Short answer: Apple's built-in scanner saves the front and back as two separate pages. In img2pdf, tap Scan ID card, scan the front, then the back, and the app places both sides on one portrait page that you export as a PDF.
The built-in method: Notes or Files (two pages, not one)
iOS includes Apple's document scanner in two places. Both capture a card well, with automatic edge detection and perspective correction:
- Notes: create a new note, tap the attachment (paperclip) or camera button, and choose Scan Documents.
- Files: open the Browse tab, tap the More (···) button, and choose Scan Documents.
- Scan the front of the card, turn it over, scan the back, and tap Save.
This is a good, free way to scan an ID. The problem is the layout: each scan becomes its own page, so the result is a two-page PDF with the front on page 1 and the back on page 2. iOS has no option to place two scans on a single page. If a form says "front and back on one page", you need another step.
Where the built-in method falls short: one page per scan, no way to combine the two sides, and no control over the PDF's file size or paper size. It is fine when the recipient accepts a two-page file.
The img2pdf method: both sides on one page
img2pdf uses the same Apple document scanner, then adds an ID card mode. When that scan has exactly two pages, the app combines them into a single page before you export:
- Start an ID card scan. Open img2pdf. On the empty Pages screen tap Scan ID card, or tap Add and choose Scan ID Card (Front & Back).
- Scan the front. Lay the card flat on a plain, darker surface and hold the iPhone above it. Apple's document scanner finds the card's edges and captures it; you can also tap the shutter yourself.
- Scan the back. Turn the card over and capture the back as the second scan, then tap Save in the scanner. Scan exactly two pages: front first, then back.
- Check the combined page. img2pdf adds one portrait page with the front in the top half and the back in the bottom half, each centred at card scale on a white page. Tap the page to crop, rotate, or redact if needed.
- Export the PDF. Choose a size preset (Small, Standard, Best, or Custom) and a page size such as Letter or A4 in the export settings, then tap Save PDF to save it or share it.
The two sides are not stretched to fill the page. Each one keeps its proportions and sits in the middle of its half, with white space around it, so the page looks like a photocopy of the card rather than two oversized photos.
Already have photos of both sides?
If you took pictures of the card earlier, you do not need to scan again. Add both photos with Choose photos, tap Select, select the two pages, then open the More menu and choose Combine 2-Up (1 Page). The two pages are replaced by one page, with the earlier page on top.
Built-in scanner vs img2pdf
| What you need | Notes / Files scanner | img2pdf |
|---|---|---|
| Edge detection and perspective correction | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (same Apple scanner) |
| Front and back on one page | ❌ No, one page per scan | ✅ Yes, automatically |
| Combine two existing photos onto one page | ❌ No | ✅ Combine 2-Up |
| Redact details before sending | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| File size presets and page size | ❌ No | ✅ Small / Standard / Best / Custom; Letter, A4, and more |
| Password-protected PDF | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Tips for a clean ID card scan
- Use a contrasting background. A light card on a dark table helps the scanner find the edges.
- Avoid glare. Laminated cards reflect light. Tilt the card slightly away from a ceiling lamp or turn off the flash.
- Keep the order. Scan the front first so it lands at the top of the page.
- Pick the paper size the recipient uses. Letter is common in the United States and Canada; A4 is the norm in most other countries.
- Share only what is asked for. If the recipient does not need your card number or date of birth, redact it.
Privacy: your ID stays with you
An ID card is one of the most sensitive documents you can send. Many websites that "merge front and back" ask you to upload both images to their server first. img2pdf makes the scan, the combined page, and the PDF on your iPhone or iPad, with no account and no upload to img2pdf. The PDF goes only where you choose to save or share it.
Frequently asked questions
Can the iPhone put both sides of an ID card on one page by itself?
Not directly. The Scan Documents feature in Notes and Files captures the front and the back, but it saves each scan as its own page, so you get a two-page PDF. iOS has no built-in layout that places two scans on a single page.
What happens if I scan more or fewer than two pages in ID card mode?
img2pdf only combines a scan of exactly two pages. If you scan one page, or three or more, they are added as separate pages, just like a normal document scan. Delete them and scan again with front then back.
I already have photos of the front and back. Can I combine those?
Yes. Add both photos with Choose photos, tap Select, select the two pages, then open the More menu and choose Combine 2-Up (1 Page). The page that comes first in your page order goes on top and the other goes below it, on one page.
Does img2pdf upload my ID card?
No. The scan, the combined page, and the PDF are made on your iPhone or iPad, and img2pdf does not send your ID to a server. The PDF goes only where you save or share it.
Does this work for a driver's license or a residence permit?
Yes. The ID card scan works with any two-sided card you can lay flat, including driver's licenses, national ID cards, residence permits, and insurance cards. Check what the organisation asking for the PDF requires before you send it.
Can I hide my ID number or add a password before sending?
Yes. Tap the page to open the editor and use Redact to black out details the recipient does not need. In the export settings you can also turn on password protection to save an encrypted PDF.
