How to scan documents on a Xiaomi smartphone: a complete guide with photos and videos

Scanning documents through Xiaomi’s smartphone has become an integral part of everyday life, from processing inquiries to sending contracts by email. But not everyone knows that modern devices do not require additional equipment to create high-quality digital copies.

In this article, we will analyze all available scanning methods on Redmi smartphones, POCO and Mi - from embedded tools MIUI to professional applications with OCR-You'll learn how to avoid blur, how to display lights correctly, and even automate the process with Google Drive or Microsoft Lens. And for those of you who work with large volumes of documents, we've developed a comparative application table by key parameters.

We pay special attention to hidden functions. MIUI 14/15, This allows you to scan documents directly from the gallery without installing third-party software. 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+, where the camera supports modes with improved text detailing.

1. Built-in capabilities MIUI: scanning

Starting with the version MIUI 12, Xiaomi has a basic document scanning tool integrated into the Camera and Gallery app. PDF or JPEG The main advantage is that you don’t need to download anything additional, and the result is stored directly in the Mi Cloud cloud (if the function is activated).

To use the built-in scanner:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Switch to Document Mode (some models call it Professional or Additional).
3. Hover the lens over the document – the system will automatically highlight the boundaries.
4. Click on the down button and confirm saving in format PDF or JPEG.

V MIUI 14/15 The boundary recognition algorithm is more accurate thanks to AI, but the quality depends on the lighting. In low light, we recommend using Night Mode or an external light source. Finished files can be found in the Scans folder in the gallery or through the menu Recent → Documents.

⚠️ Note: On budget models (e.g. Redmi) A2 or POCO C50) The built-in scanner may not be available, in which case use the methods in the following sections.

2.Google Drive: Automatic Scanning with Text Recognition

Google Drive is one of the most convenient solutions for scanning documents on Xiaomi, especially if you need not only to save the image, but also to extract the text (OCR). The feature is built into the mobile application and works on all devices with Android 8.0+. Advantages of the method:

• 🔍 Automatic perspective alignment (corrects "curve" images).
• 📄 Retention in PDF editable.
• 🌐 Sync with all devices through your Google account.
• 🆓 Free up to 15 GB of storage.

Scanning instructions:

1. Install the Google Drive app from the Play Market (if not already installed).
2. Open the app and press. + → Scan.
3. Point the camera at the document. Google Drive will automatically find the boundaries.
4. Press the capture button. You can manually edit the boundaries if you need to.
5. Select the save format (PDF or JPEG) and a folder in the Disk.

To improve the quality of the scan:

• 💡 Use natural light (avoid the glare of the lamps).
• 📱 Keep your smartphone parallel to the document (range 20-30 cm).
• 🔄 If the text is recognized with errors, try scanning the document in Black and White mode (in the scan settings).

Ensure a stable Internet connection|

Battery charge of at least 30% |

Clean the camera lens of fingerprints|

Turn off the power saving mode-->

3.Microsoft Lens: Professional Cloud-based Scanning

Microsoft Lens (formerly Office Lens) is the best choice for working with documents that require high accuracy.

• 📑 Multi-page PDF.
• 🔎 Text recognition per 100+ languages (including Cyrillic).
• 🖼️ Perspective correction and improved contrast.
• 📊 Export to Word, PowerPoint or OneNote.

How to scan a document in Microsoft Lens:

1. Install the app from the Play Market.


2. Select the "Document" or "Ballstone" mode.




Point the camera at the sheet, and the borders will be lit in orange.




4.Push the capture button.




5. edit the scan (trimming, filters, turn).




6. Save to PDF/JPEG or export to OneDrive.

Features for Xiaomi:

• 📱 In the models with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro) conveniently use the dark mode of the application to save charge.
• 🔋 Long-term scanning (10)+ We recommend connecting charging - Lens actively uses the processor.

⚠️ Note: If you scan your passport or other ID, in the Lens settings, turn off the option Auto-Download to the Cloud to avoid data leakage.

4 Third-party applications: comparison of CamScanner, Adobe Scan and others

If built-in tools aren’t enough, consider specialized apps. We tested 5 popular scanners on Xiaomi smartphones and compiled a comparative table:

For Xiaomi owners with a weak processor (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) We recommend Adobe Scan, which is optimized for budget devices (OCR, Cloud, editing, pay attention to CamScanner, despite watermarks in the free version.

When choosing an application, consider:

• 📱 Productivity: on flagships (Xiaomi 14) you can use heavy scanners, on public sector – lightweight.
• 🔒 Privacy: Avoid applications with questionable permissions (e.g. access to the Internet) SMS).
• 💰 Cost: Most features in paid versions are duplicated by free counterparts (e.g. Google Drive).

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For scanning multi-page documents (for example, books or contracts), Adobe Scan is best suited due to its convenient interface of page merging and exporting to the Internet. PDF/A (archival).

5. Scanning through Notes (Notes) in MIUI

Few people know, but the standard app "Notes" in MIUI It can also scan documents. MIUI 13 and runs on all modern Xiaomi devices:

• 📝 Integration with other notes (you can add text comments to the scan).
• 🔒 Local storage (no upload to the cloud).
• 🎨 Ability to draw over the scan (convenient for annotations).

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Create a new note and click on the Camera icon → Scan the document.
3. Take a picture of the document (the boundaries are determined automatically).
4. Confirm the preservation – the scan will be added to the note as an image.
5. If necessary, export to PDF via the menu Share.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ No function. OCR (text cannot be edited).
• ❌ Maximum authorization — 1920×1080 (It is suitable only for simple documents).

This is ideal for quick notes, such as when you need to scan a check or schedule, and for serious documents (passports, contracts), you should use Google Drive or Microsoft Lens.

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If the scan in Notes is blurry, try to increase the brightness of the screen before shooting – this will help the camera to focus better in low light conditions.

6. Advanced Settings: How to Improve Scan Quality on Xiaomi

Even with the best app, the scanning results can be frustrating, if you don't take into account the technicalities.

Camera resolution:

• On flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra), set the maximum (48-200 MP) in the camera settings.
• On budget models (Redmi) 10A) 8-12 MP is enough – a larger resolution will only increase the file size.

Format of conservation:

• 📄 PDF — Documents (supports several pages).
• 🖼️ JPEG — Photo documents (less weight, but no editing option).
• 📑 PDF/A — Archival format (for long-term storage).

Lighting and focus:

• 💡 Use daylight or point-to-point lights (avoid yellow glows).
• 📏 Distance to the document - 20-30 cm (on some models, macro shooting works).
• 🔍 Manually adjust focus by touching the screen in the text area.

For professional scanning (for example, for archives), we recommend using an external scanner connected to Xiaomi via the Internet. OTG. However, for most tasks, a smartphone with the right settings is enough.

⚠️ Warning: When scanning colored documents (such as diplomas with a seal), turn off the black and white filter in the scan settings. Otherwise, the print may become illegible.

7. Processing and editing of scanned documents

After scanning, the document often needs to be reworked, such as cropping, contrast enhancement, or text correction, and here are 3 free post-processing tools:

Adobe Acrobat Reader (for the purposes of: PDF):

• 🔄 Rotating and trimming pages.
• 📝 Adding text fields and signatures.
• 🔒 Password protection.

2. PhotoScan (from Google Photos):

• 🎨 Automatic color correction.
• 🔍 Removal of glare.
• 📱 Optimized for mobile devices.

Office Lens (for text):

• 📑 Export to Word with Preserving Formatting.
• 🔠 Table recognition.
• 🌍 Support of the Russian language in OCR.

If you need to combine several scans into one PDF, use:

1. Open the file in Adobe Acrobat.


2. Click "Edit PDF" → "Insert Pages".




3. Select additional scans and save.

To improve the clarity of text in blurred scans, the online service iLovePDF (function "Optimize" is suitable PDF").

FAQ: Frequent questions about scanning on Xiaomi