Welcome to the First Column IT Tech Blog

HomeBlog
Tip of the Week: How to Capture an Image or Document as a PDF in Android

Tip of the Week: How to Capture an Image or Document as a PDF in Android

December 16, 2022

Google Drive comes with a pre-built feature allowing users to scan a picture or document, and save it as a PDF—at least for Android smartphones. The trick can be pulled off with just a couple of taps, making it easier than ever to import documents to your Drive. Here’s how it’s done.

Scan Your Documents to Save Them as PDFs In Drive

Smartphones are a must-have technology in the office, so you don’t need to use the bulky scanner to transport copies of your documents to a cloud service like Google Drive. All you need is your camera and your Google Drive account.

First, go to your Google Drive on your phone. You must then tap the plus sign button to start adding new files to your Drive. There will be a list of options that appears; select Scan to proceed.

This should tell your device to open up the Camera app. You’ll have to provide permissions for it to access Google Drive if you haven’t already done so. Once you’re ready, frame the document with your camera and take the picture. Just confirm that the picture is the one you wish to proceed with, then tap OK.

Google Drive will make some changes to the picture, but you can adjust these yourself by making manual edits. You can add multiple pages to your new PDF as well by using the Add Page button. Once you’re done, tap Save.

Once you are done, name your file and determine which folder you want it to go to. Now you can add any documents you want to your Google Drive without using a scanner.

What kinds of tips would you like to see us cover in the future? Be sure to contact us at (571) 470-5594 and let us know.

Previous Post
January 19, 2026
Your Customers Benefit from Improvements to Your IT
At its core, your business exists to provide value to your clients. While technology often feels like a behind-the-scenes necessity, it is actually the engine that drives your customer experience. By optimizing your internal operations with the right tools, you don't just work faster; you serve better.
January 16, 2026
You Want Your IT to Be Boring… Here’s Why
In storytelling, there’s a structure that the vast majority of stories follow, regardless of the format: introduction, rising action, conflict, falling action, resolution. The rising action and the conflict are what give the story its appeal—they’re the source of all the tension that keeps things moving forward. They’re where the stress and the drama live; they keep the story interesting.
January 14, 2026
Why Percussive Maintenance Isn’t Magic (or Good)
“Persuasion.” “Percussive Maintenance.” Whatever you call hitting your computer to make it work, we get it. We’ve all been there. Your Wi-Fi router drops the signal for the third time during a meeting, or your TV remote decides to go on strike. In a fit of frustration, you give it a firm slap; and miraculously, it starts working again.

Have a project in mind?

Start with our free consultation. We will provide a detailed proposal and firm quote based on your specific IT support needs. All at a predictable monthly cost per seat.
Free Consultation - Sign Up Here