How to Install a Scanner on Windows 11

How to Set Up a Scanner Connected by USB

1. Connect the cable. Plug the scanner’s USB cable into a free USB port on your computer. If the scanner has its own power adapter, connect that too, and check that the other end of the USB cable is firmly seated in the scanner.
2. Turn on the scanner. Wait for its lights or display to settle, because a scanner that is still warming up may not be detected yet. You may hear the usual Windows device-connected sound.
3. Let Windows 11 install it💿. A notification near the clock may say Windows is setting up the device. When it says the device is ready, the scanner is installed. If nothing appears after a couple of minutes, open Settings and check whether the scanner is listed under Printers & scanners. If it isn’t, use the manual method below.

This is the best method when it works, because Windows picks a compatible driver for you. To undo it later, open Settings, go to Printers & scanners, select the scanner and click Remove.

Automatic detection sometimes fails. Common causes are an older scanner, a faulty cable or port, or no suitable built-in driver in Windows. Before you add the scanner manually, try a different USB port and a different cable, and turn the scanner off and on again.

The steps below add the scanner manually:

1. Open Settings⚙️. Click the Start button⊞ and then the gear icon, or press Windows key + I on your keyboard.

   

2. Open the device list. Click Bluetooth🔷 & devices on the left side. Your connected devices appear on the right.

   

3. Open Printers & scanners. