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Last updated on
Sep 24, 2025
Learn how to scan paper documents directly to PDF using Acrobat and your connected scanner.
Acrobat makes it easy to scan paper documents into high-quality PDFs using your scanner. Customize scan settings, apply OCR, and create searchable, shareable files in just a few steps.
On the page that opens, select Scanner from the left rail.
Open the Scanner dropdown menu and select your scanner from the list.
Note
If Acrobat doesn’t recognize your scanner, refer to the Scanner not recognized troubleshooting help.
Configure the following scan settings as needed:
- Scan using: Choose Default settings or your scanner’s native interface.
- Pages: Select Front Sides or Both sides, if supported by your scanner.
- Color mode: Choose Autodetect, Color, Black and White, or Grayscale.
- Resolution: Select an appropriate DPI (dots per inch) setting.
- Paper size: Choose the paper size or specify custom dimensions.
- Output: Select Create New PDF, Append to File, or Save Multiple Files.
- Optimize Image: Adjust the balance between file size and quality. Select Settings , choose the following image optimization settings as needed, and then select OK:
- Apply Adaptive Compression – Keeps file size small while maintaining quality.
- Color Scans – Choose JPEG2000 for efficient color image compression.
- Monochrome Scans – Use JBIG2 (Lossy) for compact black-and-white images.
- Deskew – Automatically straightens tilted scanned pages.
- Descreen – Removes dot patterns from printed images.
- Background Removal – Lightens or removes background noise (optional).
- Text Sharpening – Adjust the slider to make text crisper.
- Recognize Text (OCR): Convert text images into searchable, selectable text. Use Settings to choose language and output type.
- Add Metadata: Opens Document Properties after scanning to add metadata. For multiple files, enter shared metadata once.
- Make PDF/A-1b compliant: Select if needed for archival purposes.
Select Scan.
If you need to scan more pages, select Scan More Pages, Scan Reverse Sides, or Scan Is Complete, and select OK.
Note
Refer to your scanner’s manual for instructions on scanning additional pages using either the document feeder or flatbed, based on your scanner model.
With the scanned PDF open in Acrobat, choose the page range and language in the Recognize Text dialog box and then select Recognize Text.
Note
On Windows, you can scan a paper document to PDF using your printer or scanner with Acrobat. If your scanner has a WIA driver, press the Scan button, choose Adobe Acrobat from the list, then select your scanner and a preset or Custom Scan in Acrobat.
