Does Walgreens Scan Photos in 2024? The Complete Guide
Walgreens makes digitizing your old printed photos easy and convenient with photo scanning services available at most locations nationwide. Here‘s what to expect from scanning your nostalgic prints at Walgreens Photo kiosks this year.
Scanning Photos at Walgreens in 2024
Walgreens has been a go-to destination for photo printing services for decades. While demand for traditional photo prints has declined in the digital age, Walgreens still operates photo kiosks in over 7,000 stores across the U.S.
The photo kiosks allow customers to scan existing physical photos for digitization and preservation. According to Walgreens, thousands of photos are scanned at their kiosks every day.
Walgreens‘ photo scanning process and options remain largely unchanged in 2024 compared to previous years. The service provides an easy, budget-friendly way to digitize boxes of old family photos sitting in storage.
Step-by-Step: Scanning Photos at Walgreens
Scanning printed photos at a Walgreens kiosk is simple and straightforward:
Locate the Photo Kiosk: Ask a store employee if you can‘t find it yourself.
Access the Scanner: Open the small drawer underneath the kiosk screen. This reveals a glass scanning surface.
Place Photo: Position your photo facedown on the scanning glass. Center it appropriately.
Tap "Scan": This previews the scan on screen. Ensure proper orientation.
Adjust Settings: Choose 4"x6" size for optimal quality. Enhance as needed.
Save Scan: Finalize any cropping, color corrections etc. before saving.
Repeat: Scan up to 24 photos per session by repeating steps 3-6.
Pro Tip: Clean the scanner glass thoroughly before scanning to prevent smudges on your photos!
Key Photo Scanning Specs at Walgreens
- Resolution: Up to 600 dpi for high-quality scans
- File Format: JPG is standard, other formats not supported
- Size Options: 4×6, 5×7, 8×10 inches etc. 4×6 optimal
- Number of Photos: Up to 24 per scanning session
600 dpi resolution will suffice for most family photo digitization needs. For archival purposes, professional services offer higher resolutions.
Sticking to the classic 4×6 size yields better quality scans than enlarging to bigger sizes. Walgreens printing kiosks are designed around this photo size.
What You Can Do with Scanned Photos
Walgreens gives you two options when finished scanning your prints:
Print Photos: Pick up high-quality reprints moments later. Many size options available beyond 4×6.
Burn to CD/DVD: Each disc holds up to 999 image files for $3.99. Great for digital backup.
Price: Scanning itself is free. Only pay $0.35+ per print or $3.99 per photo CD.
Unfortunately, Walgreens does not currently allow saving scans directly to external devices like USB flash drives, SD cards, or external hard drives.
Pro Tips for Better Quality Photo Scans
Follow these pro tips when scanning your old photos at a Walgreens kiosk:
- Handle photos gently to avoid new damage and folds
- Clean scanner glass thoroughly before each scan
- Stick to 4×6 size for best quality
- Adjust brightness, contrast, cropping per photo
- Use auto-fix option for quick improvements
- Inspect final scans for quality before saving
Saving your scanned prints as high-quality JPG files will preserve them digitally for decades to come. For archival purposes, TIFF is ideal but not offered at Walgreens kiosks.
Walgreens Photo Printing in 2024
In addition to digitizing your photos, Walgreens still offers traditional photo printing services:
- Print sizes from wallet to poster size
- Option for glossy or matte finish
- Regular, borderless, collage, and specialty prints
- Pick up in store or have prints shipped
- Prices from $0.35 for 4×6 prints
Consumers still value having physical photo prints even in the digital age. But printing volumes have declined over 40% from a 2008 peak according to market research.
Alternatives for Photo Scanning and Printing
Walgreens offers an affordable, convenient way to scan your old printed photos. But it‘s not your only option:
Retail kiosks: Walmart, CVS, Costco also offer in-store photo scanning.
Mail-in services: Send photos to a lab for high-quality scanning and digitization.
Photo apps: Scan at home using your phone and apps like PhotoScan by Google. Limited quality.
DIY scanners: Dedicated photo scanners for home provide high resolution. Cost $100+.
Professional archiving: Archives, libraries and specialists handle delicate photo digitization.
Conclusion
Walgreens photo kiosks continue to provide an easy and budget-friendly way to digitize your printed photos in 2024. The scanning service itself is free, with the option to print or burn photo CDs at additional cost. Following some best practices will ensure you get high-quality digital copies of your nostalgic prints to preserve for a lifetime of memories.
