Scanning documents on Xiaomi: from basic methods to professional life hacks

Scanning documents with Xiaomi’s smartphone is no longer a problem — modern devices are as good at this task as specialized scanners. But not all users know how to get the maximum quality without extraneous glare, distortion or shadow by hand. In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from built-in MIUI tools to third-party applications with artificial intelligence that automatically align perspective and improve the clarity of text.

We’ll focus on hidden features like how to scan documents directly from the Camera app without installing additional software, or how to save a scanned file in PDF/A format for official institutions, and which Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13 Ultra) have hardware advantages for scanning thanks to improved cameras and processors.

If you work with documents frequently - whether it's student notes, contracts or medical certificates - this guide will save you time and nerves. PDF scanning with 300+ dpi resolution and automatic edge trimming is available even on Xiaomi's budget models with the right settings.

1. Scanning through the standard Camera app

The easiest way to scan a document on Xiaomi is to use the built-in Camera app. The Document feature is available on most devices with MIUI 12 and later, including the Redmi line, POCO and flagship models. The algorithm automatically recognizes the edges of the sheet, removes shadows and adjusts the perspective.

To activate the mode:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Fly through the shooting modes to the left to the item "Doc." (or "Document").
3. Point the camera at the document – the frame should cover the sheet automatically.
4. Press the down button or wait for automatic capture (on some models).

The finished scan is saved in the gallery in the Documents folder in JPG or PDF format (depending on the version of MIUI). To convert to PDF, click on the scan thumbnail and select Save as PDF.

💡

If there is no Document mode, update the Camera app via Google Play or check for MIUI updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

2.The Notes app is a hidden MIUI function

Many people don't know, but MIUI has a built-in scanner hidden inside the Notes app.

• 📄 Automatic alignment of perspective
• 🔍 Text recognition (OCR) 10+ language
• 📎 Exports to PDF, JPG or TXT
• 🔒 Password encrypting scans

How to use:

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Click on the + icon and select Scan.
3. Point the camera at the document – the application will find the boundaries.
4. After shooting, edit the scan: cut the edges, improve contrast, or recognize the text.

The main advantage of this method is the integration with the Xiaomi cloud, all scans are automatically synced with the Mi Account account, and they can be opened on any device, but OCR requires an Internet connection.

3.Side of the application: CamScanner vs Adobe Scan

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools aren’t enough, look for specialized apps.The two market leaders, CamScanner and Adobe Scan, offer advanced features:

Adobe Scan is better suited for Xiaomi, which is optimized for Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and heats the phone less when handling large documents. CamScanner wins as OCR, but its free version adds watermarks.

4. Professional Scanning: Microsoft Lens and Office Lens

If you need to scan a document for official purposes (e.g., for a bank or government service), use Microsoft Lens, which is an application designed for business users and supports:

• 📑 Scanning of multipage documents
• 🔎 Improved small text recognition (up to 6 pt)
• 📊 Export to Word, PowerPoint or OneNote
• 🔒 Encryption PDF password

Instructions:

1. Install Microsoft Lens from Google Play.
2. Select the Document or Board mode (to scan from the screen).
3. Take photos of the pages – the app will automatically connect them into one file.
4. Click on “Ready” and select the save format (PDF, Word, etc.).

Microsoft Lens has an advantage over its competitors in integrating with Office 365, for example, a scanned table can be converted immediately into an editable Excel file, which is convenient for working with reporting.

5. Scanning with Google Drive

Few people know, but Google Drive has a built-in document scanner, which is a great way to quickly upload a scan to the cloud and share it over a link, and is inferior to specialized applications, but it's good enough for everyday tasks.

How to scan:

1. Open Google Drive and click “+” → “Scan”.
2. Take a picture of the document (you can take several pictures in a row).
3. Cut the edges and adjust the color (black and white, color).
4. Save the file – it will automatically upload to your cloud.

Cons of the method:

• ❌ There is no automatic correction of perspective
• ❌ Limited quality settings (maximum 200 dpi)
• ❌ No function. OCR

The advantage is that the scans are immediately available on all your devices associated with your Google account.

💡

For official documents (passport, diploma) use specialized applications like Adobe Scan or Microsoft Lens – they provide permission. 300+ dpi and support format PDF/A, government-accepted.

6.Secret chips for the perfect scan

Even with the best app, the result can be disappointing, if you don't take into account the nuances. Here are professional life hacks for scanning on Xiaomi:

• 💡 Lighting: Use two light sources from different sides to avoid shadows. Annular lamp or white-light desk lamp is ideal (5,000–6500K).
• 📏 Alignment: Place the document on a dark surface (such as a countertop) so the algorithm will more accurately determine the edges.
• 🔋 Shooting mode: In the manual settings of the camera (Pro-mode) set: ISO: 100–200 (less noise) Exposure: 1/125 White balance: "Daylight»
• 📱 Stabilization: On models with OIS (Optical stabilization: Disable it – it can distort straight lines of documents.

For models with a 108MP camera (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), enable Ultra Resolution mode in the camera settings, which will allow you to get a scan with a resolution of up to 9000×7000 pixels that can be scaled without loss of quality.

💡

If the document is bent or has wavy edges (such as a passport), put glass from the photo frame on top - this will level the surface and eliminate distortion.

7. Processing and editing of scans

Even a perfect scan sometimes needs to be reworked, and here are some tools to help improve the results:

• 🎨 Snapseed: Google’s free editor with Perspective feature to fix curvatures.
• 📝 Adobe Acrobat Reader: Allows you to combine multiple scans into one PDF, add signatures and fill fields.
• 🔍 OCR-Services: If you need to recognize text from a low-quality scan, use OnlineOCR or NewOCR.

To remove background noise (such as from the texture of the table) in Photoshop Express:

1. Open the scan in the app.
2. Select “Corretion” → “Delete background”.
3. Adjust the sensitivity threshold to leave only text.

If the scan is intended for printing, export it in TIFF format with a resolution of 600 dpi – this guarantees clarity even when zooming in.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes make scanning errors, and here are the most common ones:

⚠️ Note: If you scan a two-way document (such as a passport), never take pictures of both sides in the same picture.This violates the requirements of most government services and banks - each spread should be a separate file.

• 🚫 Lamp glare: Use a polarizing filter (you can buy it on AliExpress for 200-300 rubles) or scan it in natural light.
• 🚫 Distorted edges: Turn on the “Grid” (rule of thirds) in the camera settings and align the document along lines.
• 🚫 Low resolution: In the manual camera settings, set the save to "Maximum Quality" (usually 4:3, not 16:9).

⚠️ Note: When scanning colored documents (such as diplomas with a seal) save the file in format PDF/X-4 — It supports color profiles and does not distort shades when printing.

If the scan is blurry, try using the Macro mode on the camera, which focuses on nearby objects and is suitable for fine text.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions