Scan and Create Document From Images in Google Drive.

Do you often find yourself needing to quickly digitize a paper document, but are left with a blurry photo on your phone? In an increasingly paperless world, having a fast and reliable way to convert physical files into high-quality digital PDFs is essential. While many third-party apps exist for this purpose, they often come with a catch, from intrusive ads to questionable privacy practices.

Fortunately, you don't need a separate app to get the job done. Hidden in plain sight within the Google Drive mobile app is a powerful, built-in scanner. This simple tool lets you use your phone's camera to create clean, professional-looking document scans in seconds, all while ensuring your files are instantly backed up to the cloud. 

Best of all, it’s completely free, ad-free, and you can trust that your data is handled with the security you expect from Google.

What is Google Drive In-app Scanner?

The Google Drive in-app scanner is a feature built directly into the Google Drive mobile application for Android and iOS. It allows users to use their smartphone's camera to capture a physical document, receipt, or whiteboard and save it as a high-quality digital PDF.

Unlike simply taking a photo, this tool is designed specifically for digitizing documents. It automatically detects the document's edges, corrects for perspective, and enhances the image for readability. This saves you from having to use a separate scanning app, as the functionality is seamlessly integrated with your Google Drive cloud storage.

Tasks the Google Drive Scanner Can Do:

The scanner can perform several key tasks to streamline your document workflow:

• Digitize Physical Documents: Its primary function is to convert paper documents, like receipts, contracts, letters, or handwritten notes, into a clean, digital format.
• Create Multi-Page PDFs: You can easily add multiple pages to a single scanning session, resulting in a single, unified PDF file. This is perfect for scanning multi-page documents like reports or invoices.
• Auto-Crop and Perspective Correction: The scanner intelligently identifies the document's boundaries and automatically crops out the background, straightening the image to make it look like it was scanned on a flatbed scanner.

How To Use Google Drive as a Document Scanner?

To use Google Drive's built-in document scanner, you only need two things:

• A Google Account.
• The Google Drive app is installed on your smartphone or tablet (Android or iOS).

This guide will walk you through the process, from finding the feature to saving your final PDF. The steps are nearly identical for both Android and iOS devices.

Step 1: Open the Google Drive App.

Launch the Google Drive application on your phone or tablet. Make sure you are signed in to the account you want to save the scanned document to.

Step 2: Start a New Scan.

On the home screen of the app, look for the "Add" button, which is typically a floating "+" icon located in the bottom-right corner. Tap it to bring up a menu of options. From this menu, select "Scan".

Tip: You can also navigate to the specific folder where you want to save the document before starting the scan.

Step 3: Capture Your Document.

Point your phone's camera at the document. The app will automatically detect the edges of the document and outline it with a blue box. When it has a clear view, it will automatically take the picture.

For best results, place your document on a flat, contrasting background and ensure there's good, even lighting to avoid shadows. You can also switch to manual capture if you prefer.

Step 4: Review and Edit Your Scanned Document.

After the photo is taken, you will see a preview. The app automatically crops the image and corrects the perspective, but you can refine it using the tools at the bottom of the screen:

• Crop & Rotate: Tap this icon to manually adjust the corners of the document for a perfect crop.
• Filter: This allows you to change the color mode of the scan. Options typically include Black & White, Color, and a grayscale filter to improve readability and reduce file size.
• Clean: This tool helps to remove smudges, spots, or unwanted fingers that might have appeared in the photo.
• Add: If your document has multiple pages, tap the "Add" button to scan the next page. It will be automatically added to the same PDF file.

Step 5: Save Your Scan.

Once you are satisfied with the result, tap "Next". A final screen will appear where you can customize your file. Here, you'll have the option to give your document a name and select its file type. PDF is the recommended format for the document, but you can choose another option if needed.

Finally, tap "Upload". Your new, high-quality PDF will be uploaded to your Google Drive and is ready to be accessed from any of your devices.

There is no other free Document Scanner tool that is more secure than Google Drive to keep all your important documents safe and secure in your personal Google Drive.

Google Drive Scan Shortcut Widgets.

For even faster access, you can add a "Drive Scan" widget directly to your home screen. Tap and hold a blank area on your screen, select "Widgets," find the "Drive scan" widget, and drag it to your home screen. This creates a one-tap button that goes straight to the scanner. Google Drive will also give you an option to choose a folder in which you want to upload all your scanned documents.

The ability to quickly and securely digitize documents is more important than ever. While countless third-party apps exist, they often introduce risks, ads, or clunky workflows. The Google Drive in-app scanner is the perfect solution for this problem, offering a powerful, integrated tool that you likely already have on your phone.