Apple introduces iOS 26 featuring a new Preview app for editing documents on iPhone.

October 16, 2025

Apple Launches iOS 26 with New Preview App

Apple has rolled out iOS 26, introducing a fresh design and a notable feature: the Preview app. If you’ve updated your iPhone and noticed icons reminiscent of your Mac, it’s not just wishful thinking. The Preview app has finally made its way to iOS, which many users will find quite handy. For a long time, iPhone owners have desired a straightforward method for editing, annotating, and scanning documents without needing external apps. Now, with Apple’s Preview app, various functionalities are combined, creating a cohesive experience that merges features from the Files app, markup tools, and the document scanner from the camera.

What You Can Do with Apple’s Preview App

Like its Mac counterpart, the Preview app on the iPhone simplifies basic photo editing and PDF modifications. Here’s what you can do:

View PDFs or images directly from the Files app.
Annotate, draw, and highlight using familiar markup tools.
Add text boxes and signatures to documents.
Crop, resize, and rotate images.
Scan documents using your camera.

When the app opens, you’re met with straightforward options: either create a new document or scan one. Tapping on a section lets you browse the content stored on your phone. The interface somewhat mirrors Apple’s previous screenshot editor, so it should feel intuitive. Advanced tools like background removal reduce the need for third-party editing apps. When opening a PDF, Preview smartly recognizes fillable text boxes, allowing you to easily add your signature, which is quite beneficial for signing contracts on the go.

Scanning Documents with the Preview App

The scanning tool in Preview is one of its standout features; it’s both quick and reliable for capturing receipts, contracts, or any notes you need to keep secure. If you currently use Notes or Files for scanning, you may find Preview significantly faster. The process is streamlined, so there’s no need to juggle multiple apps. Here’s how to scan:

Open the Preview app.
Tap “Scan a Document” from the home screen or use the plus (+) icon if you’re looking at another file.
Position your iPhone camera over the page you wish to scan.
Preview will automatically detect edges and capture the image.
After capturing, a thumbnail will appear.
If the scan isn’t quite right, simply retake it.
When you’re happy with it, tap the blue check mark to finalize the digital document.

Saving and Exporting Documents

Once you’ve scanned a page, you can easily save, rename, or share it within the Preview app. Follow these simple steps:

Saving to File

Tap on the share button (a square with an arrow) and choose “Save to File.” Pick your desired location, like iCloud Drive or directly on your iPhone. The scan will be saved as a PDF for future access.

Renaming a Document

Tap the title at the top of the screen to enter a new name, say, “Receipt-October 2025.pdf,” and then hit “Done.”

Sharing the Document

From the share menu, you can send PDFs via AirDrop, messages, or email.

Finding Saved Scans Later

Open the Files app.
Tap “Browse.”
Go to “On My iPhone.”
Click on Preview.
Open the “Scanned” folder or whichever you prefer to find and edit your PDFs.

Comparing Tools for Android and Windows

If you use Android or Windows, similar capabilities are available in those platforms as well.

Scanning and Editing on Android

If your Android smartphone is running version 6.0 or above, the Google Drive app offers an integrated document scanner. In September 2025, Google enhanced this feature with sharper previews, smarter cropping, and better shadow removal for more professional-looking scans. Additionally, it now supports easier page adjustments and a thumbnail carousel for rearranging or removing pages before saving:

Open Google Drive and ensure it’s updated.
Tap the “+” or camera icon and select “Scan.”
Hold your phone steady to capture the full page.
Utilize built-in tools for cropping, rotating, and applying color filters.
Tap “Add Page” for multi-page PDFs.
Confirm your pages using the thumbnail carousel before saving.
Save with your desired file name, either as a PDF or JPG.
Annotate or highlight text after opening in Drive.
Share your completed document via a Drive link or email.

Annotating and Signing PDFs on Windows

Microsoft Edge comes with a PDF reader that allows drawing, highlighting, and adding comments. However, if you need to completely edit PDFs, you might require third-party tools. Still, it’s quite handy for users needing basic functionalities:

Use the Snipping Tool to capture a screenshot or document.
Choose your capture type: area, free form, full screen, or window.
Save your capture as PNG or JPG.
To edit PDFs, open the file in Microsoft Edge.
Use the pen/drawing tool to write or sign directly on the PDFs.
Don’t forget to save your edits afterward.

Alternative PDF Tools for Windows

If Microsoft Edge doesn’t meet your requirements, consider other PDF editors such as:

PDF24 Creator: Free, allows combining, compressing, and signing PDFs.
Xournal++: An open-source tool for annotating PDFs with a pen.
Foxit PDF Editor: Extensive editing and OCR tools available across platforms.

These alternatives provide more flexibility, especially if you often edit or manage digital documents.

Key Takeaways

The new Preview app in iOS 26 simplifies document editing and scanning like never before. By integrating files, markups, and scanning capabilities, it streamlines the entire process, particularly for those who frequently transition between Mac and iPhone. Android and Windows users also have strong built-in tools for managing documents. The enhancements in Google Drive and Microsoft Edge offer effective ways to handle files efficiently. All these options illustrate that managing documents is now easier than ever, whether you’re on iPhone, Android, or Windows. Preview’s introduction on iPhone is another step toward a cohesive Apple ecosystem, enhancing productivity right out of the box.

Are you considering switching to Apple’s new Preview app for your document editing needs, or will you stick with the apps you currently use? Let us know your thoughts.