Document scanning is a mobile feature that enables you to use your mobile device to capture images, convert them to PDF files, and add them directly into Box, making it easy to share content no matter where you are.
With document scanning, you can:
- Scan an unlimited number of pages of text and convert the scanned pages to PDF format.
- Edit individual pages by adjusting the cropping, color scale, or rotating the image.
- Delete individual scanned pages.
- Search for text within the scanned image, or search for the scanned document using keywords as part of file search.
Document scanning is available in all Box-supported languages.
Important
Currently, Box supports document scanning only on devices with iOS 13 and above.
Box uses optimal character recognition (OCR) technology to recognize text, which enables searching of the scanned document. OCR language support includes English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese.
This table compares the document scanning features supported by this Box app and the Box Capture app:
| Document Scanning Feature | Box App (iOS) | Box Capture App (iOS) |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-detection of image corners | ✅ | ✅ |
| Auto-scan | ✅ | ❌ |
| Manual scan | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cropping | ✅ | ✅ |
| Color scale options | ✅ | ✅ |
| Text recognition via Optical Character Recognition | ✅ | ❌ |
| Searchable text | ✅ | ❌ |
To scan text:
- In the Box Browse tab, tap the + button.
- Tap Scan Document. Box opens camera mode.
- Hover your camera over text.
- If auto-scan is enabled, when the camera detects the document, Box automatically captures the image. Otherwise, you can manually capture an image by tapping the shutter button at any time. Box enables auto-scan by default.
- Box displays the captured image in the Preview screen.
- On the Preview screen, select to retake the image or keep the image.
To edit:
- When an image is stored and you are back in camera mode, at the bottom-left of the screen tap the image. Select to edit the captured image.
- Select the edit you want to perform.
- On iPhone, at the bottom of the Edit screen tap the action you want to perform.
- On iPad, at the top of the Edit screen tap the action you want to perform.
- After making edits, tap Done.
Searching
After uploading a scanned document, you can search it for keywords. You can also search for scanned images in folders.
To search for words within a scanned document:
- After the scanned document is uploaded, go to the File Preview screen and at the top of the screen tap the magnifier icon.
- In the Search field, type keyword(s).
- If Box finds keywords, Box displays the search results.
To search for a scanned document with file or folder search:
- In the Box Browse tab, tap the magnifier icon.
- In the Search field, type keyword(s).
- If Box finds keywords, Box displays the search results.
Converting images to PDF
After scanning a document, you can convert its image into PDF.
To save and convert to PDF:
When you have captured at least one image and are in camera mode, Box displays a Save button.
- Tap the Save button. Box converts the captured images to PDF, and saves the scanned document to Box.