5 Ways to Fix Scanner Not Working on Windows 11

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

Fix 1: Remove and Re-Add Your Scanner

Removing the scanner from Windows and setting it up again can help resolve any problems caused by incorrect configuration. Here’s how you can go about it.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito open the Settings app and head toBluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.

Step 2:Select your scanner from the list.

Step 3:Click theRemovebutton at the top.

Step 4:Head back to the Printers & scanners menu. ClickAdd deviceand follow the on-screen prompts to set up your scanner again.

Fix 2: Configure Scanner Services

Windows requires certain services to run in the background for the scanner to function properly. For instance, Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) is a service responsible for acquiring images from your scanner.

If one of the scanner-related services fails, Windows may have trouble communicating with the scanner. Here’s what you can do to fix it.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Rto open the Run dialog. Typeservices.mscin the box and pressEnter.

Step 2:Scroll down to locate theWindows Image Acquisition (WIA)service. Double-click it to open its properties.

Step 3:Use the drop-down menu next toStartup typeto selectAutomatic. Then, hitApply, followed byOK.

You’ll need to repeat the above steps to configure the Remote Procedure Call, DCOM Server Process Launcher, RPC Endpoint Mapper, and Shell Hardware Detection services. After that, restart your PC and try using your scanner again.

Fix 3: Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

The hardware and devices troubleshooter on Windows can automatically detect and fix any common issues. You can run this Windows troubleshooter to fix any issues that may be preventing your scanner from working.

Step 1:Press theWindows key + Rto open the Run dialog. Typemsdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnosticin the box and pressEnter.

Step 2:In the Hardware and Devices window, clickNextto initiate the scan.

Fix 4: Run SFC and DISM Scans

Windows 11 may encounter such issues if some system files are corrupted or missing. In such cases,running the SFC (or System File Checker) scancan help you repair those damaged system files.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart iconand select theTerminal (Admin)option from the resulting menu.

Step 2:SelectYeswhen the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Step 3:Type the command mentioned below and pressEnter.

Next, you need to run the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scan. Besides scanning system files, it will also download internal system files from Microsoft’s server if required.

Open the Terminal app with admin rights again and run the following commands one by one.

Restart your PC after running the above commands. Following that, your scanner start working on Windows.

Fix 5: Update or Reinstall Scanner Drivers

Outdated or malfunctioning drivers can also prevent Windows 11 from connecting with your scanner. In most cases, you can resolve the issue by updating the driver.

Step 1:Right-click on theStart iconand selectDevice Managerfrom the list.

Step 2:ExpandImaging devices, right-click on your scanner, and selectUpdate driver.

Follow the on-screen prompts to finish updating the driver. If the issue persists even after this, there’s a chance that your scannerdriver is corrupt. In that case, you’ll have to uninstall the driver. Once removed, restart your computer to let Windows automatically install the missing driver when it boots next.

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Last updated on 19 May, 2024

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