If your HP printer won’t scan to computer, follow the instructions shared in this article to fix the problem.
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Error Messages You Will Get when your HP Printer Won’t Scan to Computer
If your HP printer is not scanning to a computer, then your device might display any of the scanning error messages below:
i. Scan not found
ii. Scan failed
iii. Scanning is currently unavailable etc.
HP Printer Won’t Scan to Computer [Solutions]
If you can’t scan with your HP printer, then try the solutions below to fix the problem:
1. Check if your HP Printer is Compatible with Windows 10
If your HP printer won’t scan after Windows 10 update, then it might be that your HP printer isn’t compatible with Windows 10 which is why you can’t scan from HP printer to computer.
Therefore, to check if your HP printer is compatible with Windows 10 currently running on your computer, go to this webpage. Once the page opens, check the listed printers in your printer model series. If you can’t find your HP printer in the list, then it means your device isn’t Windows 10 compatible.
Hence, you will have to get a new HP printer if you want to still use Windows 10. However, if you want to keep using your printer, then you can downgrade to the previous Windows you had installed on your computer.
2. Reset your HP Printer
A good number of times, resetting your HP printer might just be the trick that will get your device back to its scanning ways. All you need to do is turn off your printer, remove the power cable from your printer and then plug the cord back in. Wait for at least 10 minutes and at most 20 minutes before turning on the printer.
This reset process is also called power cycling and is one of the ways to fix the problem of your HP printer refusing to scan.
Speaking of resetting an HP printer, we recommend you read this: How to Reset HP Printer [Detailed Guide] where we discuss different types of HP printer reset.
3. Use Automated Tools
If your printer won’t scan to your Windows computer, then you can resolve the issue using the HP Print and Scan Doctor. On the other hand, if your HP printer won’t scan on Mac, then you can resolve the issue using the Diagnose & Fix tool in the HP Smart App.
How to Use HP Print and Scan Doctor to Fix Scanning Problem
If your HP printer is not scanning, follow the steps below to fix the problem using the HP Print and Scan Doctor:
Step 1: Go to this site to download the HP Print and Scan Doctor.
Step 2: After downloading the app, from your computer’s download location, run “HPPSdr.exe”.
Step 3: Once the HP Print and Scan Doctor opens, click on “Start.
Step 4: Select your HP printer.
- If you can’t find your printer in the list, turn on your printer and then click on “Retry”.
- If you have a problem with any connection, follow the directions in the HP Print and Scan Doctor.
Step 5: Click on “Fix Scanning”.
If your HP printer is unable to scan, the steps above should resolve the problem. However, if it doesn’t try using HP Smart Diagnose & Fix.
How to Use HP Smart Diagnose & Fix to Fix Scanning Problem
If your HP printer won’t scan on Mac or Windows, follow the instructions below to fix the problem using the Diagnose & Fix tool found in the HP Smart app:
1. Install HP Smart App
To use the Diagnose & Fix tool, you need to download the HP Smart app first and then install it if you don’t have it. Hence, click here: Scan With HP Printer – Install HP Smart App on your Window or Mac Computer, and follow the steps we shared in the “Install the HP Smart App on your Windows or Mac Computer” section.
2. Run the Diagnose & Fix Tool
How to Run the Diagnose & Fix
If your HP printer scanner is not working, follow the steps below to run the Diagnose & Fix to resolve the problem:
Step 1: Open the HP Smart app.
Step 2: Open the Diagnose & Fix tool,
For Windows: Click on the icon for “Diagnose & Fix” in the lower-left corner.
For macOS: Click on your HP printer, and click on “Printers” located in the upper menu bar. After that, click on “Diagnose & Fix”.
Step 3: Click on “Start”.
While running the troubleshooter, ensure that you don’t close the HP Smart app.
Step 4: Follow any on-screen instructions that you might find if the app detects any issue.
If after using the automated tool you still can’t get your HP printer to scan, then you need to try the next solution.
4. Uninstall and then Reinstall your HP Printer Software
If your HP printer scan is not working, then uninstalling and then reinstalling the software of your printer might solve the problem.
How to Uninstall and then Reinstall HP Printer Software
To uninstall and then reinstall HP printer software, follow the steps below:
Caution: Ensure that during the uninstallation process you don’t disconnect your HP printer from the connected network.
Step 1: If there is any USB cable connected to your printer, remove it.
Step 2: Go to the Windows search bar on your computer.
Step 3: Search for “Control Panel”.
Step 4: Click on “Control Panel” from the results.
Step 5: Under “Programs and Features” or “Programs”, click on “Uninstall a program”. This action will cause a list showing all the installed programs on your computer to be displayed.
