The Brown Law Firm — Jerome A. Brown, Board Certified Attorney in Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Business Bankruptcy Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — 40+ Years Legal Experience

← Back to Help Center

Help Center

Scanning Documents with Adobe Scan

Download Adobe Scan

Adobe Scan is a free mobile app that turns your smartphone into a high-quality document scanner.

Video: How to Scan with Adobe Scan

Prefer to watch instead of read? This walkthrough covers scanning a document with Adobe Scan on both iPhone and Android.

Before You Scan

Taking a few extra seconds before scanning can save time and prevent delays.

  • Use adequate lighting. Bright, even lighting produces the clearest scans. Natural light or a well-lit room works best.
  • Place documents on a flat, dark-colored surface so Adobe Scan can easily detect the page edges.
  • Flatten folded or wrinkled pages.
  • Remove staples and paper clips whenever possible.
  • Clean your phone’s camera lens if the image appears blurry.
  • Capture the entire page. Every corner must be visible. Do not cut off page numbers, signatures, dates, or margins.

Tip:If any portion of the document is missing, the scan may not be accepted and you’ll need to rescan the document.

Step 1: Open Adobe Scan

Open the Adobe Scan app and tap New Scan. If prompted, allow the app to access your camera.

Step 2: Position Your Document

  • Hold your phone directly above the document.
  • Allow Adobe Scan to detect the page automatically.
  • Wait for the blue outline to appear before moving your phone.
  • Try to keep your phone steady until the page is captured.
  • If automatic capture doesn’t occur, tap the shutter button.

Step 3: Scan Additional Pages

Continue scanning each page. Adobe Scan automatically combines all pages into a single PDF. Make sure every page has been captured before saving.

Step 4: Review Every Page

Before saving, review every page carefully. Verify that:

  • Every page is included.
  • Nothing is cut off.
  • All text is readable.
  • Pages are in the correct order.
  • Pages are facing the correct direction.
  • Images are clear and not blurry.

If a page isn’t readable, delete it and scan it again.

Step 5: Save Your PDF

Tap Save PDF. Allow Adobe Scan to finish processing before closing the app.

Naming Your File (Please!)

A descriptive file name helps us locate your documents quickly.

Recommended format: Last Name - Document Type - Date

  • Smith - Bank Statements - June 2026
  • Johnson - Pay Stubs - July 2026
  • Garcia - Driver License
  • Brown - Tax Return 2025
  • Davis - Utility Bill

Please avoid names such as: Scan, Scan1, Document, New PDF, IMG_1234.

A good file name saves time for everyone.

Finding Your Scan

Your PDF can be accessed directly from Adobe Scan. Open Adobe Scan and tap Scans or Files. Select the document you want to send.

Emailing or Uploading Your PDF

Open your scanned document and tap the Share button. From there, you can:

  • Email the PDF
  • Upload it to a website or client portal
  • Save it to your phone’s Files app
  • Send it through another approved app

Finding Your PDF Later

iPhone: Open the Files app and look in Downloads, On My iPhone, Adobe Scan, or iCloud Drive (if enabled).

Android: Open Files or My Files and check Downloads, Documents, or Internal Storage.

You can also search using part of the file name.

Best Practices

  • Use good lighting.
  • Capture the entire page.
  • Hold the phone steady.
  • Keep pages flat.
  • Review every page before sending.
  • Combine all pages into one PDF whenever possible.
  • Use a clear, descriptive file name.

Following these steps helps ensure your documents are complete, readable, and ready for processing the first time.

Troubleshooting Adobe Scan

My scan is blurry.

A blurry scan usually happens because the phone moved during capture or the camera lens is dirty. Try these tips:

  • Clean your camera lens with a soft cloth.
  • Hold your phone steady.
  • Make sure the room is well lit.
  • Wait for Adobe Scan to finish focusing before moving the phone.

If the page is still blurry, delete it and scan it again.

Adobe Scan won’t detect the page.

Adobe Scan works best when it can clearly see the edges of the document. Try the following:

  • Place the paper on a dark, solid-colored surface.
  • Increase the room lighting.
  • Make sure the entire page is visible.
  • Move the phone slightly higher above the document.
  • Use the manual shutter button if automatic capture doesn’t work.

Part of my document was cut off.

Every page should be completely visible before the picture is taken. Before scanning, make sure:

  • All four corners are visible.
  • No fingers are covering the page.
  • The page is lying flat.
  • Nothing extends outside the camera view.

If any text, signatures, dates, or page numbers are missing, rescan the page.

My document has multiple pages.

Keep scanning pages until the entire document has been captured. Adobe Scan automatically combines all pages into a single PDF. Please do not send each page as a separate file unless we specifically ask you to.

My pages are upside down or sideways.

Open the scan and tap Edit. Use the Rotate tool until each page is upright before saving.

I forgot to rename my file.

Open the PDF in Adobe Scan. Tap the file name near the top of the screen and rename it using this format: Last Name - Document Type - Date (for example, Smith - Bank Statements - June 2026).

I can’t find my scanned document.

First, check Adobe Scan under Scans or Files. If you previously saved the document to your phone:

iPhone: Open the Files app and check Downloads, On My iPhone, Adobe Scan, or iCloud Drive.

Android: Open Files or My Files and check Downloads, Documents, or Internal Storage.

You can also search for part of the file name.

I need to email the document.

Open the PDF, tap Share, choose your email app, attach the PDF to your email, and send it to the address provided by our office.

I need to upload the document to a website.

Tap Upload, Choose File, or Browse on the website. Navigate to where you saved the PDF, select the correct file, and wait for the upload to finish before leaving the page.

The file is too large.

Large files usually happen when many pages are scanned together. If the website won’t accept the file:

  • Save the PDF first.
  • Try uploading again using Wi-Fi.
  • If requested by our office, divide the document into smaller sections (for example, “Bank Statements Pages 1–25” and “Bank Statements Pages 26–50”).

Still Need Help?

If you’re unable to scan or send your documents after trying these steps, please contact our office. We’ll be happy to help you find another way to get your documents to us.