Quick answer: ChatGPT’s iPhone app can now scan several paper pages in one session, combine them into a single PDF and attach that PDF to a chat. Open the ChatGPT camera, tap the three-dot menu, choose Scan, capture each page and upload the finished PDF. OpenAI says the feature is rolling out on iOS, so it may not be visible on every account yet.[1]
60-second scan checklist
- Open ChatGPT on your iPhone.
- Open the camera inside a chat.
- Tap the three-dot menu.
- Select Scan.
- Capture every page in order.
- Review the page sequence and upload the combined PDF.
- Tell ChatGPT exactly what to extract, summarize or check.
What the new ChatGPT scanner does
The scanner is a capture shortcut inside ChatGPT. Instead of photographing each page separately, you can capture multiple pages and have ChatGPT combine them into one PDF that is ready to upload to the conversation.[1]
| Confirmed | Not confirmed by OpenAI’s launch note |
|---|---|
| Multi-page capture | A separate downloadable scanner app |
| Automatic combination into one PDF | Android availability |
| Access through Camera → three dots → Scan | Perfect handwriting or OCR accuracy |
| Rolling out on iOS | A guarantee that every account has it immediately |
OpenAI’s file-upload documentation says ChatGPT can summarize documents, compare files, extract sections, find references and pull structured information from supported uploads. Availability and usage limits depend on the plan and account settings.[2]
How to scan multiple pages into one PDF
- Start the right chat. Open an existing conversation or create a new one for the document.
- Open the ChatGPT camera. Use the camera option in the mobile attachment flow.
- Find Scan. Tap the three-dot menu and select Scan.
- Capture page 1. Put the paper on a flat, well-lit surface and keep all four corners visible.
- Add the remaining pages. Scan them in the order you want them to appear in the PDF.
- Review before upload. Check for missing pages, rotated pages, glare, blur and clipped text.
- Upload the PDF. ChatGPT combines the captured pages into one PDF ready for the conversation.[1]
- Give a narrow instruction. Ask for a specific output and require uncertainty to be flagged instead of guessed.
Copy-paste prompts for scanned documents
1. Extract text without silently fixing it
Transcribe this scanned PDF page by page. Preserve headings, dates, amounts and names exactly as shown. Mark unreadable text as [unclear] instead of guessing. At the end, list every passage that needs manual review.
2. Turn handwritten notes into action items
Read these notes and produce: 1. A concise summary 2. Decisions made 3. Action items with owner and deadline only when explicitly written 4. Open questions Do not invent missing owners, dates or context. Mark uncertain handwriting as [unclear].
3. Find key fields in a form or letter
Extract the following fields from this document into a two-column table: [PASTE FIELD LIST] For each field, include the page number. If a field is absent, write “not found.” If the scan is unreadable, write “unclear.”
4. Compare two scanned documents
Compare these documents line by line for names, dates, amounts, obligations and deadlines. Create a table with: topic, document A, document B, difference, page references. Do not provide legal or financial advice. Flag anything that requires a qualified professional.
5. Create a study guide
Turn this scanned chapter into: - a 10-point summary - key terms with definitions from the document - 15 recall questions - a final section listing diagrams or text that could not be read reliably Use only the uploaded pages.
Privacy checklist before scanning
- Remove what ChatGPT does not need. Cover or crop passwords, access codes, full card numbers, signatures, identity numbers and unrelated personal details.
- Check your training setting. On mobile, OpenAI says you can open the sidebar, tap your profile, choose Data Controls and turn off Improve the model for everyone. The setting applies across the account.[3]
- Understand retention. OpenAI says regular chats remain saved until you delete them. Files generally follow the retention period of the corresponding chat; after deletion, the associated chat and file are scheduled for deletion within 30 days, subject to stated legal, security and de-identification exceptions.[2]
- Use Temporary Chat when appropriate. OpenAI says a Temporary Chat stays out of history and is not used to improve models while it remains temporary, although a copy may be kept for up to 30 days for safety. If you save it, it becomes a regular chat.[4]
- Do not treat an AI reading as authoritative. Manually verify names, dates, totals, medicine instructions, legal clauses and financial details against the original document.
What to do if Scan is missing
- Confirm that you are using the ChatGPT app on iOS. The launch note says the feature is rolling out on iOS and does not announce Android availability.[1]
- Open the camera and check the three-dot menu; Scan is not described as a separate button on the main chat screen.
- Update the ChatGPT app through the App Store, then reopen it.
- If it is still absent, wait for the account rollout rather than installing an unofficial app that claims to unlock the feature.
How to get a more reliable result
- Use bright, even light and avoid shadows across the page.
- Keep the paper flat and the camera parallel to it.
- Scan pages in sequence and check the final order.
- Rescan pages with glare, blur or clipped edges.
- Ask for page references so you can verify the answer quickly.
- Tell ChatGPT to write unclear or not found instead of filling gaps.
- For a consequential document, compare the output against the paper before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Can ChatGPT scan several pages into one PDF?
Yes. OpenAI says the iOS camera can capture multiple pages in a row and automatically combine them into one PDF ready to upload to the chat.[1]
Where is the Scan option in ChatGPT?
Open the camera in ChatGPT, tap the three-dot menu and select Scan.[1]
Is the ChatGPT document scanner available on Android?
OpenAI’s October 1 release note only says the feature is rolling out on iOS. It does not announce an Android rollout.[1]
Can ChatGPT summarize the scanned PDF?
ChatGPT supports document tasks such as summarization, extraction and comparison, subject to plan-specific limits and account settings. Always check important details against the original scan.[2]
Are scanned documents used to train ChatGPT?
For personal accounts, this depends on the account’s data settings. OpenAI says you can turn off Improve the model for everyone in Data Controls; Temporary Chats are not used to improve models while they remain temporary.[3][4]
Last checked: October 5, 2026. Feature access can vary during a rollout.