If you are wondering “How do I get my HP printer to scan?” we recommend that you read this article carefully as we guide you on how to get your HP printer to scan.
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How Do I Setup My HP Printer to Scan on Windows and Mac? [Solved] – How Do I Get My HP Printer To Scan
You can set up your HP printer to scan jobs or you can use the camera of your computer to capture photos and documents by doing the following:
1. Install HP Smart App on your Windows or Mac Computer
The HP Smart App needs to be installed on your Windows or Mac computer if you want to scan from your HP printer.
If you want to set up your HP device on your wireless network, then you should do the following first:
i. Place your HP printer as well as your PC close to your router.
ii. Turn on your computer’s Wi-Fi.
iii. Connect to the Wi-Fi network of your router.
iv. Disconnect the Ethernet cable that connects your computer to the wireless network if there is such a connection. Instead of the cable, the setup should be performed using a Wi-Fi connection.
v. Enable your computer’s Bluetooth to enable the HP Smart App to detect your HP printer.
Once you have done the above, follow the steps below to install HP Smart App on your computer:
Step 1: If you are using a Windows computer, click this link to download the app.
If you get a prompt to sign in with Microsoft so that the app can be used across devices, then you have the option of signing in or clicking “No, thanks”. Either way, you are good to go.
If you are using a Mac computer, click this link to download the app.
Note: Ensure that you disconnect any VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection before you start the download.
Step 2: Now, you need to create an HP account and then sign in if this is your first time setting up the HP Smart app. If you already have an account, you just have to sign in.
This is important as it will give you access to your printer’s full functions. Hence, you won’t have such access if you don’t sign in.
Step 3: Open the HP Smart app, and then click on “Add Printer”. Alternatively, you can click on the “plus” (+) sign. This action will cause the app to search for your HP printer.
Step 4: Once your printer is found, follow the on-screen instruction to finish the app setup.
If you can’t find your printer during the process of setting up the Wi-Fi, go to your HP printer and restore the Wi-Fi setup mode, then restart your printer, close and then reopen the HP Smart app, before trying to add your HP printer again.
2. Utilize the Scan Options on HP Smart App
The HP Smart App has options that you can use such as save, share as well as send scanned pictures or documents. The instructions below will guide you on how to use these options:
How to Scan On HP Printer using HP Smart App for Windows and Mac Computers
The steps below will guide you on how to scan on your HP printer using the HP Smart App:
Step 1: On the home screen of the HP Smart app, click on the tile labeled “Scan”.
Step 2: Once a screen appears that displays “Get Started”, click on “Get Started”.
You should bear in mind that this screen will display when any of the following options (scanner, camera, or import) is selected initially. Hence, the screen won’t appear subsequently.
Step 3: From the menu bar at the top of the screen, choose an option.
You can choose the scanner, camera, or import. But since we are guiding you on how to scan a document with an HP printer, hence, we will only focus on the scanner option.
- Scanner: Put the document you want to scan on the scanner glass of your HP printer. If your printer has an automatic document feeder (ADF), then the document should be placed in the ADF.
After doing the above, select the type of scan job, color, size, and resolution settings. Once you have made your selections, click on “Scan” found in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Step 4: Change the following settings from the app’s scan window: Source, scan area or page size, presets (photo or document type), resolution, and output type. Ensure that the settings you choose match the current scan job.
Step 5: Choose the icon for “Auto Enhancements” to toggle enhancement features off or on.
- Auto-Enhancements: This option sharpens the contrast and brightens the colors of the image automatically.
- Auto-Orientation: This option rotates the image to its right orientation automatically.
Step 6: Click on “Scan”. This action will cause a scan preview of how the job will look to be displayed.
Step 7: If a window for “Detect Edges” opens, then you need to alter the boundaries. To do this, simply click and drag the blue points. After that, click on “Apply”.
Step 8: Choose from the options & settings below when you reach the app’s preview window.
- Click “+ Add”, to add one more page.
- Reorder scans for multiple pages by dragging and then dropping the images.
- Click on the icon for “Menu” to edit, delete, or replace scanned items.
- To rotate an item, click on the icon for “Rotate”.
Step 9: From the window for “Edit”, crop, change color, rotate, add filters, markup, and text to enhance or adjust the file. Once you are done with the adjustments and enhancements, click on “Done”.
Step 10: Choose an option that will determine what will be done with the scanned file. You could choose from the following options:
- Print: This option allows you to send the scanned file to your HP printer for printing.
