Scanning a document
What is it?
An administration or an employer may ask you to "scan" (or "digitize") a document in order to send them by email or put it in your personal space online.
Good to know: Scanning a document consists of transforming a paper file into a digital file.
To scan a document, you have different options:
- Use a scanner (connected to your computer or smartphone);
- Use a smartphone;
- Go to a tobacconist or other business offering scanning (shops with telephone, internet, and printing services)
- Go to a Maison France Services (all the addresses here , by zooming in on the map or by writing the address in "Find a France Services").
Who is it for?
France entière
France entière
What to do?
Option 1 - with a scanner
If you are scanning with a scanner and a Windows computer:
- Turn on your scanner
- Place the sheet against the scanner glass
- Type “fax and scan” in your computer search bar (bottom left)
- Click on “new scan” (top left)
- Click on “edit” to select the name of your scanner (top left)
- Choose settings such as profile (photo), source (tray), colour format (colour), document type (TIF), resolution (150)
- Click on “preview” to view your scan and change the settings if necessary (bottom left)
- Click on “scan” (bottom left)
- Rename the document to make it easier to find (e.g. "June 2022 payslip")
If you are scanning with a scanner and a Mac computer:
- Turn on your scanner
- Place the sheet against the scanner glass
- Click on the apple (point the mouse at the top right) to choose “system preferences”
- Click on “printers and scanner” (bottom right)
- Click on "+" to select the name of your scanner (bottom left)
- Click on “scan” (top right) then “open scanner” (top right)
- Choose settings such as type (color), resolution (75), size (8.719 and 11.693 inches), location (desktop), name, format (PDF)
- Click on “preview” to view your scan and change the settings if necessary (bottom left)
- Click on “scan” (bottom left)
- Rename the document to make it easier to find (e.g. "June 2022 payslip")
If you are scanning with a scanner and your scanner's smartphone app:
- Turn on your scanner
- Place the sheet against the scanner glass
- Download your scanner's application from the “Google Play Store” or “App Store”
- Create or sign in to an account
- Click on “scan”
- Choose settings such as profile (photo), source (scanner), page size (A4), quality (200 dpi), colour format (colour)
- Click on "preview" to view your scan and change the settings if necessary
- Click on “scan”
- Rename the document to make it easier to find (e.g. "June 2022 payslip")
Option 2 - with a smartphone
If you are scanning with an Android smartphone:
- Search in the search bar or click on the “drive” app
- Click on the “+” logo
- Click on the “camera” logo
- Place your device over the document
- Press the button to start scanning
- Rename the document to make it easier to find (e.g. "June 2022 payslip")
If you are scanning with an Apple smartphone:
- Search in the search bar or click on the “notes” app
- Click on the 'new note' logo (bottom right)
- Click on the “camera” logo
- Click on “scan documents”
- Place your device over the document
- Press the button to start scanning
- Rename the document to make it easier to find (e.g. "June 2022 payslip")
If you are scanning with a smartphone app dedicated to scanning:
- Download a smartphone application dedicated to scanning from a digital store (“Google play store” or “App store”).
- Click on “new scan” (or its logo)
- Choose settings like profile (photo), source (scanner), page size (A4), quality (200 dpi), colour format (colour)
- Position your camera above the document
- Click on “digitize” or its logo
- Rename the document to make it easier to find (e.g. "June 2022 payslip")
Option 3 - at a business that offers this service
If you don't have a scanner or a smartphone, you can always go to shops that offer this service. For instance:
- a tobacconist
- a printing press (for example: the Corep agencies)
- a specialized shop that offers self-service computers, telephones, printer / copier, scanner
- a Maison France Service, where an employee can advise you on your administrative procedures or help you with a digital action (all the addresses here, by zooming in on the map or by writing the address in "Find a France Services").
And after?
Save your digital file
If you have a computer, you can save the file, as needed:
- In your drive (Google drive or iCloud);
- On your desktop;
- On your USB key;
- On your hard drive...
If you have a smartphone, save the file, as needed:
- In your drive (Google drive or iCloud);
- By e-mail to receive it on your computer...