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How to Scan and Upload Physical Documents

Not every important document lives on your computer. Insurance policies tucked in a filing cabinet, a handwritten healthcare proxy, a birth certificate stored in a fireproof box — these are exactly the kinds of things your loved ones may need someday. The good news is that getting them into Paige doesn't require a scanner or any special equipment. Your phone camera is all you need.

Table of Contents

Why It's Worth Digitizing Your Physical Documents
Option 1: Take a Photo Directly on Your Phone
Option 2: Use a Free Scanning App, Then Upload
Option 3: Scan on a Desktop or Home Printer, Then Upload from Your Computer
Tips for Getting the Best Results
What Happens After You Upload
Common Questions

Why It's Worth Digitizing Your Physical Documents

When something unexpected happens, the last thing your family should have to do is dig through boxes looking for paperwork. Uploading digital copies of your physical documents to Paige puts everything in one place, organized and accessible when it matters most.

You don't need perfect scans. A clear, well-lit photo taken with your phone is completely acceptable for storing documents in Paige. The goal is readability, not perfection.

Option 1: Take a Photo Directly on Your Phone

If you're accessing Paige through a mobile browser on your phone, the simplest approach is to take a photo of the document right there in the moment.

  1. Open Paige on your phone and navigate to the Documents page.
  2. Find the document category where you'd like to upload (for example, Medical for a health insurance card, or Finance & Tax for a bank statement).
  3. Tap the upload icon (↑) next to the document type.
  4. When prompted to choose a file, select Camera or Take Photo.
  5. Position your document on a flat, well-lit surface and take the photo.
  6. Review the image to make sure the text is clear and the edges of the document are visible.
  7. Confirm the upload.

A good photo has good lighting, no shadows across the text, and the full document in frame. Natural light near a window tends to work best.

Option 2: Use a Free Scanning App, Then Upload

If you want a cleaner result — especially for multi-page documents or anything with fine print — a free scanning app can be a great solution. These apps use your phone camera but process the image to look more like a traditional scanned document, with corrected angles, better contrast, and PDF output.

A few commonly used options include:

  • Apple Notes (iPhone) — built-in document scanning; tap the camera icon inside a note and choose Scan Documents
  • Google Drive (Android and iPhone) — tap the + button and select Scan
  • Adobe Scan (Android and iPhone) — free app with strong auto-cropping and PDF export
  • Microsoft Lens (Android and iPhone) — another free option that exports to PDF or image formats

Once you've scanned and saved your document as a PDF or image file, you can upload it to Paige from your phone's file storage or photo library.

  1. Open Paige and navigate to Documents.
  2. Find the appropriate document category and tap the upload icon (↑).
  3. When prompted, select Browse Files or Photo Library instead of Camera.
  4. Locate the file you saved from your scanning app and select it.
  5. Confirm the upload.

PDF files tend to be easier to read and share than image files, especially for multi-page documents. If your scanning app offers a PDF export option, that's generally a best practice to use.

Option 3: Scan on a Desktop or Home Printer, Then Upload from Your Computer

If you have access to a scanner, you can scan your documents to your computer and upload them to Paige from a desktop browser.

  1. Scan your document using your printer or scanner software. Save it as a PDF or JPG/PNG to your computer.
  2. Open Paige in your browser at app.go-paige.com and navigate to Documents.
  3. Find the appropriate document category and click the upload icon (↑).
  4. Click Choose Files or drag and drop your file into the upload area.
  5. Confirm the upload.

Double-check that your scan is complete and legible before uploading. A file that uploads successfully but is blurry or cut off may not be useful to your loved ones when they need it.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

No matter which method you use, a few simple habits can make a big difference in the quality of what you upload.

  • Flat surface — Place the document on a flat table or desk, not held in your hand.
  • Good lighting — Avoid shadows. Natural light or overhead lighting tends to work well.
  • Full document in frame — Make sure all four edges of the document are visible.
  • Two sides when needed — For things like insurance cards or IDs, upload both front and back. Paige's upload areas for documents like your Health Insurance Card specifically note this.
  • Readable text — Zoom in to confirm the text is sharp before saving or uploading.

What Happens After You Upload

Once your file is uploaded, it will be stored securely within the appropriate document category in Paige. Your delegate will be able to access documents you've shared with them — so getting things uploaded now means the people you trust will have what they need, without the scramble.

Some document types — like your Health Insurance Card and Photo ID — have specific upload spots built right into the setup steps. If you're working through the Essential Setup wizard, you'll be prompted to upload these at the right time.

Common Questions

"What file types does Paige accept?"

Paige accepts common image formats (JPG, PNG) and PDF files. When in doubt, PDF is a solid choice for multi-page documents, and JPG or PNG works well for single-page items like cards or certificates.

"Do I need a special app to scan documents?"

No — a clear photo taken directly with your phone camera works just fine for most documents. Dedicated scanning apps can improve quality for complex or multi-page documents, but they're optional.

"What if my photo came out blurry?"

Simply retake it. Good lighting and holding your phone steady make a noticeable difference. Placing the document flat on a surface (rather than holding it) tends to help a lot.

"Can I upload more than one file for the same document type?"

Yes — Paige supports multiple file uploads within a document category. This can be helpful for things like multi-page documents or policies with attachments.