Step 6: Click on the name of your HP printer. When you do this, a uninstall confirmation window will open.
Step 7: Click “Yes”. This will remove your HP printer software.
Step 8: Ensure that your printer is on, the main tray is loaded with plain paper, and that there are cartridges installed in the printer.
Step 9: Using any web browser on your computer, visit 123.hp.com. The service will then automatically find your printer’s app or driver that matches the current version of your computer’s operating system.
Step 10: Follow the on-screen instructions to download as well as install the software.
Step 11: Ensure that you choose the “Full Software” or “HP Smart” option to enable your printer to function optimally.
Step 12: Now set up your printer’s connection by following the steps on the screen.
Once the software is fully installed, try to scan a document.
If it scans, then the problem has been fixed.
However, if you still can’t scan from your HP printer, then you should try the next solution.
If your HP printer is canceling the scan, this solution should fix the problem.
If you are experiencing any other scanning issues on your HP printer, read this article: Scan with HP Printer [How To/Issues & Solutions] to learn how to resolve the issue.
5. Confirm that the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) is enabled
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) is a service from Windows that enables your scanner to communicate with your computer. Hence, if Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) is not enabled, it could be the reason why your HP printer won’t scan anymore.
Therefore, you need to confirm that it is enabled, and if it is not, then you need to enable it.
How to Enable Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
To enable Windows Image Acquisition, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to the Windows search bar on your computer.
Step 2: Search for “View local services”.
Step 3: Click on “View local services” from the results shown.
Step 4: Scroll through the list of services until you see “Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)”.
Step 5: Check the values for “Status” as well as “Startup Type”.
- If the value for “Status” is “Running” or “Started”, and the value for “Startup Type” shows “Automatic”, then it means the service is functioning properly. Hence, the WIA is not the reason why your HP printer won’t scan. Therefore, skip to the next solution.
- If the value for “Status” shows “Disabled” or you don’t find any value, simply right-click on “Windows Image Acquisition (Wia), then click “Properties”, click “General” tab, and then from the dropdown menu under Startup Type, choose “Automatic”. After that, click on “Start”.
If you find the button labeled “Start” grayed out, then you should return to the menu for “Services”. Now, ensure that “Shell Hardware Detection”, “Remote Procedure Call”, “DCOM Server Process Launcher”, and “RPC Endpoint Mapper” are all running and their settings are on “Automatic”. Once you’ve done this, start Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
Try to scan a document, if it scans, then the problem has been fixed.
However, if your HP printer scan is not working after trying the solution above, then you should try the next solution.
6. Turn off your Computer’s Firewall
This solution will work best for HP network printers that are having scanning problems. Windows 10 computers usually come with the Windows Defender Firewall. This program sometimes blocks network communications and printer ports. Hence, turning it off might fix the problem if your HP printer scan is not working.
How to turn off the Windows Defender Firewall on your Windows 10 Computer
To turn off Windows Defender Firewall, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open Cortana.
Step 2: In Cortana’s search box, type “Firewall”.
Step 3: Click on “Windows Defender Firewall”.
Step 4: Click on “Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off”.
Step 5: Choose the option “Turn off Windows Defender Firewall”.
Apart from the Windows Defender Firewall, the HP Print and Scan Doctor also comes with a firewall. The same can be said of anti-virus software from third parties. Therefore, you need to turn those firewalls off as well to ensure that they aren’t responsible for why your HP printer is not scanning.
How to Turn Off HP Print and Scan Doctor Firewall
To turn off HP Print and Scan Doctor Firewall, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open HP Print and Scan Doctor.
Step 2: Click on “Network”.
Step 3: Click on “Troubleshooting Firewalls”.
Step 4: Turn off the selected firewalls by pressing the button labeled “Disable”.
Step 5: Press “OK”.
7. Run System File Checker
Another reason why your HP printer is not scanning might be due to system files that got corrupted. Therefore, you can fix these corrupted files by performing a scan using the System File Checker.
How to Run System File Checker
To run system file checker, do the steps below:
Step 1: In the search box, type “cmd”.
Step 2: Click on “Command Prompt”.
Step 3: Click on “Run as administrator”.
Step 4: Type “sfc/scannow”.
Step 5: Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard.
Step 6: Allow the scan to run the verification until it is 100% complete. Take note that this process could take 30 minutes to complete.
Step 7: Once the scan is complete, type “Exit”.
Step 8: Press the “Enter” key on your keyboard. This action will close the Command Prompt window.
Step 9: Restart your computer.
Step 10: Try to scan a document.
If this solution still doesn’t get your HP printer to scan, then you need to contact HP Support for further assistance.
If your HP printer won’t scan or copy or it can print but not scan, then you can use the solutions above as well.
