ID card scanner

An ID card scanner for Android that puts both sides into one PDF

Short answer: Scanly is a private ID card scanner for Android. You capture the front and back as two pages, crop and filter each side, then export one PDF that can be password-protected and watermarked "For KYC use only", with the scan kept on your phone.

Many forms ask for a copy of an ID card, usually both sides, as a single file. A photo taken in a hurry is often crooked, arrives in the wrong orientation, and then travels through a messaging app or an upload form you may not trust with a full copy of an identity document.

Scanly handles this in one pass on your own phone. It has no dedicated ID-card mode, so the approach is the ordinary one: scan each side as a page in the same document, then export a single PDF. The steps are set out below, along with what Scanly does and does not do for ID documents.

Install Scanly free on Google Play (Android 10+, no account, no ads)

How to scan both sides of an ID card into one PDF

  1. Start a document

    Create a new document in Scanly. Lay the card on a flat, contrasting surface in good light.

  2. Scan the front

    Capture the front and wait for edge detection to find the four corners, or press the shutter once the card fills the frame.

  3. Scan the back

    Add a second page for the back in the same session, so both sides stay in one document.

  4. Crop and filter each side

    Adjust the corners and rotate either page if needed. A light filter such as Natural or Original keeps the card looking like the card.

  5. Export with protection

    Export as a PDF, set an open password, and add the "For KYC use only" watermark if the recipient asks for it. Then share the file once.

Keep the scan on your phone

Scanning, cropping and text recognition run on the device, and a scan is stored only in the app library on that phone. Scanly is not set to copy scans to Google Drive through Android automatic backup. Nothing leaves the phone unless you export or share the PDF yourself. The app has no account, no ad SDK and no analytics SDK.

Protect the PDF before you send it

  • Set an open password when you export, so the recipient needs it to open the file.
  • Use the Password tool to add or remove a password on an existing PDF, with AES-256 encryption, and restrict editing if you need to.
  • Add the "For KYC use only" watermark with the Watermark tool, so the copy is labelled for the purpose it was made for.
  • Original captures are kept, so you can export again with different settings if the recipient asks for a change.

What Scanly does not do

  • It has no ID-card mode, so it does not detect the card type or check that the card is valid.
  • It does not verify identity. The KYC watermark is a visible label, not a verification.
  • It cannot send the file to a verification service for you, and it has no cloud sync.
  • The signature tool makes a visual signature, not a certificate-based digital signature, so a signed copy should not be treated as a legally verified one.

Check the rules before you share

Before you send a copy of an ID document, check with the organisation that asked for it which format, resolution and watermark they accept. Share only with organisations you trust, and if a simpler check would do the job, ask for that instead.

Questions people ask

Can I scan both sides of an ID card into one PDF on Android?
Yes. Capture the front and back as two pages in one document, then export a single PDF. Scanly has no special ID-card mode, but both sides end up in one file.
Is it safe to scan an ID card with a phone app?
Scanly keeps scanning, storage and text recognition on your phone, and it needs no account. The file leaves the phone only when you share it. Whether sharing is appropriate also depends on who receives it, so only send copies to organisations you trust.
Can I password-protect an ID card PDF?
Yes. Set an open password when you export, or add one later with the Password tool, which uses AES-256 encryption.
What does the KYC watermark do?
The "For KYC use only" preset adds that text to the PDF so the copy is labelled for its purpose. It is a visible label and does not verify anyone's identity.
Does Scanly check that an ID card is genuine?
No. Scanly does not verify identity documents and does not detect the type of card.

Last checked 2026-10-22. Markdown version