No Ticket Needed

Appearance

5 min fix 3 min read Recently reviewedBeginner

By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

Open the OneDrive app on your phone, tap the Camera icon at the bottom, point it at your document until a blue box outlines the page, and tap the capture button.

How to Scan Documents with OneDrive Mobile ​

Applies to: OneDrive Mobile App (iOS, Android)
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

The OneDrive mobile app includes a built-in document scanner that uses your phone's camera to capture documents, receipts, whiteboards, and business cards — and saves them as PDF files directly into your OneDrive. This article shows how to scan, crop, and save documents from your phone.

Prerequisites ​

  • OneDrive mobile app installed (available on iOS and Android).
  • A Microsoft 365 or personal Microsoft account.
  • A phone with a working camera.
  • No admin rights required.

Instructions ​

1. Open the Scanner in OneDrive ​

Access the scanning feature from the mobile app.

  1. Open the OneDrive app on your phone.
  2. Tap the + (Add) button at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Select Scan.
  4. Your phone's camera opens in scanning mode.

2. Capture a Document ​

Take a photo of the document you want to scan.

  1. Position the document within the camera frame.
  2. Hold your phone steady — OneDrive may automatically detect the document edges and capture it.
  3. If not captured automatically, tap the shutter button to take the photo.
  4. OneDrive detects the document borders and crops it automatically.
  5. To add more pages, tap Add and scan additional pages.

3. Adjust and Enhance the Scan ​

Improve the quality of the scanned document.

  1. After capturing, the editing screen shows your scanned page.
  2. Use the available tools:
    • Crop — Adjust the borders if the auto-crop missed part of the document.
    • Rotate — Rotate the scan 90 degrees if the orientation is incorrect.
    • Filter — Choose Document, Whiteboard, Photo, or Black & White for optimal readability.
  3. Tap Confirm (checkmark) when the scan looks correct.

4. Save the Scan to OneDrive ​

Name and save the scanned document to your cloud storage.

  1. After confirming all pages, tap Done.
  2. Enter a filename for the document (e.g., Expense Receipt March 2026).
  3. Choose the file type:
    • PDF — Best for multi-page documents and sharing.
    • Image — Saves each page as a separate image file.
  4. Select the OneDrive folder where you want to save the file.
  5. Tap Save (checkmark icon).
  6. The scan is uploaded to OneDrive and accessible from all your devices.

5. Access and Share the Scanned File ​

Use the scanned document from any device.

  1. Open OneDrive (web, desktop, or mobile) and navigate to the folder where you saved the scan.
  2. Open the PDF to verify the scan quality.
  3. To share, right-click (or long-press on mobile) the file and select Share.
  4. Send via link or email as you would with any OneDrive file.

Troubleshooting ​

TIP

For the clearest scans, place documents on a high-contrast background (e.g., a white page on a dark desk) and ensure good lighting. Avoid shadows across the document.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Scan option is not available in OneDriveOutdated app versionUpdate the OneDrive app to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play.
Scan is blurry or unreadableCamera moved during captureHold the phone steady, use both hands, and ensure adequate lighting. Retake the scan.
Auto-crop cuts off part of the documentLow-contrast backgroundPlace the document on a surface with a contrasting colour and re-scan. Manually adjust the crop borders.