PDFs and BoardSnap: the workaround that works.
Short answer
BoardSnap does not accept PDF files as direct input. It processes photos and images. To summarize a PDF page, take a screenshot of it on your iPhone and import that screenshot into BoardSnap using the photo library import. For long PDFs, this approach works per page, not for the whole document at once.
## Why BoardSnap doesn't take PDFs directly
BoardSnap is an image capture and analysis tool — its input is a photo. PDF is a document format, not an image format (even when a PDF contains scanned images). Accepting PDFs would require a separate file import pipeline, PDF rendering, and different UX.
This may be added in a future version, but it hasn't shipped.
## The screenshot workaround
For a single-page PDF — an agenda, a one-pager, a brief — the fastest workaround:
- Open the PDF in Files, Safari, or a PDF reader on your iPhone
- Take a screenshot (side button + volume up)
- Open BoardSnap, import from camera roll, select the screenshot
- BoardSnap analyzes the image and generates the summary and action items
This takes about 30 seconds of setup and 10 seconds of analysis.
## For multi-page PDFs
BoardSnap doesn't merge multiple images into one document analysis. For a multi-page PDF, you'd need to screenshot each relevant page separately and import each one as a separate board. For long reports, a dedicated document AI tool (ChatGPT with file upload, Claude.ai's PDF support) is a better fit.
## What BoardSnap adds that document tools don't
Even for PDF content, BoardSnap's project structure, pinned context, and brand-aware summaries are useful. A consultant who regularly reviews similar client documents in a single project benefits from the project-scoped AI memory — even if the input was a screenshot.
## Best use cases for this workflow
- Meeting agenda PDFs (screenshot the agenda page, snap it, get action-ready framing before the meeting)
- One-page decision memos (snapshot and summarize in seconds)
- Printed-and-scanned notes (sometimes a PDF is just a photograph of handwriting — perfect for BoardSnap)
Frequently asked
Will BoardSnap ever support direct PDF input?
Possibly — it's a natural feature expansion. No timeline is committed. Screenshot import is the current workaround.
Can I import a PDF from iCloud or Files into BoardSnap?
Not directly. BoardSnap's import accepts photos from the camera roll. Export the PDF page as an image first, then import the image.
See it work in ten seconds.
BoardSnap is free on the App Store. Snap a board — get a summary and action plan.