If you have an iPhone
Use Apple Notes
Most iPhones already have the Notes app. It can scan several pages into one PDF.
How to scan and upload paperwork
PDF is usually best, but a clear photo is better than no document at all. This guide helps you send paperwork in a way that is easier to read, review and organise.
You do not need a printer, scanner or perfect setup. A phone is enough.
The easiest option
If you have Android
Use Google Drive
Most Android phones already have Google Drive. It can scan documents and save them as PDFs.
If that feels too much
Take clear photos
Photograph one page at a time in good light. Make sure the whole page is visible, including dates, signatures and page numbers.
Paper Armour can work with imperfect documents, but clearer files make the review faster and stronger.
Best: one clear PDF.
Also okay: clear photos, one page at a time.
Not ideal: blurry, cropped or missing pages.
Before you upload
Imperfect is okay
You do not need a perfect scanning setup. Clear, complete and readable is the aim. If you are stressed, short on time or dealing with a messy pile of paperwork, send the best version you reasonably can.
PDF is best
PDFs are usually easier to review than loose photos, especially for long letters, forms, reports and evidence bundles. If you already have a digital PDF, upload that rather than taking photos of it.
If you use photos
Use good lighting, place pages flat, avoid shadows and photograph one page at a time. Make sure all corners, dates, page numbers, letterheads and signatures are visible.
Include every page
Include blank or boring-looking pages if they are part of an official letter, form, plan or report. Do not crop off dates, page numbers, headings, signatures or official logos.
Name files if you can
Helpful file names make paperwork easier to organise. If renaming files is stressful, do not worry. The upload description box can explain what each file is.
- dla-decision-letter-may-2026.pdf
- ehcp-draft-plan-ava.pdf
- school-email-attendance.pdf
- medical-letter-neurology.pdf
Start with the important bundle
For a first review, avoid sending huge bundles of unrelated paperwork. Start with the decision letter, form, plan, report or email that explains the main problem.
How to scan from your phone
iPhone or iPad: scan with Apple Notes
- 1Open the Notes app.
- 2Create a new note.
- 3Tap the attachments or camera button.
- 4Choose Scan Documents.
- 5Hold the phone over the page.
- 6Let it capture the page, or press the shutter button.
- 7Add more pages until the document is complete.
- 8Tap Save.
- 9Use the Share button to save or send the scan as a PDF.
Best for: most people on iPhone who want the simplest option without installing a new app.
Android: scan with Google Drive
- 1Open the Google Drive app.
- 2Tap the camera or scan button.
- 3Point the phone at the document.
- 4Take the scan.
- 5Adjust the crop if needed.
- 6Add more pages if the document has more than one page.
- 7Save the scan as a PDF.
- 8Upload the PDF to Paper Armour, or share it from Drive.
Best for: most people on Android, especially if Google Drive is already on the phone.
If scanning apps feel too hard
If scanning feels too stressful, take photos instead.
- Put the page on a plain surface.
- Use daylight or a bright room.
- Avoid shadows from your hand or phone.
- Keep the page flat.
- Take one photo per page.
- Check the photo before uploading.
- Retake it if the words are blurry.
A readable photo is better than a perfect PDF that never gets sent.
Scanning app options
Check where your scans are going
Paperwork about disability, health, benefits, education, care or legal issues can be very personal. Avoid uploading it to public groups, shared folders or apps you do not trust. If privacy is a concern, use the simplest built-in option available on your phone, then upload directly through the Paper Armour intake form where possible.
These are practical starting points, not formal endorsements. App prices, features and privacy settings can change, so check before paying for anything. The built-in tools already on your phone are usually the best place to start.
Best free or mostly free options
Apple Notes
- Platform:
- iPhone and iPad
- Best for:
- simplest iPhone option
- Cost:
- Free
- Why use it:
- Already built into most iPhones, scans multi-page documents and can share as PDF.
- Possible downside:
- Sharing the finished PDF can feel a little hidden the first time.
Google Drive
- Platform:
- Android, also available for iPhone
- Best for:
- simplest Android option
- Cost:
- Free
- Why use it:
- Saves scanned paperwork as PDFs in Google Drive. Good for letters, forms and receipts.
- Possible downside:
- You may need to be signed into a Google account.
Adobe Scan
- Platform:
- iPhone, iPad and Android
- Best for:
- clean, readable scans
- Cost:
- Free with optional in-app purchases
- Why use it:
- Good clean-up, cropping, text recognition and PDF creation. Useful for forms, letters, evidence and official paperwork.
- Possible downside:
- It may ask you to sign in, which can be annoying if you are less confident with apps.
Genius Scan
- Platform:
- iPhone, iPad and Android
- Best for:
- easy multi-page PDFs
- Cost:
- Free with optional paid features
- Why use it:
- Friendly scanning flow, auto-cropping, clean-up and good multi-page handling.
