How to Scan ID Cards Using 3 Effective Methods with Tips

Whether to book an appointment, make international shopping online, or back up information, an ID card is often required.

Instead of giving out a physical ID, you can simply scan your identification document to create a digitized version and upload it.

While most scanning devices can do this, your cell phone can also get the job done if you don’t have a scanner. To make scanning easier, this article provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to scanning your ID card. Check it out!

How to Scan an ID Card with an iPhone via a Free App

While your iPhone can snap a photo of your ID card, it often ends up blurry or skewed. That’s where a professional app can make a big difference.

PDFgear Scan, a handy scanning app for iOS, scans from a phone’s gallery or camera. Its ID Card mode has a guide frame to help you align the card perfectly and automatically crop out the background. Moreover, the double-sided option lets you scan both the front and back of your ID card on a single page with ease.

Here’s how to get a high-quality ID card scan with PDFgear Scan:

1. Install PDFgear Scan from App Store and launch it on your mobile.

2. Choose “Scan ID Card” in the Home menu. Switch to “Double-sided” mode by tapping the button on the screen.

3. Point your iPhone’s camera at the front side of the ID card, ensuring it’s within the guide frame. Tap the shutter button to capture the image. Then, flip 4. the card over and repeat the process to scan the backside. PDFgear Scan will automatically generate the scanned documents with two sides of the card.

5. Tap “Done” after adjustment of the document. In the new screen, tap “More” to save the scanned ID card document in the format you prefer.

Scanning is straightforward in PDFgear Scan but what’s impressive is the powerful OCR it applies. By tapping the “To Text” feature, you can extract information like name, address, and number. To meet diverse file-sharing needs, this app also enables scanning to PDF, Word, and even TXT.

How to Scan an ID Card with an Android Using the Built-in Scanning Feature

If you’re using an Android phone, there are many third-party apps available for scanning to Google Drive or camera rolls. However, to avoid malware or privacy risks, it’s best to use your phone’s native scanning feature.

1. Open the camera app on your Android device.

2. Switch to “Scan” or “Document” scanning mode if the app supports it.

3. Place the ID card properly and position the phone’s camera to frame it.

4. Tap the shutter button to capture the scan.

5. Adjust or edit the scanned document. Then, save it in the desired place of your phone.

How to Scan an ID Card with a Scanner

Even though a physical scanner is less convenient than a mobile camera, it offers compatibility with many PC and mobile devices and ensures high DPI for scans.

Most scanners or printers come with a wide range of scan functions, making it easier to perform tasks like 2-sided ID scans and printing.

1. Open the scanner and your PC, and ensure they are connected.

2. Install and launch your device’s companion scanning software or app. You can also use the control panel to scan.

3. Place the ID card in the middle of the scanner glass and close the lid.

4. In the scan software or control panel, select the scan job as “ID Card” in settings and adjust other options. Once done, tap the “Scan” button.

5. Save the scanned ID card document in the desired place.

Tips for Scanning an ID Card

Ensure Proper Lighting: When scanning with a camera, ensure good lighting to avoid shadows or glare. Additionally, clean your ID card beforehand to remove any stains.

Place on a Flat Surface: Make sure your ID card is on a flat, stable surface to avoid any distortion.

Align Correctly: Align your ID card within the guide frame for an accurate scan.

Set High Resolution: For clear and detailed scans, it is recommended to set the resolution to 300 dpi or higher. You can adjust this in the settings of your scanning app.

Keep Steady: Hold your device steady or use a tripod to stabilize scans and avoid blurry images.

Edit the Document: If needed, crop and adjust the scanned document to ensure the ID card is visible. You can also use professional apps like Photoshop to enhance the image quality.

Save Securely: Store the scanned ID card in a secure, encrypted location to protect your information.

FAQs

How to scan a QR code in an ID card?

To scan the QR code in an ID card, open the camera app on your iPhone or Android device > Point the camera at the QR code > Tap the scan icon on the screen > Tap the link that pops up to access the information.

Alternatively, you can use a scanning app like PDFgear Scan to directly capture and save the information from the QR code

How to scan an ID card and save it as a PDF?

To scan an ID card and save it as a PDF, you need to utilize either the camera or a scanner.

With a scanner/printer: Download and open the scanning app > Place the ID card on the scanner glass > Set the output file type as “PDF” in the app > Initiate scan > View and save the scanned document.

With a phone: Open the native camera app or PDFgear Scan > Point the camera to the card > Tap the shutter button to capture the scan > Edit and share the scanned document as PDF.

Can I use a smartphone to scan an ID card effectively?

Yes, you can use a smartphone to scan an ID card. Most smartphones support ID card scanning with its built-in camera app and can effectively capture the information on the card.