You can scan documents on your Mac using Preview, Image Capture, or System Settings — no extra software required. No scanner? Your iPhone doubles as one via Continuity Camera. This guide covers every method step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mac have a built-in scanner?
Macs don't include physical scanning hardware, but macOS ships with two built-in scanning apps — Preview and Image Capture — that work automatically with any connected USB or Wi-Fi scanner. macOS Ventura and later also support Continuity Camera, which lets you use your iPhone as a wireless scanner with no extra hardware at all.
How do I scan a document on Mac without a scanner?
Use Continuity Camera: right-click any folder in Finder, choose "Import from iPhone or iPad > Scan Documents," and your iPhone camera opens automatically. The scanned PDF lands on your Mac instantly. Both devices must share the same Apple ID with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled. For searchable PDFs with OCR, use the Scanjet app on your iPhone instead.
How do I scan to PDF on Mac?
In Preview, go to File > Import from Scanner, set Format to PDF, then click Scan. In Image Capture, choose PDF from the Format dropdown before scanning. Both methods produce an image-based PDF. For a fully searchable, text-layer PDF, use Scanjet on your iPhone — it runs OCR in 23 languages automatically.
Where does Mac save scanned documents?
Image Capture saves scans to your Pictures folder by default. You can change this by clicking the "Scan To" dropdown at the bottom of the Image Capture window. Preview prompts you to choose a save location in the standard Save dialog each time.
Why won't my scanner show up on Mac?
Make sure the scanner is powered on and connected via USB or the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. Then check System Settings > Printers & Scanners to see if macOS has detected it. Reconnecting the USB cable or restarting the scanner usually resolves detection issues. If the scanner still doesn't appear, download the manufacturer's driver from their website.