How to scan a document on a Mac
Scan documents and photos on a Mac with the built-in Image Capture and Preview apps, choose good settings and save several pages as one PDF.
Macs can scan from most all-in-one printers and scanners using two built-in apps: Image Capture, which gives you the most control, and Preview, which is handy for quick scans. Many scanners work without any extra software. The manufacturer's own app is only needed for extras such as the printer's Scan button.
Steps
macOS
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Make sure the scanner is added
Open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Adding an all-in-one as a printer usually adds its scanner too. If the scanner doesn't show up in the steps below, remove the printer and add it again, or install the manufacturer's Mac software from its official website.
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Place the document
On the glass, lay the page face down and line it up with the corner marked by an arrow, then close the lid. In a document feeder, remove staples and load the pages as shown by the icon on the feeder.
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Open Image Capture
Open Image Capture from the Applications folder, or press Command + Space and type Image Capture. Select your scanner in the sidebar under Devices or Shared.
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Show the full settings
Click Show Details. Choose the scan mode (flatbed or document feeder), the kind of scan (text, black and white, or color), the resolution, the format (such as PDF or JPEG) and the folder in the Scan To menu.
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Pick sensible settings
For documents, 300 dpi in grayscale or color is plenty; use 600 dpi for photos. Higher settings make much larger files without sharper text.
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Scan
Click Scan. With the glass, Image Capture usually detects the page first and draws a box around it, which you can adjust. The file appears in the folder you chose.
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Combine pages into one PDF
When using the feeder with PDF format, select Combine into single document before scanning. For pages scanned separately on the glass, open the first PDF in Preview, choose View > Thumbnails, drag the other files into the thumbnail sidebar, then save.
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Or scan from Preview
In Preview, choose File > Import from followed by your scanner's name. It offers the same basic settings and opens the scan directly in Preview.
Tips
- Wipe the scanner glass with a soft, lint-free cloth before important scans. Dust shows up as spots and lines.
- The text setting in Image Capture creates crisp black-and-white pages with small file sizes, ideal for forms and letters.
- If the scanner disappears after a macOS update, remove the printer from Printers & Scanners and add it again before reinstalling any software.
Common questions
Do I need the manufacturer's software to scan on a Mac?
Often not, because macOS supports many scanners directly through Image Capture and Preview. The manufacturer's software is mainly needed for the printer's own Scan button and extra features.
Where are my scans saved?
In whichever folder is selected in the Scan To menu in Image Capture. Scans made from Preview open in Preview until you save them.
Can I scan without a scanner?
Yes. With an iPhone or iPad signed in to the same Apple Account (Apple ID), open Preview and choose File > Import from iPhone or iPad > Scan Documents, then photograph the page with your phone.