Method 2: Scan and email with a clean, compressed PDF
For contracts, forms, or multi-page documents, a dedicated app produces a cleaner PDF and lets you shrink the file so it passes email size limits. We will use AlignScan.
- Open AlignScan and scan each page; the app auto-crops, corrects perspective, and enhances readability.
- Review the pages and reorder or remove any you do not need.
- (Optional) Tap Compress to reduce the PDF file size for easier emailing.
- Tap Export and choose PDF.
- Tap Share and select Mail. The PDF attaches automatically.
- Add the recipient and send.
Get AlignScan on the App Store
Email a scanned document as an image (JPG)
If the recipient prefers an image rather than a PDF, export the scan as JPG and attach it to your email. In AlignScan, choose JPG in the export menu; in Notes, take a screenshot of the scan or use the markup share options.
Tips before you hit send
- Compress multi-page PDFs so the attachment stays under your email provider’s size limit.
- Review each page for clarity, especially text that must be read clearly.
- Name the file something descriptive, like “Smith_Contract_2026.pdf”, before attaching.
- Password-protect sensitive PDFs (AlignScan’s Protect feature) before emailing confidential documents.
- Check orientation — make sure pages are right-side up.
FAQ
How do I email a scanned document from my iPhone?
Scan the document in Notes or a scanner app, export it as a PDF, tap Share, choose Mail, add the recipient, and send.
Can I scan and email a multi-page document on iPhone?
Yes. Scan each page into one document in Notes or AlignScan, export as a multi-page PDF, and attach it to your email.
How do I reduce the size of a scanned PDF for email?
Use a scanner app with PDF compression. AlignScan includes a compress step before export that shrinks the file while keeping it readable.
Can I scan a document and email it as a Word file?
Yes. With AlignScan you can scan, run OCR, and convert the PDF to Word before emailing it.
Is it safe to email scanned documents?
Email is not end-to-end encrypted by default. For sensitive documents, password-protect the PDF or use an encrypted file-sharing service instead.
