How to Email a Scanned Document as a PDF

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Do you have important documents you need to email to someone else? If you have a printer with a scanner or a smartphone, you'll be able to do so in a few simple steps! For overall compatibility, be sure to send your scans in PDF format. This wikiHow will teach you how to scan documents with your printer scanner, iPhone, or Android and send them to another person via email.

• To use a printer with a built-in scanner, you'll need a connected computer.
• When using your iPhone, you'll be able to save your scans as PDFs with the Notes app.
• When using Android, you'll be able to scan documents using the Google Drive app.

Using a Printer

• Your printer must have a built-in scanner to scan documents.

• For Windows, navigate to Settings → Devices → Printers & Scanners → Manage. Select Scanner, then Open Scanner.
• For Mac, navigate to System Preferences → Printers & Scanners → Scan → Open Scanner.

• When using the feeder, be sure you have selected the feeder option. This will let you scan multiple pages at once.
• If you're using the flatbed, be sure to select the flatbed option. This will only let you scan one document at a time.

• If you have a lot of documents, this may take some time.

• For Windows, they will be located in My Scans or Pictures.
• For Mac, they will automatically be saved in the Pictures folder.
• If you can't locate your scans, use your printer application to see your recently scanned files. Click Settings and find Save in to locate the save destination.

• For Windows, open your scans and navigate to "File" then "Print". In the drop-down menu for "Printer", select "Microsoft Print to PDF". Click "Print". This will save your scans in PDF format. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
• For Mac, open your scans and navigate to "File" then "Print". In the print menu, check off "PDF", then click "Save as PDF". [3] X Research source
• Be sure to save your PDF scans in a location you will remember.

• Type the recipient’s email address in the "To" field.
• Be sure to reference the attachments in the body or subject of the email.

• Your PDF scans will be in the specified location from the previous steps.

• You can also double-click on the located document.
• Some applications offer drag-and-drop. To use this, simply drag your scanned documents into the body of the email. It will automatically be added as an attachment.

• When they receive your message, the recipient will need to double-click or tap the attachment to view the scanned document you emailed to them.

Using an iPhone

• If it's not already installed, you can install it from the App Store.

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Create a new note. You can do this by clicking the pencil and note icon located at the top right or bottom right corner, depending on your iOS version. [7] X Research source

• For best quality, scan your documents in a well-lit area and with steady hands.
• The camera will automatically snap a photo when the scan has been detected.
• You can manually press the white camera button to snap a photo.

• If you need to retake a scan, click the scanned documents in the bottom left corner. Click Retake on the top right of the scan you want to retake.

• The scans will automatically be in PDF format.
• If you scanned multiple documents in the same session, they will be compiled together in the same PDF file.

the scanned document in the Notes page." width="460" height="344" />

• Make sure you've selected the scanned document, not the Note.
• It will say Scanned Document(s) at the top.

the Mail app." width="460" height="345" />

• Be sure to reference the attachment in the body or subject of the email.
• By default, iPhones will send Sent from my iPhone as an email tag. Delete this from the bottom of your email draft if you don't want the recipient to see.

• Some phones will play a sound effect after sending emails.
• To confirm, check your Sent folder in your mailbox.
• If you delete it by mistake, you can always retrieve deleted mail.

Using an Android

Download Google Drive from the Google Play Store. You will need to log in to your Google account to use Google Drive.

• This is where you can add files or store pictures.

• Select either While using the app or Only this time.
• Do not select Don't allow since you need camera permission to scan documents from your phone.

• For best quality, scan your documents in a well-lit area and with steady hands.

• You can choose to Retry if you want to take the photo again.
• Otherwise, click OK.
• Google Drive will automatically convert your picture into a scan. If there is white space, it will automatically locate the borders of your document.

• When you're finished, click Done.
• You can also rotate to landscape or portrait mode.

• Google Drive will show you the account and folder you're saving to.
• Google Drive will automatically save scans in PDF format.

• Scans will be in the destination set during the previous step.

Click Send a copy and choose your preferred email app. You'll have to option to send via Bluetooth, Gmail, Messages, or other apps from your app list.

• Be sure to reference the attachment in the body or subject of the email.

• To confirm, check your Sent folder in your mailbox.

Community Q&A

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

For Windows, right-click the file and select "Rename". Type in the new name and press "Enter". For Mac, control-click the file. In the shortcut menu, select "Rename". Type in the new name and press "Return".

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Upload the image from your scanner, then save it as a .jpeg or .png, or whichever format you prefer. Now you can attach it to your email by clicking "Attach" or "Send Attachment."

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Thank you for your feedback.
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