CamScanner is known as a phone app, so many people search for "CamScanner for PC" when they need to scan on a laptop or desktop. The good news is that you do not need to install an app on your computer. Below are four practical ways to scan documents to PDF on Windows, Mac and Linux, and when to use each.
Option 1: A free browser scanner (no install)
A browser scanner runs inside Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari. With the WriteDroid Image Scanner you choose photos of your pages, crop them straight and save a PDF, JPG or PNG. There is nothing to download, no account and no watermark.
- Open the image scanner in your browser.
- Press Choose images and select the photos from your computer, or drop them onto the page. You can select many images at once.
- Drag the corner and edge dots to fit each page, or press Auto detect. Press Apply.
- Reorder the pages if needed and press Save PDF.
Option 2: Take the photos with your phone, finish on the PC
For a laptop without a good camera, photograph the pages with your phone and move the pictures to your computer. Any of these works:
- Upload them to Google Photos, iCloud Photos or OneDrive and download them on the PC.
- Use AirDrop on a Mac, or Phone Link on Windows.
- Connect the phone with a USB cable and copy the files.
- Email the photos to yourself.
Then open the scanner on your computer and crop and combine them. The big screen makes the cropping more precise.
Option 3: A flatbed or all-in-one scanner
If you already own a printer with a scanner, it gives the sharpest result for books, photos and thick documents. Save the scan as JPG or PNG, then use the browser scanner to combine several scans into one PDF with the page size you want.
Option 4: Built in tools
- Windows: the Windows Scan app works with a connected scanner.
- Mac: Preview can import from a scanner, and Image Capture handles connected devices.
These are good if you have scanner hardware, but they do not help when all you have is photos.
Which one should you pick?
- You have photos of pages: use the browser scanner.
- You have a scanner at home or work: use it, then combine the files in the browser.
- You scan often and want text recognition and cloud folders: a dedicated app may suit you better.
How it compares to the CamScanner app
CamScanner is a full app with extras such as text recognition and cloud storage, and plans and limits change over time, so check the current details on their site. The WriteDroid scanner is simpler on purpose. It crops, straightens, orders and saves pages as a PDF, JPG or PNG, and it keeps the original look of your photo. It does not read the text in your scans and it does not store files for you. If you only need a clean PDF now and then, you can skip the install.
Tips for a clean scan on a computer
- Photograph the page flat, in even light, with the camera directly above it.
- Put a white page on a dark table so the edges are easy to see.
- Use the zoom bubble when you drag a dot to place it exactly.
- Choose the Small file quality if the PDF has to be emailed or uploaded.
Privacy
Pictures are processed in your browser. The optional AI page detection sends a photo to an AI service only to find the page edges and does not save it. You can switch it off in the scanner.
See also: CamScanner alternatives that need no app and our image to PDF converter guide.