- Possible downside:
- Some advanced features are paid.
Paid or premium options
Scanner Pro by Readdle
- Platform:
- iPhone and iPad
- Best for:
- people on iPhone who scan paperwork regularly
- Cost:
- Paid or free with in-app purchase model
- Why use it:
- Very polished PDF scanning and document handling.
- Possible downside:
- iOS only, so it is not useful as a universal recommendation.
Genius Scan Plus / Premium
- Platform:
- iPhone, iPad and Android
- Best for:
- regular scanning and larger document bundles
- Cost:
- Optional paid upgrades
- Why use it:
- Keeps the simple Genius Scan workflow but adds more advanced features.
- Possible downside:
- Most clients probably do not need premium just to send paperwork to Paper Armour.
SwiftScan
- Platform:
- iPhone, iPad and Android
- Best for:
- regular scanning with cloud upload options
- Cost:
- Free with optional paid features
- Why use it:
- Creates PDF or JPG scans and has strong document capture features.
- Possible downside:
- It may feel like more app than most Paper Armour clients need.
Microsoft Lens
Microsoft Lens used to be a popular scanning app, but it is being retired, so Paper Armour does not recommend it as a new option.
App comparison
| Tool | Works on | Best for | PDF support | Multiple pages? | Cost note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Notes | iPhone / iPad | Simplest iPhone option | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Google Drive | Android / iPhone | Simplest Android option | Yes | Yes | Free |
| Adobe Scan | iPhone / Android | Cleaner scans | Yes | Yes | Free with optional paid features |
| Genius Scan | iPhone / Android | Multi-page PDFs | Yes | Yes | Free with optional paid features |
| Scanner Pro | iPhone / iPad | Regular iPhone scanning | Yes | Yes | Paid or premium |
| SwiftScan | iPhone / Android | Regular scanning and cloud uploads | Yes | Yes | Free with optional paid features |
Apple Notes
- Works on
- iPhone / iPad
- Best for
- Simplest iPhone option
- PDF / Multi-page
- Yes / Yes
- Cost
- Free
Google Drive
- Works on
- Android / iPhone
- Best for
- Simplest Android option
- PDF / Multi-page
- Yes / Yes
- Cost
- Free
Adobe Scan
- Works on
- iPhone / Android
- Best for
- Cleaner scans
- PDF / Multi-page
- Yes / Yes
- Cost
- Free with optional paid features
Genius Scan
- Works on
- iPhone / Android
- Best for
- Multi-page PDFs
- PDF / Multi-page
- Yes / Yes
- Cost
- Free with optional paid features
Scanner Pro
- Works on
- iPhone / iPad
- Best for
- Regular iPhone scanning
- PDF / Multi-page
- Yes / Yes
- Cost
- Paid or premium
SwiftScan
- Works on
- iPhone / Android
- Best for
- Regular scanning and cloud uploads
- PDF / Multi-page
- Yes / Yes
- Cost
- Free with optional paid features
Before you press upload
- Every page is included.
- Pages are in the right order if possible.
- The words are readable when zoomed in.
- Dates, page numbers and signatures are visible.
- The file is a PDF if possible.
- Photos are taken one page at a time.
- File names are helpful if you know how to rename them.
- The upload description explains anything confusing.
- You have not included unrelated bundles unless they are needed.
If you are not sure, upload it anyway and explain briefly in the description box.
What to upload first
For a first review, the most useful documents are usually:
- The decision letter
- The form or application
- The draft plan, final plan or report
- The email or letter that explains the problem
- The deadline or appeal information
- The most recent professional evidence
- Any document you have been asked to respond to
You can always add more later if needed. The first upload does not need to contain your entire life archive.
Keep paperwork private
Paperwork about benefits, education, disability, health, care, housing or legal problems can contain very personal information.
Please avoid:
- Posting documents publicly
- Uploading documents to public Facebook groups
- Sharing public links that anyone can open
- Sending paperwork to people you do not know or trust
- Leaving scans in random apps if you do not need them there
Paper Armour cannot control the privacy practices of third-party scanning apps. If privacy is a concern, use the simplest built-in option available on your phone, or upload directly from your device where possible.
Common problems and quick fixes
Retake it in better light. Hold the phone still and tap the screen where the text is before taking the photo.
Try a scanning app filter, or retake the photo in brighter natural light.
That is okay. Upload them all if needed, but explain in the description box that they belong together.
Upload clear photos instead. One page per photo is usually best.
Use the description box to explain what you think it is. For example: “This is the letter that says they refused Ava’s support.”
Try saving as a PDF from the scanning app, or upload fewer unrelated files at first. If there is an existing file size limit in the app, display it clearly here.