Google Stack: a new Android scanning app that will digitally classify your documents

Gone are the days of trying to find a scanner, or worse yet clutter your desk with one of those printer / scanner combos, for the handful of times a year you need to create a digital version of one. document. Apples iPhone has a hidden document scanner in its Notes application, and now Android the owners have a dedicated Google application called Stack.

Of course, you can just take a photo of a contract or invoice to keep a digital copy, but then you’ll need to crop the background and convert it to PDF before you can sign it. Stack eliminates the extra work and provides a high quality version of the document. The only thing it doesn’t do right now is provide a way to add your signature. Don’t worry, I explain how to sign the documents below.

Stack is available for Android phones and tablets, but limited to those who live in the United States. However, it goes beyond just scanning to store your documents and receipts. Stack will automatically identify which store a receipt comes from or the due date of an invoice. Below, I’ll walk you through the ins and outs of using Stack as your scanner of choice.

Scan a document and start creating stacks

After installing Stack from the Play Store, you will be prompted to sign in to the app using your Google Account and then grant it access to media and photos on your phone.

You’re immediately taken to the Stack home screen, where you’ll see different stacks – or categories – for all scanned documents. Select one of the stacks to display the placeholders for the suggested documents to scan and store in that stack.

Start an analysis by pressing the + button in the lower right corner of the screen. You have three options: PDF, Gallery, and Camera.

To select PDF if you already have a digital copy of a document that you want to import into Stack. To take Gallery if you have a photo of the document saved in your Camera Roll or Photos app. To opt for Camera if you need to create a new analysis. Keep in mind that this is not the same as taking a photo in the Camera app. Stack will adjust the photo on its own, creating a PDF and only storing the document, not an entire photo.

When choosing a camera, the process is similar to taking a photo with your phone. Place the receipt on a flat, well-lit surface and hold your phone over it. With the piece of paper fully in view of the camera, press the Analysis button at the bottom of the screen. Your phone will capture an image and automatically crop it so that you only see the document.

Press the Add if you need to scan multiple pages of the same document. To select Adjust color or Crop and rotate to make their respective adjustments. Once you’re happy with the scan, tap Save.

As you can see in the animated image, Stack will identify the information contained in the document and use it for document searches, suggesting a document name and category.

Before saving the document, you must either accept the name suggestion or modify it. Then select the category in which you want to save it or select See everything if you want to create a custom stack

Tap Completed when you are ready to save it. The first time you save a scan, you will be asked if you want to save a copy to Google Drive. This will allow you to access all scanned documents from another device, such as your computer, outside of the Stack app.

Boost your film

Stack has more powerful features which you can enable in the settings section of the app. Using these settings turns the app from an on-demand scanner into an app that monitors your camera roll, for example, and then imports any documents it detects in photos. This means you can take photos of your work expense receipts, and Stack will import and organize them without you having to do anything.

Access settings by tapping on your profile picture at the top of the page, followed by Settings.

There, you’ll have the option to enable automatic import, require a fingerprint or facial recognition before you can access your stacks, and enable or disable saving documents to Google Drive.

You also have the option to export all your scanned documents or delete all data linked to your Google account.

Stack currently lacks a built-in option to sign all scanned documents. However, you can use one of the suggestions described here to have the document signed on your Android phone or other device. Want more Android tips and tricks? Discover these hidden features, then modify these parameters.