Getting started
How do I scan a document?
Tap the + button (top right of the library). Frame each page in the viewfinder — Paperix uses Apple's Vision document camera, which auto-detects the edges of paper, corrects perspective, and removes shadows. Tap the shutter for each page; tap Save when you're done. Paperix combines the pages into one searchable PDF. You can also import from Photos or Files.
Where are my scans stored?
In the app's Documents folder, accessible via the Files app under "On My iPhone / Paperix / Scans". You can move them to iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or anywhere else from Files.
Searching
Are the PDFs really searchable?
Yes. After each scan, Paperix runs on-device text recognition and embeds the recognized text as an invisible layer in the PDF. You can search:
- Across all scans, from the library's search bar
- Inside a single scan, from the search bar in the document view
- In any other PDF reader — the text layer is standard PDF text
OCR missed some text. What can I do?
Apple's Vision text recognition is good, but not perfect on handwriting, faint print, or unusual fonts. The image itself is preserved at full resolution, so the document is still readable — only the searchable text layer might miss some words.
On-device AI
Where does the AI run?
Entirely on your device. Summaries, key points, the per-document Q&A, and "Ask Paperix" across your library all run on the Neural Engine using Apple Intelligence. No document content, query, or answer is sent to a server. AI features require Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and later, or an M-series iPad); on older devices they're hidden and the rest of Paperix works the same.
Editing
How do I edit pages after scanning?
Open a scan, tap ⋯, choose Edit Pages. Reorder by dragging, rotate individual pages, and delete pages. Tap Save to write changes back to the PDF — the OCR layer is preserved.
How do I rename a scan?
From the document view, tap ⋯ → Rename. Or from the list, swipe a row to reveal the actions.
Sharing
How do I export a password-protected PDF?
Open a scan, tap ⋯, choose Export with Password. Enter and confirm a password, then share the protected file via the system share sheet. The original (unprotected) scan stays in Paperix; only the exported copy is password-protected.
Privacy
Does Paperix upload my scans anywhere?
No. Paperix has no network code. Nothing leaves your device unless you explicitly share it through the system share sheet, or turn on the opt-in iCloud sync (which routes through your own Apple iCloud, never a Paperix server). See the privacy policy for the full details.
Are there ads or trackers?
No third-party SDKs of any kind. No advertising IDs are accessed.
Troubleshooting
The scan button is greyed out
The scanner is disabled if your device doesn't have a camera or doesn't support the Vision document scanner (a small number of older iPads). Check that camera access for Paperix is enabled in Settings → Paperix.
A scan came out blurry or misaligned
The Vision document camera works best with:
- Even lighting (no harsh shadows from above)
- Dark text on a light background
- The document filling most of the viewfinder
- Holding the phone roughly perpendicular to the page
You can also tap to focus during scanning.
Contact
Please include:
- iOS version
- Device model (iPhone 15 Pro, iPad Air M2, etc.)
- What you were doing when the issue happened
Acknowledgements
Paperix is built on Apple's own frameworks — VisionKit, Vision, PDFKit, SwiftUI, Foundation Models, and Natural Language. No third-party libraries.