How to scan multiple pages into one PDF on iPhone
Start a scan in Paperlane, capture all the pages in the same scan session, review their crops and save the document. Open the saved PDF and use the share action to export it. Check page order and readability before sending the file.
We make Paperlane. This guide explains its workflow and limitations; paid features are noted below.
Get Paperlane on the App StoreBefore you begin
Put the pages in order on a flat surface with a contrasting background. Use even light and avoid reflections across printed text. You need camera access and enough storage for the scan and the exported PDF.
Step by step
Prepare a readable first page
Flatten folds where possible and move your hand away from the text. Keep the camera roughly parallel to the paper. Automatic edge detection can help locate the page, but it cannot restore letters hidden by glare or motion blur.
Start one scan session
Open Paperlane and tap Scan. Capture the first page. Continue adding the remaining pages before finishing the capture session so they can become one document rather than separate files.
Review each capture
In the review screen, check every page, not just the first. Use Crop when an edge is missing or the background is included. Inspect small text, signatures and page numbers. If essential content is unreadable, capture that page again.
Save and confirm page order
Save the scan to the local library, then open it. Confirm the page count and sequence match the original document. Use the page-management controls if a page needs arranging or removal, and verify the result again afterwards.
Choose whether you need searchable text
A PDF made of page images is different from one with a searchable text layer. Paperlane Pro adds OCR. If search is important, try finding a known word in the completed file and check the result rather than assuming recognition is perfect.
Export and check the actual file
Share the PDF to Files or the destination you intend to use. Open that exported copy, confirm all pages are present, and check the recipient’s upload-size limit. Give the file a meaningful name so it can be found later.
A quick check before you send
Look for four common problems: a cut-off edge, a missing page, the wrong order and glare over important text. View each page large enough to judge the smallest text that matters. A clean thumbnail does not prove the full document is readable.
For a form or application, check the recipient’s format requirements. A scanned PDF does not automatically satisfy a request for an original digital document, a certified copy or a particular kind of signature.
Local scanning and sharing are different
Paperlane performs scanning, PDF creation and text recognition on the device and keeps its library locally. When you choose an email, cloud-storage or messaging service in the share sheet, that service handles the copy you send to it.
Keep the paper original when it matters. OCR can misread small text and unusual layouts, so verify numbers and names against the source rather than using extracted text as the sole record.
Questions that come up
Can I make a multi-page PDF without OCR?
Yes. Combining page images into one PDF and recognizing text are separate functions. Searchable OCR is a Pro feature.
Why does my scan look blurry?
Movement, focus and lighting affect the captured image. Improve the light, steady the phone and recapture the page. Increasing contrast cannot recover detail that was never captured.
Can I protect a PDF with a password?
Paperlane Pro includes password protection. Check the receiving service’s requirements first because some upload systems do not accept password-protected documents.
Check the app details
See Paperlane features and compatibility, or visit the official Paperlane website. The App Store listing has current availability, pricing and in-app purchases. Screens and options can vary with the app version.
Download Paperlane