How do I scan both sides of an ID card into one PDF?
Use ID card mode in PDF Scanner, capture the front, turn the card over and capture the back into the same document, then export a single PDF containing both sides. Most offices that ask for a copy of an ID want both sides in one file. The recurring difficulty is the laminate — an ID card is a small glossy rectangle, so glare and framing matter more than on a full sheet of paper.
The short version
- PDF Scanner includes an ID card scan mode with framing tuned for card-sized documents.
- Both sides can be captured into the same document and exported as one PDF.
- Pages can be reordered before export, so front and back end up in the right sequence.
- Capture, correction and OCR run on the iPhone; ID images are not uploaded to a server.
- Export to PDF is free and adds no watermark.
- No account is required; the app runs on iOS 16 or later.
Step by step
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Switch to ID card mode
Choose ID card so the framing and cropping expect a small card rather than a letter-size page.
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Put the card on a dark, matte surface
A pale card on a pale desk defeats edge detection. Dark and non-shiny gives a clean outline and avoids bouncing light back into the laminate.
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Light it from the side and check for glare
Laminate reflects whatever is above it, most often the ceiling light. Step sideways until the bright patch moves off the photo and the printed fields.
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Capture the front square-on
Fill the frame with the card while keeping all four corners inside it, and hold the phone parallel to the surface.
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Flip the card and capture the back
Stay in the same document. The back usually carries the barcode, signature strip or address, which is exactly what the office asking for the copy needs.
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Check the order and export one PDF
Confirm the front is page one, reorder if not, then export a single PDF with both sides in it.
Frequently asked
- Do I need to send both sides?
- Most organizations asking for an ID copy want both, because the reverse carries the issue details, address or signature. Check what was requested, but capturing both costs one extra tap.
- How do I stop glare on the laminate?
- Change where you stand rather than what you edit. Put the light to one side, keep the phone out of the reflection, and tilt a few degrees if a highlight sits on the photo — perspective fix squares the result afterwards.
- Can OCR read the details off an ID card?
- It can pick up printed fields, but a glossy laminated surface is one of the weakest cases for text recognition. Treat the output as a starting point and check it against the card.
- Is it safe to scan an ID with a phone app?
- It depends entirely on whether the app uploads the image. PDF Scanner processes on the device and does not send document images to a server, which is the property to verify in any app before scanning identity documents.
- PDF or JPG for an ID copy?
- PDF, in almost every case — it keeps both sides in one file and is what offices and upload forms expect. JPG only when a form specifically demands an image.
Last updated 2026-07-28