Scan an Aadhaar card to PDF (front and back, name detected)

Aadhaar copies are asked for constantly — SIM cards, bank KYC, school forms. A good copy is easy: both sides, in one PDF, edges clean, every digit readable. Here's the two-minute routine.

Front and back in one PDF

1. Place the card on a dark background (the card is pale — contrast is your friend).
2. Photograph the front from straight above, close enough that the card fills most of the frame.
3. Flip it, same spot, photograph the back.
4. In ToPDF, select both photos at once — they scan in sequence into one two-page document (or scan the front, then use Add page for the back).
5. Check both thumbnails, then Download PDF.

The printed name on the card is usually detected and suggested as the file name — Aadhaar's layout (name directly above the year of birth) is exactly the pattern ToPDF's reader looks for.

Aadhaar-specific pitfalls

• Laminated cards reflect. Angle away from ceiling lights; window light works best.
• PVC reprints curl. Press flat for a moment or hold edges down out of frame with two coins.
• The QR code matters. Some verifiers scan it from your copy — make sure it's sharp and unglared on the front scan.
• Faded thermal prints: older paper Aadhaar letters fade. ToPDF's enhancement lifts contrast, but if digits are physically gone, request a fresh e-Aadhaar instead.

Masked sharing

For many purposes you're allowed — even encouraged — to share a masked copy that shows only the last 4 digits. If the requester accepts masked Aadhaar, prefer downloading the officially masked e-Aadhaar from UIDAI and scanning/submitting that, rather than exposing the full number. Where the full number is required, send it only through the channel the organisation specifies.

Frequently asked questions

Is a phone-scanned Aadhaar accepted for KYC?

Most offline use-cases accept a clear photocopy-equivalent, which a phone scan is. Digital KYC flows sometimes require the official e-Aadhaar PDF from UIDAI specifically — check what the requester asks for.

Front and back — separate files or one?

One PDF with two pages is the tidiest and what most forms expect. ToPDF builds exactly that when you scan both sides into the same document.

The name suggestion picked the wrong line. What now?

Tap the name box and type over it, or select the front-side page and tap ✨ Suggest name again. Your typed name always wins.