---
Source: https://docs.microblink.com/blinkid/v8000/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.

The [extraction API](/extraction/api) does not use session settings, as it only accepts static images and has no concept of a session.

{/* TODO link to an article that explains integration — low-level (core/analyzer) vs. high-level (UX component) */}

## 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` and `resultAggregationEnabled` are not applicable to `photo` sources, and `inputImageCropped` is 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).

---

## 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