LibreOffice is a suite of office software for anyone who wants a fully-featured office suite for free. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux devices and can save documents in all Microsoft Office file formats (including DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, and more).
LibreOffice has a range of features comparable to those found in paid Office suites, including tools for adding scanned documents. You can scan a document directly into LibreOffice using a scanner or upload one you scanned using your5G Android phone.
Before you get started
Knowing the key requirements and limitations is important before scanning a document into LibreOffice. Below are a few things to keep in mind.
LibreOffice: A guide for new users
Get to know the free, open source Microsoft 365 alternative
You can scan a document into LibreOffice when you connect a dedicated scanner to your desktop. We show you how to do that using a Windows PC, but the process is essentially the same on Linux and macOS devices.
How to insert a scanned document into LibreOffice
Scanning a document directly into LibreOffice may not give you the best result. We recommend using your scanner’s software or a smartphone scanning app to scan a document and adding it as an image to LibreOffice. You’ll have more control over your document and can use editing features that LibreOffice doesn’t have.
Follow the steps below to add a scanned document into LibreOffice.
This method requires your scanned document to be in the JPG or PNG image format. If it’s saved as a PDF, convert the scanned file to one of those two image formats.
How to import a scanned document as editable text
Microsoft Word lets you import a scanned document as editable text. The same feature isn’t available on LibreOffice. The free office suite doesn’t have OCR support, which is important for digital photographs to be detected for text. However, you can use third-party software to import text from a scanned document.
Websites likeOnelineOCRextract text from a document and save it in your preferred format. If you use a Windows 11 PC, use the Snipping tool to copy text from a scanned file.
LibreOffice makes it easy to add scanned documents, whether archiving family photos or digitizing paperwork. If you don’t have a dedicated scanner,scan documents on your Android phone or tablet.
Check outGoogle Workspaceas an alternative to LibreOffice. It has a modern interface and is available on your smartphone. Google Workspace provides access to apps likeGoogle DocsandGoogle Sheetsand offers tools for managing email, contacts, and calendars.
