How to Scan Old Photos on Android (Step-by-Step)

TL;DR

Use a photo scanning app on Android instead of the basic camera so you get edge detection, de‑glare, and better crops.

Scan in soft, even light with your phone held flat over the photo.

Name and back up your scans right away so you never have to repeat the project.

Related: how to scan old photos, digitize old photos checklist, Best Photo Scanning App 2025.

Old family photos do not have to stay trapped in boxes or albums. With a modern Android phone and the right setup, you can scan prints at home and get results that rival a flatbed scanner for everyday use. The key is to treat your phone like a serious photo scanner app, not just point‑and‑shoot at the page.

This guide walks you through the full process: choosing a surface, setting up light, picking a scanning app, capturing clean images, and saving everything in a way that your future self (and family) will understand. Follow these steps once and you will have a simple, repeatable system for every shoebox you tackle.

1) Prepare your space and photos

Clear a table near a window or other soft light source. Wipe it down and make sure it is dry and dust‑free. Lay a plain, non‑glossy surface on top—a sheet of white or neutral card works well and makes edges easier to see.

Sort your photos into small batches by event (for example, “1988 summer trip” or “Grandma’s wedding”). Lightly dust each print with a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid strong cleaning sprays; they can damage older paper and finishes. Keep a box or folder nearby to hold photos you’ve already scanned so you do not lose track.

2) Choose a photo scanning app for Android

Your Android camera app is great for snapshots, but a photo scanning app for Android gives you better results with less effort. Look for an app that can:

Detect photo edges and crop automatically.
Reduce glare from glossy prints.
Straighten the image even if you are not perfectly lined up.
Save in high resolution without heavy watermarks.

Many people start with Google PhotoScan or document apps like Microsoft Lens. When PhotoScanRestore’s Android app is available, it will offer an integrated scan and restore old photos app experience: you scan, fix fading and scratches, and colour‑correct inside the same app.

3) Set up soft, even lighting

Glare is the biggest problem when scanning glossy photos with a phone. The goal is soft, even light that does not reflect hard spots back into the lens.

Scan during the day near a window with indirect light.
Turn off strong overhead lights that create bright reflections.
If you must scan at night, bounce a lamp off a wall or ceiling instead of pointing it straight at the photo.

Place the photo flat on your surface. Hold the phone so the lens is roughly parallel to the print. If your camera app has a grid, turn it on; it will help you line things up.

4) Capture your first scan

Open your Android photo scanning app and follow its on‑screen guide. A typical flow looks like this:

Position the phone so the photo fills most of the frame, with a small border around it.
Wait for the app to detect edges or show an outline.
Tap to focus on a face or key detail.
Capture the image, moving gently if the app asks for multiple angles to reduce glare.

If the preview looks soft, try again with a steadier hand or slightly more light. It is better to spend a few extra seconds on the first scan than to redo everything later.

5) Crop, straighten, and save in high quality

Once you capture the image, check the corners. Adjust the crop so all borders are included but background is not. Rotate the image if needed so horizons and frames look level.

When you save, choose the highest‑quality option your app offers. Avoid heavy compression or “small file” modes for your main archive. You can always make smaller copies later for messaging and social media.

If you plan to restore colour or fix damage, keep an unedited copy and consider exporting to a cloud service (Google Photos, Drive, or similar) in addition to your device storage.

6) Organise and back up your scans

Scanning is only half the job; organisation is what turns your work into a usable archive.

Use clear, consistent folder names like 1978-family-reunion or 1992-summer-holiday.
Rename files with numbers so they sort in order (for example, 1978-reunion-001.jpg).
Add short descriptions or tags in your photo library where possible.

Back up your scans in at least two places: your main cloud service and an external drive or second account. That way, a lost phone or accidental deletion will not take your only copies with it.

Once your photos are scanned, you can start restoring them. A photo restoration app like PhotoScanRestore can:

Boost faded colour and contrast.
Gently sharpen faces and text.
Reduce visible dust and minor scratches.

Pick one special photo—maybe a grandparent’s portrait or a family group shot—and run it through a restore flow. Share the before/after with relatives to get feedback and stories. Their reaction is often the best guide to whether the restoration looks natural.

Troubleshooting & pro tips

Persistent glare: Move the light source to the side and raise the phone slightly. Even small angle changes can remove reflections.
Blurry scans: Clean your camera lens, brace your elbows on the table, and tap to focus before capturing.
Very dark or faded photos: Scan once with normal exposure and again slightly brighter; keep both versions so you can choose the best one during restoration.
Curled prints: Place them under a heavy book (with a clean sheet between) for a day before scanning to flatten gently.

What’s next

If you want more structure, pair this guide with our full how to scan old photos tutorial and the Best Photo Scanning App 2025 roundup. Together, they give you both a high‑level plan and detailed app recommendations.

When PhotoScanRestore’s Android app launches, this guide will be the base playbook: you will use the same lighting and layout tips, but the app will take care of glare, cropping, and restoration in one place.