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Scan a prescription label with intelligent scanning

By PillArm Team·3 min read·Updated May 15, 2026

The fastest way to add a medication is to scan its label. PillArm's intelligent scanning reads the printed text across one or more photos and fills in a complete medication record: name, dosage, instructions, frequency, schedule, and prescriber.

Why multiple photos help

Prescription labels wrap around the bottle, so a single photo rarely captures everything. Take 2-4 photos rotating around the bottle and PillArm treats them as one label, combining the text.

Good lighting and focus matter most: make sure the directions line and the dosage are sharp and readable.

Review before saving

Scanning drops you into a pre-filled form so you can correct anything before saving. Intelligent scanning can misread small print, so always verify the dosage and schedule against the bottle.

PillArm can also generate a pill image from the scan when image generation is enabled, or you can snap a photo of the pill itself.

Step-by-step

  1. 1

    Open Add Medication

    From Medications, tap the + button, then choose Scan Prescription Label.

  2. 2

    Capture the label

    Take 2-4 photos rotating around the bottle so the full label is covered.

  3. 3

    Read the label

    Tap Read Label: the intelligent scan extracts the details and opens a review form.

  4. 4

    Verify and save

    Check the dosage, schedule, and instructions, then tap Save Medication.

Frequently asked

Is the scanned information always accurate?
No. Intelligent scanning can misread labels. PillArm shows you the extracted details in an editable form so you can correct them. Always verify against the physical bottle and your pharmacist.

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