Where the scanning tool is I found it almost by chance. I was in a chat, I pressed the button I always use for photos, but this time I noticed the option that says “Document.” In there, at the very bottom, was the magic: “Scan document”<a href=”https://www.xataka.com/basics/como-scan-documents-whatsapp-to-send-them-as-pdf” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>. It’s not where you’d think, it’s not in the app’s normal camera. It’s hidden away there, in the file-sharing menu.
How to make your phone scan on its own When I opened the camera to scan, the app was ready. Without me touching anything, it saw the edges of my ID and marked them with a green box. On the iPhone, if you hold it still for a second, it takes the shot on its own, as if it knew what you wanted. For multi-page papers this is addictive, because it keeps going and scanning page after page almost effortlessly. But if you move around a lot or the light is weird, it can go crazy.
Why sometimes you have to do it by hand I like automatic mode, but I understand that it stresses others out. If you see that the green box is dancing around or can’t decide to capture, the best thing is to switch to manual mode. You just tap where it says “Auto” at the top of the screen so it switches to “Manual”. That way you control the exact moment you press the white button, and then you tell the app to save that scan. It’s slower, but you have total control.
Crop and choose only what’s necessary This is the best part. Many times the photo shows half the desk or the corner of another piece of paper. After scanning, you can tap on the preview and crop with your finger, adjusting the corners so that only the document shows. WhatsApp lets you do that page by page, which saves you when you’ve scanned something with many pages and one didn’t turn out well.
Change the color so it reads better They’re not filters to look good. They’re there to make the text look clear. You can change the scan to pure black and white, which is perfect for a printed contract, or leave it in color if it’s an ID card. There’s an option that says “Photo,” which sends the image as is, without processing; I almost never use it because the text usually looks worse.
Prepare the document and the light This seems silly, but it’s key. If the paper is wrinkled or in shadow, the scan turns out terrible. What I do is put it on a flat table, with good light from above. If it’s dark, the app itself has a flashlight you can turn on. The background should be a contrasting color; don’t put a white receipt on the white kitchen table because you won’t see anything.
What happens at the end of the process When you finish editing, WhatsApp puts all the pages together and makes a single PDF file. You can add a message above it, like “I’m sending you the receipt,” and hit send. The other person receives it as a normal file they can download. The great thing is that you don’t have to leave the conversation for anything, it all happens right there.
Why not use it for everything Watch out for this. Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s for everything. If you’re going to scan and send your passport, your tax return, or anything with sensitive data, make very sure who you’re sending it to. This tool is for everyday life: the receipt from the repair shop, the notes from a class, the handwritten shopping list. For everything else, maybe a real scanner or a more specialized app is better.
If it still doesn’t show up on your phone It worked for me from day one, but I read that since it’s a relatively new feature, the update may take a while to reach some people. It’s not on all phones at the same time. If you don’t see it, be patient, or try restarting your phone. Sometimes apps turn things on without warning.
