How to Scan to Email (2026 Guide)
By Techevangelist · Updated August 28, 2026
How to scan to email:Use your phone's camera to scan a document, save it as a PDF, and attach it to an email. On iPhone, open Notes, tap the camera icon, select Scan Documents. On Android, open Google Drive, tap Plus, select Scan.
Scan to Email from iPhone
Method 1: Using Notes App (Built-in)
- Open the Notes app
- Tap the camera icon above the keyboard
- Select Scan Documents
- Position your document in the camera view
- Tap the shutter button or let it auto-capture
- Tap Save when done scanning
- Tap the Share button (square with arrow)
- Select Mail
- Enter the recipient email and tap Send
Method 2: Using Files App
- Open the Files app
- Tap the three dots (top right)
- Select Scan Documents
- Scan your document
- Tap Save
- Long-press the file and select Share
- Choose Mail
Scan to Email from Android
Method 1: Using Google Drive (Built-in)
- Open the Google Drive app
- Tap the Plus button (bottom right)
- Select Scan
- Take a photo of the document
- Adjust the corners if needed, tap Save
- Tap the three dots next to the file
- Select Share
- Enter the email address and tap Send
Method 2: Using Samsung Notes (Samsung Phones)
- Open Samsung Notes
- Tap the Scan icon
- Capture the document
- Tap Save
- Tap Share and select Email
Scan to Email from HP Printer
- Place your document on the scanner glass
- Tap the Scan icon on the printer touchscreen
- Select Scan to Email
- Enter the recipient email address
- Adjust settings (resolution, color) if needed
- Tap Send
Scan to Email from Other Printers
Canon Printers
- Load document on scanner
- Tap Scan on the touchscreen
- Select Scan to Email
- Enter email address
- Tap Send
Epson Printers
- Load document on scanner
- Press the Scan button
- Select Email as the destination
- Enter the recipient email
- Press Start
Best Free Scanning Apps
- Notes (iPhone) - Built-in, no download needed, scans to PDF
- Google Drive (Android) - Built-in, scans and saves to cloud
- Adobe Scan - Free, auto-detects edges, OCR support
- Microsoft Lens - Free, crops and enhances documents
- Genius Scan - Free tier, batch scanning
Scan Multiple Pages into One Email
- Open your scanning app
- Scan the first page
- Tap Add or Continue Scanning
- Scan the second page
- Repeat for all pages
- Tap Save when done
- All pages will be combined into one PDF
- Share via email
Tips for Better Scans
- Good lighting - Avoid shadows on the document
- Flat surface - Place document on a flat, contrasting background
- Hold steady - Keep your phone parallel to the document
- Clean lens - Wipe your camera lens before scanning
- Auto-crop - Use apps that auto-detect document edges
FAQ
How do I scan a document and email it from my iPhone?
Open the Notes app, tap the camera icon, select Scan Documents, position your document, tap Save, then tap the Share button and choose Mail to send the scanned PDF.
How do I scan a document and email it from my Android phone?
Open Google Drive, tap the Plus button, select Scan, take a photo of the document, tap Save, then tap the three dots next to the file and select Share to email it.
How do I scan from my HP printer to email?
Place your document on the scanner glass, tap the Scan icon on the printer touchscreen, select Scan to Email, enter the recipient email address, and tap Send.
How do I scan a document to email without a scanner?
Use your smartphone camera with a scanning app like Adobe Scan, Microsoft Lens, or the built-in Notes app on iPhone. These apps detect document edges, correct perspective, and save as PDF for emailing.
How do I scan multiple pages into one email?
Use a scanning app that supports multi-page scanning. On iPhone Notes, keep scanning pages and tap Save when done. On Android Google Drive, scan each page and merge them into one PDF before sharing.
What is the best free scanning app for iPhone?
The built-in Notes app is the best free option for iPhone. It scans documents automatically, corrects perspective, and saves as PDF. Adobe Scan and Microsoft Lens are also free alternatives.
How do I scan a document to email from a Samsung phone?
Open the Samsung Notes app, tap the Scan icon, capture the document, tap Save, then tap Share and select Email to send the scanned PDF.
How do I scan a QR code and send it by email?
Open your camera app, point it at the QR code, tap the notification to open the link, then copy the URL and paste it into a new email message.