- Save: With this option, you simply save the file in the default folder (scanned documents go to the Windows documents folder while scanned photos go to the Windows picture library). You can choose a folder of your choice if you don’t want to use the default folders.
- Share: If you select this, you can send the scanned file as an email, or you can share it on social media such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. You can even share it on your cloud storage such as OneDrive or Box. There are other apps you can share with from the Microsoft or Apple Store.
- Shortcuts: Make a shortcut for saving, emailing, or printing files you scanned to a cloud account. You can also use a shortcut that already exists.
- Fax: This allows you to send your scanned file as fax.
Step 11: In the window for “Save or Share”, change the name of the file, the type, as well as the compression settings. After that, click on “Save”.
Step 12: After you’ve saved the scan, then click on “OK”.
Step 13: Go back to the app’s Home Screen by clicking the “Back” button.
We recommend you read this article: Scan with HP Printer [How To/Issues & Solutions] where we discuss other issues related to scanning with HP printers.
How to Save a Scan File as PDF (Single page or Multi-page) for Windows and Mac
Follow the steps below to make a PDF from a scanned file using the HP Smart app:
Step 1: On the home screen of the HP Smart app, click on the tile labeled “Scan”.
Step 2: Once a screen appears that displays “Get Started”, click on “Get Started”.
Note that this screen will display when any of the following options (scanner, camera, or import) is selected initially. Hence, the screen won’t appear subsequently.
Step 3: From the menu bar at the top of the screen, choose an option.
You can choose the scanner, camera, or import:
- Scanner: Put the document you want to scan on the scanner glass of your HP printer. If your printer has an automatic document feeder (ADF), then the document should be placed in the ADF.
After doing the above, select the type of scan job, color, size, and resolution settings. Once you have made your selections, click on “Scan” found in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Camera: This option allows you to use the camera of the computer or an attached webcam to capture, edit and then share or print a document or photo.
- Import: You can choose photos from your computer and then add a boundary to them. You can then use the app’s settings to edit, share and print the file.
Step 4: Alter the boundaries. To do this, simply click and drag the blue points. After that, click on “Apply”.
Step 5: If the document has multiple pages, in the window for “Preview”, click on “+ Add” to go back to the window for “Scan”. After that, load the following page to your printer’s scanner glass. Alternatively, you can use your computer’s camera to capture it.
This process should be repeated for all the original pages you want to scan.
Step 6: In the window for “Preview”, click on “Share” or “Save”. After that, change the name of the file and then choose “Basic PDF” to be the file type.
Step 7: Save the created PDF to any folder of your choice by clicking on “Save”. Alternatively, you can click on “Share” to share the file via email or other means.
How to Send Scan to Email on Windows and Mac
To send a scan to email with the use of the HP Smart app, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Use the Mail app already installed on your computer to set up your email account.
For Windows Computer
i. Open your computer’s Mail app.
ii. Click on “Settings”.
iii. Click on “Manage Accounts”.
iv. Click on “Add account”.
v. Choose the service provider.
vi. Enter your email address and then the password.
The setup is now complete.
For Mac Computer
i. Open your computer’s Mail app.
ii. Click on “Mail”.
iii. Click on “Add Account”.
iv. Choose the service provider.
v. Enter your email address and then the password.
The setup is now complete.
Step 2: On the home screen of the HP Smart app, click on the tile labeled “Scan”.
Step 3: From the menu bar at the top of the screen, choose an option.
You can choose the scanner, camera, or import:
- Scanner: Put the document you want to scan on the scanner glass of your HP printer. If your printer has an automatic document feeder (ADF), then the document should be placed in the ADF.
After doing the above, select the type of scan job, color, size, and resolution settings. Once you have made your selections, click on “Scan” found in the bottom right corner of the screen.
- Camera: This option allows you to use the camera of the computer or an attached webcam to capture, edit, and then share or print a document or photo.
- Import: You can choose photos from your computer and then add a boundary to them. You can then use the app’s settings to edit, share and print the file.
Step 4: Alter the boundaries. To do this, simply click and drag the circles found at the edges of the captured or imported item. After that, click on “Apply”.
Step 5: In the window for “Preview”, click on “Share”, then change the name of the file, the type, as well as the compression settings. After that, click on “Share”.
Step 6: Click on “Mail”.
A new email message will then open and the scanned files will be attached.
Step 7: Type the recipient’s email address in the field labeled “To”.
Step 8: Click on “Send”.
