Fixing Scanning Mistakes: Missing Pages, Wrong Order and Upside-Down Scans

Everyone makes scanning mistakes: a page skipped, two pages swapped, a page upside down. The trick is to catch them before you send the file, and to know the quick fix for each.

Always review the whole document

Before you share a scan, flip through every page. Ten seconds of checking can prevent a rejected application or an embarrassing email.

Look for:

• Missing pages, especially back sides of double-sided sheets.
• Wrong order, particularly when you scan a stack quickly.
• Rotated pages shown sideways or upside down.
• Cut-off edges, where text near the border was cropped.
• Blurry or dark pages.
• Duplicate pages captured twice.
• Fingers or objects in the frame.

Missing a page

If you find a gap, scan the missing page and insert it in the right position, if your app allows adding a page at a specific place. If not, scan the page again and re-create the document in order.

Wrong order

If your app has a page overview, drag pages into the right sequence; otherwise rescan them in the right order. Check against page numbers, if the original has them. Before scanning a stack, number the sheets lightly in pencil, or place a sticky note on each, if the originals aren't precious.

Sideways or upside-down pages

If your app can rotate individual pages, apply it and check that the whole document is consistent; otherwise rescan the page the right way up.

Cut-off edges

Return to the crop handles and widen the crop. If the edge was outside the frame when you scanned, rescan the page with a larger margin.

Blurry or dark pages

Rescan with steadier hands, better light and a clearer focus. Tap to focus on the text if your camera allows it.

Duplicate pages

Delete the extra copy. Keep the one with the best quality.

Double-sided documents

It's easy to forget the reverse of a page. Before you begin, check whether each sheet has printing on both sides. If a back page is blank, you can skip it, but if it has a signature, stamp or terms, scan it.

Documents with fold-out pages

Contracts sometimes include a fold-out schedule or map. Unfold it fully, and scan it in sections if needed.

Prevent mistakes

• Take a moment to arrange the papers first.
• Scan one page at a time, and check each preview.
• Count the pages of the original and compare with the scan.
• Name the file with the number of pages, such as "Lease-12pp".

Final check

Open the exported PDF in the app's reader, and scroll through it as the recipient would.

Review and redo scans with Document Scanner →