Scanning Documents and Photos Using the Windows Scan App

Scanning a document means using a scanner to create a digital copy of a paper document or photo. The digital copy can be saved to your computer, emailed, printed again, or uploaded to a website.

Windows comes with a free app called "Windows Scan" (also labeled "Scan" in the Microsoft Store) that works with most USB and wireless scanners without any complicated setup.

What you need

A scanner — either a standalone flatbed scanner or an all-in-one printer that has a scanning function. Your scanner needs to be connected to your PC by USB cable, or connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your PC. Most modern scanners are recognized by Windows automatically.

File formats: PDF or image

When scanning, you choose how to save the file. PDF is the best choice for documents like letters, tax forms, or receipts — PDFs can be emailed and opened on any device. JPEG is better for photos you want to edit or share on social media. PNG gives the best image quality but larger file sizes.

Scanning multiple pages into one PDF

Some scanners have a document feeder — a tray on top where you stack multiple pages and the scanner pulls them in one at a time. The Windows Scan app can scan multiple pages and save them all into a single PDF file.

Where files are saved

By default, scanned files go into your "Scanned Documents" folder inside your Pictures folder. You can change this in the app's settings.

Quick Tip: Before scanning important documents like Social Security cards, passports, or medical records, consider whether you need to store them securely. Save them in an encrypted folder or a password-protected cloud storage service, not on your open desktop.