Need to keep a receipt or signed form without downloading another scanner app? Google Drive for Android includes a document scan flow that can capture paper with your camera, adjust the crop and save the result as a PDF or JPG.
Scan and save a document
- Open the Google Drive app on your Android device.
- Tap the camera button near the bottom right and point the phone at the document.
- Use the detected outline to frame the page, then take the picture. You can choose manual or automatic capture.
- Review and adjust the scan, then tap Done.
- Choose a filename, select PDF or JPG, pick a Drive folder if needed, and tap Save.
Google says the scanned document can be saved as a searchable PDF. A Drive Scan widget can also be added to the home screen as a shortcut; choose its destination folder during setup.
Make the scan usable
Place the paper on a flat, contrasting surface and avoid casting a phone shadow across small print. Check every page and crop before saving. For a multi-page statement, confirm the final PDF contains all pages and that account numbers and totals are legible.
Protect sensitive paperwork
Scanned receipts, bills and letters may include addresses, payment details or reference numbers. Save them to the right Google Account and folder, and check sharing permissions before sending a link. A file in Drive is not automatically private if you or a collaborator have shared its folder. Avoid scanning documents on a device or account you do not control.
For an occasional receipt or form, Drive’s built-in scanner can be enough. For high-stakes legal or identity documents, inspect the result carefully and keep the original if you may need it.
Featured image credit: Kskhh on Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 4.0 (license).
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