How to Scan Photos on iPhone (Beginner's Guide)

TL;DR

Use bright, indirect natural light; avoid flash.

Place photos on a flat, non-reflective surface.

Keep your iPhone parallel to the photo to prevent distortion.

Tap to focus, then capture. Crop and adjust afterward.

For batch scanning, check out our multi-photo scanning guide.

Digitizing old family photos doesn't require expensive equipment. Your iPhone is a powerful scanner that's already in your pocket, and with the right technique, you can create high-quality digital archives of your most precious memories. This guide will walk you through a simple, step-by-step process to get clean, glare-free scans every time. We'll cover everything from setting up your space to the final touches that make your photos look their best. The goal is to capture a sharp, accurate digital copy that you can easily restore and share with family.

1) Prepare Your Scanning Space

A good scan starts with a good setup. Find a spot with plenty of bright, indirect light, like near a window on an overcast day. Direct sunlight or a harsh overhead lamp will cause glare and unwanted shadows.

Choose a flat surface: A clean table or a smooth floor works perfectly.
Avoid reflective backgrounds: Don't use a glass table or a glossy surface, as it will reflect your phone and the ceiling. A matte poster board (in black or white) is an ideal background.
Clean your materials: Gently wipe dust off your photos with a soft, lint-free cloth. Don't forget to wipe your iPhone lens, too!

Pro Tip: For the most stable setup, you can place your phone on a small tripod or stack of books to keep it perfectly still and parallel.

2) Position Your iPhone for the Perfect Shot

The key to a distortion-free scan is keeping your iPhone completely parallel to the photograph. If the phone is at an angle, the photo will look skewed (an effect called "keystoning").

Enable the Camera Grid: Go to Settings > Camera and turn on the "Grid" option. Use the gridlines to align the edges of the photo with the lines on your screen.
Fill the Frame: Get close enough so the photo fills most of the screen. This ensures you capture the maximum amount of detail.
Watch for Shadows: Be mindful of where your hands and phone are, so you don't cast a shadow over the image.

3) Capture the Scan

With everything in position, you’re ready to take the picture.

Tap to Focus: Tap on the main subject of the photo (like a face) to ensure the camera focuses correctly.
Adjust Exposure: If the image looks too bright or too dark, tap and hold on the screen, then slide the sun icon up or down to adjust the brightness.
Take the Shot: Hold the phone steady and press the shutter button.

If you are scanning a large number of photos at once, our guide on scanning multiple pages can help you speed up the process.

4) Edit and Save Your Digital Copy

After capturing the image, a few minor edits can make a big difference.

Crop and Straighten: Open the photo in the Photos app and tap "Edit." Use the crop tool to trim the edges and straighten the image perfectly.
Make Minor Adjustments: Use the "Auto" enhance button as a starting point. You can also manually adjust brightness, contrast, and color to make the photo look as true-to-life as possible.
Save Your Work: Save the edited image. It's a good practice to always keep the original scan as well, in case you want to revisit it later. Now your photo is ready for restoration or sharing!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Persistent Glare: If you can't get rid of reflections, try changing the angle of your light source or moving to a different room. Stepping back and using a 1.5x zoom can also help.
Blurry Scans: Blurriness is usually caused by camera shake or incorrect focus. Make sure you tap to focus and hold your phone as steady as possible. If the issue persists, you might need more light. See our tips for fixing blurry photos.
Discolored Photos: If the colors in your scan look unnatural, use the white balance tool in your editing app to correct the color cast. A quick trick is to place a white sheet of paper next to the photo while scanning to give your camera a neutral reference point.
Texture or "Silvering": Some old prints have a metallic sheen or texture that creates mirror-like reflections. Try shooting at a very slight angle (not completely parallel) and then use the perspective correction tool during your edit to straighten the image.

FAQs

What's the best resolution to scan photos? Your iPhone's camera is high-resolution enough for most digital sharing and small prints. Fill the frame, avoid digital zoom, and aim for well-lit captures so you can comfortably print up to 8×10 inches later.

Should I use the flash? Never use the flash. It will create a harsh, bright glare on the surface of the photo that is impossible to remove.

Can I scan photos that are in an album? Yes, but it's best to remove them if possible to avoid glare from the plastic sleeves. If they are stuck, try to lift the plastic slightly and light the photo from the side.

What's next

Ready to go beyond one-off scans? Try the free PhotoScanRestore demo on your iPhone to see AI glare removal and restoration in action, or join the PhotoScanRestore waitlist to get early access to our high-speed photo scanning app.

Editor’s note: This guide is part of our series on how to preserve family photos and digitize your archives.