Your iPhone Is Hiding a Powerful Document Scanner
I regularly use my iPhone to scan physical documents like medical reports, identity cards, forms from my bank, etc. Since 2015 or so, I've used an app called Scanner Pro to get the job done. It works well enough, but the best features require a subscription and it is no longer as fast as I'd like it to be. I've long known about Apple's built-in scanner in the Notes app, but it isn't as convenient as the app I've been using, so I never made the switch. That changed when I recently discovered another built-in scanner on the iPhone, hidden away in the Preview app, of all places. This one is fast, free, and well integrated with the Files app, which is a big plus. Here's why you should consider using it Your iPhone's Preview app has a hidden document scanner Your iPhone ships with an app called Preview, which was added with the release of iOS 26 in 2025 . Now, when you open a document in the Files app, your iPhone will automatically switch to Preview and loa...
