5 Best Fixes for Notes App Not Scanning Documents on iPhone

Whether its medical reports, business cards, contracts, proposals, or other important details, you can scan the document on your iPhone to save it in the Notes app. While the digital copy is always helpful, you can add other details with annotations and even digitally sign your documents from the Notes app.

To annotate or use the digital copy for future purposes, you’ll need to use the Notes app to scan it. If that’s not working, we’ve compiled some solutions to help you fix the Notes app not scanning documents on your iPhone.

1. Use iCloud Folder

The Notes app gives you the option for storing your notes on your iPhone or in the iCloud account. For the documents scanning to work in the Notes app, you’ll need to use the app with your iCloud account. Several users on the official Apple Community forum recommend that. If you aren’t sure about that, here’s how you can check and use iCloud account with the Notes app.

Step 1: Open the Notes app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on Folders at the top-left corner.

Step 3: Tap on All iCloud.

Step 4: Open an existing or a new note and check if you can see the Camera icon at the bottom.

If you have enough storage space, you can switch to your iCloud account for storing all your notes by default. For that, you need to disable storing notes on your device.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Notes.

Step 3: Scroll down and tap the toggle next to the “On My iPhone” Account to disable the feature.

You can read more about some amazing Apple Notes tips and tricks for your iPhone.

2. Enable Notes App in iCloud

If you don’t see the iCloud folder in the Notes app, your iCloud account may not be syncing your notes. Here’s how you can check and enable the same on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on your profile name at the top.

Step 3: Tap on iCloud.

Step 4: Select Show All to reveal all apps using your iCloud account.

Step 5: Tap on Notes.

Step 6: Tap the toggle next to ‘Sync This iPhone’ to turn it on if it was off.

Step 7: Close the Settings app and open the Notes app to check if the problem is solved.

3. Check Default Notes Account

If you have multiple accounts signed in on your iPhone, you need to ensure that your iCloud account is set to default for the Notes app. Here’s how you can check the same.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Notes.

Step 3: Tap on Default Account.

Step 4: Select iCloud as the default for the Notes app.

Step 5: Close Settings and open the Notes app to check if the problem is solved.

4. Force Quit and Relaunch Notes App

If you are still unable to scan documents in the Notes app, you can try to force quit and relaunch the app on your iPhone. This will give the app a fresh start.

Step 1: On the home screen of your iPhone, swipe up and hold to reveal the background app windows.

Step 2: Swipe right to reveal the Notes app window. Then, swipe up to force quit the app.

Step 3: Relaunch the Notes app and check if the problem is solved.

5. Update Notes App

If none of the solutions work, the last resort is to update the version of the Notes app on your iPhone. For that, you need to check for a new iOS update.

Step 1: Open Settings on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on General.

Step 3: Tap on Software Update.

Step 4: If an update is available, download and install it.

Step 5: Once the installation is complete, relaunch the Notes app and check if the problem is solved.

Scan and Save

This feature allows you to scan an entire page and parts of the page. You can also scan a photo and save its digital copy in the Notes app on your iPhone. Then, you can access those scanned documents in the Notes app on your Mac. But sometimes, the app fails to sync between your iPhone and Mac. So in case you are facing this issue, you can refer to our post suggesting the best ways to fix the Notes app not syncing between your iPhone and Mac.