PDF Conversion Issues

How to Scan Photos and Documents for Email with Adobe Scan

Olivia Miller Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to scan physical photos or documents using a mobile device and send the scanned files via email.

How to Scan Photos and Documents for Email with Adobe Scan

Product: Adobe Scan
Device & OS: Android and iOS
Scenario: Converting physical paper or photos into a digital PDF format to share via email.
Observed behavior: The user needs a clear step-by-step guide on how to capture, adjust, and email documents using a mobile scanning app instead of a standard PDF viewer.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection to download the scanning app and a well-lit environment to capture clear document scans.

Solution 1Recommended

Capture and Email Documents using Adobe Scan

Adobe Scan is a free mobile app that uses your phone's camera to capture documents and automatically converts them into high-quality PDFs ready for sharing.

While Adobe Acrobat Reader is excellent for viewing PDFs, Adobe Scan is the dedicated tool required for capturing physical documents. It includes smart features like automatic border detection and optical character recognition (OCR) to enhance your scans.

Download Adobe Scan

Install the Adobe Scan app from the Google Play Store for Android or the Apple App Store for iOS.

Capture the document

Open the app, select the camera icon, and hold your device steadily over the photo or document. The app will automatically capture the image.

Adjust and edit

Review the captured scan. You can crop the borders, adjust the color, or add more pages to the document if needed.

Save as PDF

Tap the 'Save PDF' button in the top right corner to convert your scanned images into a single PDF file.

Share via email

Tap the 'Share' option next to your new scanned file, select 'Email', and use your preferred mail app to send the attachment.

Text Recognition: Adobe Scan automatically recognizes text (OCR), making your scanned documents searchable and selectable once saved as a PDF.

Scan, Edit, and Share PDFs Directly with WPS Office Mobile

Instead of downloading separate apps for scanning and viewing documents, use the WPS Office mobile app. It features a built-in document scanner that lets you capture paper documents, convert them to PDFs, extract text with OCR, and share them via email—all in one lightweight app.

1. Open WPS Scanner: Launch the WPS Office mobile app and tap the 'Scanner' tool from the home screen.
2. Capture the document: Point your phone's camera at the paper document or photo to capture it.
3. Enhance and save: Use the built-in cropping and enhancement tools, then save the file directly as a PDF.
4. Email the file: Tap the 'Share' button on the saved PDF and select your email application to send it instantly.

Free built-in document scanner with powerful OCR technologyFully compatible with Adobe PDF and Microsoft Office formatsAll-in-one lightweight app combining scanner, PDF editor, and office suite

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Adobe Acrobat Reader to scan documents?

No, Adobe Acrobat Reader is primarily used for viewing and managing PDF files. You will need to install the Adobe Scan mobile app to capture physical documents with your camera.

Are scanned documents automatically saved as PDFs?

Yes, when you capture and save a document using Adobe Scan, it automatically converts the images into a multi-page PDF file that is easy to share.

How do I make the scanned PDF searchable?

Adobe Scan automatically applies Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to your scans in the background, which converts the image text into selectable and searchable text within the PDF.

PDF Troubleshooting