How to Scan Old Photos with an iPhone

Follow this quick workflow to turn your iPhone into a photo scanner—no accessories required.

1. Prep Your Space

• Lighting: Position near a bright window or use two lamps aimed diagonally at the table. Avoid overhead lights that reflect straight back.
• Surface: Lay a clean, matte board on the table so the app can detect edges instantly.
• Cleanliness: Wipe the iPhone lenses and gently dust each photo with a microfiber cloth.

2. Configure Your iPhone

• Enable the camera grid in Settings → Camera to help align shots.
• Turn off Auto HDR if you notice flicker under LED lights.
• Silence notifications so banners don’t interrupt the capture preview.

3. Use PhotoScanRestore to Capture

1. Open the app and tap Scan Photos.
2. Follow the on-screen frame; haptics pulse when the phone is level.
3. Tap to focus on faces, then press the shutter.
4. Wait a split-second while auto-crop finds each photo.
5. Adjust any corners if needed and save.

4. Save & Export

• Enable automatic saves to the Photos app (Settings → Save to Camera Roll) if you want them in iCloud immediately.
• For Files app export, tap Share → Save to Files and choose a folder on iCloud Drive or local device.
• Add captions or audio notes directly in the app so context travels with the image.

Practice with a Free Demo Photo

Troubleshooting

• Blurry results: Hold your breath, brace elbows, or use a small tripod/phone clamp. You can also use the volume button on EarPods as a remote shutter.
• Clipped edges: Zoom out slightly or place photos farther apart so detection doesn’t merge them.
• Glare patches: Slide the light source sideways or tilt the photo a few degrees; the app’s perspective fix will square it up.

Finished a batch? Tag and share them privately, then move on to another handful of prints.

Digitize & Restore a Photo Free

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