How to scan instructions to PDF

Have a physical instruction manual? You can scan it to a PDF for free using your phone in just a few minutes. Here's how to do it with the most popular apps.

Tips for a great scan

wb_sunnyUse natural light or a bright lamp — avoid harsh shadows across the page
straightenFlatten pages fully before scanning, especially near the spine
layersScan all pages in one session so the app combines them into a single PDF
crop_freeMake sure the entire page is visible in frame before capturing

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Adobe Scan

iPhone & Android · Free

1.Download Adobe Scan from the App Store or Google Play (free).
2.Open the app and sign in with a free Adobe account.
3.Tap the camera button and point your phone at the first page. The app detects the page edges automatically — tap the shutter or let it capture automatically.
4.Continue scanning each page. Adobe Scan adds them all to the same document.
5.When done, tap the thumbnail in the bottom-right corner, then tap "Save PDF".
6.Open the saved PDF, tap the share/export button, and choose "Save to Files" (iPhone) or "Download" (Android). Then upload it to BrikSnap.

document_scanner

Microsoft Lens

iPhone & Android · Free

1.Download Microsoft Lens from the App Store or Google Play (free). No account required.
2.Open the app and set the mode to "Document" using the selector at the bottom.
3.Point your phone at the page. Lens highlights the document in blue — tap the shutter to capture.
4.Tap "Add" to scan the next page and repeat until all pages are done.
5.Tap "Done", then choose "PDF" as the export format.
6.Select "Save to Photos" or "Save to Files" (iPhone), or "Save to Device" (Android). Then upload it to BrikSnap.

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iPhone — No App Needed

iPhone only · Built-in

1.Open the Notes app and create a new note.
2.Tap the camera icon above the keyboard and choose "Scan Documents".
3.Hold your phone over the page. It captures automatically when it detects the document.
4.Scan all pages — they stack into one document automatically.
5.Tap "Save" when done.
6.Tap the scanned document inside the note, then tap the share button (box with arrow). Choose "Save to Files" and pick a location. Then upload it to BrikSnap.

warning

The Notes app produces large files. For instruction manuals with many pages, the PDF may exceed the upload size limit. If that happens, use Adobe Scan or Microsoft Lens instead — they compress scans more efficiently.

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Google Drive

Android · Free

1.Open the Google Drive app (pre-installed on most Android phones).
2.Tap the + button in the bottom-right corner and select "Scan".
3.Point your camera at the page and tap the shutter to capture.
4.Tap the + button to add more pages and scan each one.
5.Tap the checkmark when done. Google Drive saves it as a PDF automatically.
6.Open the file in Drive, tap the three-dot menu, and choose "Download". Then upload it to BrikSnap.

Ready to upload your scanned PDF?

upload_fileGo to Upload