How to make a passport scan on a Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Scanning a passport through a Xiaomi phone is a challenge that almost everyone faces, from applying for a loan to registering on government portals. It would seem that it could be easier to point a camera, take a picture and send it. But in practice, many people are rejected due to poor quality, incorrect angle or inconsistency with the requirements of services, POCO Xiaomi’s flagship models so that it passes the test the first time.

We tested all the current methods - from the built-in scanner to the MIUI We've been working on a few specialty apps, and we've highlighted the key bugs that cause 70 percent of scans to go wrong, and we'll show you how to avoid blurring, glare and distortion, and what Xiaomi camera settings will help you get the perfect result. Where to store scans of documents and how to protect them from leakage.

1.Passport and telephone preparation before scanning

The scan quality is 80% pre-emptive. Even the most advanced Xiaomi 13 Ultra camera won't save you if your passport is on a mint bedspread under the oblique light of the lamp. Start by choosing a surface: a table with a plain tablecloth (white, gray or black) is perfect. Avoid patterns — they can create optical distortions that automatic recognition systems will mistake for a fake.

Lighting is the second critical factor. Never scan when the flash is on: it creates glare on the passport laminate, which makes the text unreadable. It is better to use natural light at the window (but not in direct sunlight!) or two table lamps located on the sides at an angle of 45.°. If there is not enough light, increase the value. ISO In manual camera mode up to 400-800, but not higher – otherwise will appear digital noise.

• 📄 Passport: spread out on a flat surface, make sure there are no clogs on the pages. If the document is new, carefully bend the root so that the pages lie flat.
• 📱 Phone: wipe the camera lens with a microfiber (fat spots from your fingers spoil clarity). HDR — It can distort colors.
• 🔋 Charge: If you plan to scan multiple documents, make sure that the battery is above 30.

⚠️ Note: If the passport has holographic elements (as in the new samples of the Russian Federation), take a test shot before the main scan.

Standard facilities MIUI: scan through "Documents" and "Camera»

Xiaomi has integrated basic scanning tools directly into the firmware MIUI 12+. The easiest way is to use the Documents app (an icon with a blue folder) Open it, tap it on the icon. + In the lower right corner, and select Scan of the document. The algorithm will automatically find the boundaries of the passport and trim the background, but this method has limitations:

• ✅ Pros: does not require the installation of third-party applications, saves in PDF, Supports multithreaded scanning.
• ❌ Cons: low resolution (maximum 8 MP), no correction perspective, often "does not see" page with holograms.

Alternatively, manual mode via the standard Camera:

1. Open the Camera app and switch to Document (or Pro if not).
2. Hover the lens over the passport page so that it occupies at least 80% of the frame.
3. Touch the screen to focus and hold your finger for 2 seconds to block exposure.
4. Take a picture, then repeat for the second page.

To combine photos into one file, use the built-in editor: highlight the photos in the gallery → More. → Create PDF. Important: Standard scanner MIUI is not suitable for sending to the State Services or to banks - its permission is not enough for recognition of small text (series / passport number).

3. Top.-5 Applications for passport scanning on Xiaomi

If the built-in tools don't work, install one of the specialized applications, and we tested 15 programs and selected the best ones in terms of quality and safety:

For most tasks, we recommend Adobe Scan: it is free, does not impose watermarks and automatically improves text contrast. If you want maximum quality control, choose FineScanner (paid, but supports scanning in the Internet). RAW). Beware CamScanner – Despite its popularity, the app has a dubious reputation due to data breaches in 2019-2020.

Install the app from the official store (Google Play or AppGallery)

Provide access to the camera and storage

Turn off battery optimization for the app (in settings) MIUI)

Take a test shot to adjust the exposure-->

4. Xiaomi camera settings for the perfect scan

Even with a good app, the result depends on the right camera settings.On Xiaomi models with Pro-mode support (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi). K50) manually configure parameters:

• 📸 Focus: Use it MF (manual focusing and set the value to infinity (icon) ∞). This will prevent blurring with small shifts of the phone.
• 🔆 Exposure: Reduce by 0.3–0.7 EV, to avoid lighting of the passport areas.
• 🔄 White balance: set up 4,000–4500K (lamp light) or 5500K (daylight).
• 📏 Select 4:3 aspect ratio – it is as close as possible to the passport format.

On budget models (e.g. Redmi) 10A) Pro mode may not be available:

1. Activate Document mode in the standard camera.
2. Touch the screen in the center of the passport and hold it to block the focus.
3. Turn it off. AI-Improvement in camera settings (it distorts the color of documents).

Critical: Always scan in horizontal orientation (album mode), even if you hold your phone vertically, which is because most services expect scans in landscape format, and turning images can lead to the trimming of important details (such as an angle stamp).

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If the scan is too dark, do not increase it. ISO — You should use an external light source, like a table lamp with a matte lampshade, located 30 to 40 cm from the document.

5. Scan processing: pruning, improvement, conversion to PDF

Raw scans rarely pass the automated systems check, and after shooting, be sure to process the files:

1. Cutting: Remove backgrounds, leaving only the passport area. Most scanner applications do this automatically, but check manually: the boundaries must be 1-2 mm from the edge of the document.
2. Perspective correction: If the passport is taken at an angle, use the tool Correct distortion (available in Adobe Scan and Microsoft Lens).°.
3. Improve clarity: Use the Sharpening filter (but not more than 20%, otherwise there will be digital noise).
4. Color correction: Increase contrast by 10-15% and reduce saturation by 5% to make text more readable.

For conversion to PDF:

• In Adobe Scan: Click Save How PDF and select the High Quality.
• In Google Drive: Upload the scans to the folder, highlight them → Open with help → Drive PDF.
• Through MIUI: in the gallery, select files → More. → Create PDF (Maximum quality – 300 dpi).

⚠️ Note: Some banks (Sberbank, Tinkoff) require that the file weigh no more than 5 MB. PDF too large, compress it through SmallPDF, selecting the option Medium compression. Avoid strong compression - this worsens the readability of small text.

6.Security: Where to store scans and how to protect data

A passport scan is a full document that can be leaked and can lead to fraud.

• ❌ In cloud services with public access (Google Drive, Yandex.Disk in the mode "Using the link").
• ❌ In messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) without encryption.
• ❌ Nana SD-Phone card (easy to retrieve when stealing a device).

Safe alternatives:

• 🔒 Encrypted containers: Use Cryptomator (free) or VeraCrypt to create secure storage on your phone.
• 📁 Local folders: Create a hidden folder in internal memory (e.g.,.scans – a point at the beginning makes it invisible to the file manager).
• ☁️ Cloud with E2E-Encryption: Proton Drive or Tresorit (paid, but with zero access for administrators).

Before sending the scan:

1. Delete. EXIF-data (meta-information with coordinates and phone model) EXIF Eraser.
2. If you need to send an email, use Protected PDF Password (the function is in Adobe Acrobat).
3. After use, remove the scans from the folder DCIM and clean the basket.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Failure analysis shows that 90% of scan problems are due to five common errors:

Pay special attention to scanning the page with the residence permit: many forget that the stamp should be fully visible, including the bottom line with the date. If the stamp partially goes beyond the edge of the page, make two scans - the main and additional as this area increases.

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Before sending the scan, check it through a prevalidation service, for example, Passport.Consultant, which will show whether your file meets the requirements of public services and banks.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions