---
Source: https://docs.microblink.com/blinkid/session-settings
Title: Session settings
Description: Reference for BlinkID session settings
---

# Session settings

Mobile and web SDKs use session settings to configure the scanning session.
[Scanning settings](./scanning-settings.md) are a part of session settings.

---

### `inputImageSource`

> **type**: string, **default**: `video`

Specifies whether the session receives images from a continuous camera feed or from a single photo.

Allowed values: `video`, `photo`.

- `video`: continuous camera feed; the SDK processes frames in real time until a result is produced
- `photo`: a single static image, such as one picked from a gallery or captured by your own camera logic

:::note

Setting `inputImageSource` to `photo` affects the behavior of several [scanning settings](scanning-settings.md):
`inputImageMargin`, `resultAggregationEnabled`, and `inputImageSelectionStrategy` are only applicable to `video` sources, while the `unknown` and `cropped` values of `cropType` are only applicable to `photo` sources.

:::

---

### `scanningMode`

> **type**: string, **default**: `automatic`

Controls whether the SDK scans one or both sides of a document.

Allowed values: 

- `automatic`: the SDK detects the document type and prompts the user to turn the document to scan the other side
- `single`: the SDK scans exactly one side, then returns a result regardless of document type

:::note

`single` mode imposes additional constraints on [scanning settings](scanning-settings.md).
`secondSideWithNoExtractableDataSkipped` and `passportDataPageScanOnly` must remain `true` in single mode.

:::

---

### `scanningSettings`

> **type**: object

See [Scanning settings](scanning-settings.md).

---

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## Platform specifics: timeouts

In addition to the session settings listed above, iOS also has the following timeout-related settings:

- `stepTimeoutDuration`
- `inactivityTimeoutDuration`

For a general discussion of timeouts, and how they can be configured (including for iOS), see [Timeouts](timeouts.md).


## Related articles

- [Scanning settings](scanning-settings.md)
- [How to scan a single-sided document](scan-single-side.md)
- [How to scan a double-sided document](scan-double-side.md)


Last updated on Jul 24, 2026