6 Ways to Fix Scanner Not Working with Windows

There are many reasons your scanner is not working with Windows. This can include anything from disconnected wires, improper scanner installation, and more. In this tutorial, we’ve compiled a list of all of the potential fixes that have proven to be effective for scanners not working in Windows.

First, examine the connection between the scanner and your computer:

Drivers allow the operating system to properly access and manage the attached devices. If you installed the drivers long ago, there’s a chance they are corrupted or out of date, preventing the system from properly connecting with your scanner. The best way to fix this is to update the driver.

Tip: check out how to install unsigned drivers in Windows, if you want to learn.

Most of the time, configuring a scanner is as easy as connecting it to your device. Your PC should configure the scanner automatically after you plug it in. This process can, however, occasionally go wrong for no apparent reason. Below, we show how to manually add your scanner from the Windows Settings app.

Note: Although we tested the procedures with a wired scanner, they should also function similarly to those for wireless scanners. If you’re still having trouble connecting your wireless scanner to your home network and PC, check the scanner’s handbook or manufacturer’s website for extra information.

For images to display on your screen, the Windows Image Acquisition service must first receive them from a hardware device, such as a camera or scanner.

Your PC won’t be able to receive images from your scanner or camera if you’ve disabled this service. You can restart the Windows Image Acquisition service here if you unintentionally deactivated it to fix the scanner not working on Windows issue:

Have a QR code you want to scan instead? You don’t even need a mobile device for that, as you can scan with your Windows device.

You can also change the scanner’s compatibility mode to fix a scanner not working with Windows. If you’re unaware, Windows’ compatibility mode enables outdated and old programs to function flawlessly on a new OS. If you’re using the scanner app on Windows 11, this will fix your problem.

Microsoft includes a hardware and device troubleshooter tool to help you fix any hardware issues. This is one of the troubleshooting options available in the settings menu of Windows 10.

While Microsoft has officially discontinued the Hardware troubleshooter in Windows 11, it is still accessible via a command.

Getting a strange message while browsing on your PC? Here’s how to fix ERR_CONNECTION_TIMED_OUT on Windows.

You can create a shortcut for the Windows Fax and Scan app by navigating to “C:/Windows/system32.” Change the drive letter depending on where your operating system is installed. Once there, find and right-click on the “WFS.exe” file and select “Create Shortcut.” The shortcut will be placed on your desktop right away.

You should go to a specified directory on your computer to find your scanned files. Open File Explorer and go to “C:\Users\username\Documents\Scanned Document.” Replace “username” with your own.

You can use your phone or tablet’s camera to take a photo and convert it to PDF. For that, we recommend checking out the best document scanner apps for Android.

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Farhad Pashaei.

As a technophile, Farhad has spent the last decade getting hands-on experience with a variety of electronic devices, including smartphones, laptops, accessories, wearables, printers, and so on. When he isn’t writing, you can bet he’s devouring information on products making their market foray, demonstrating his unquenchable thirst for technology.

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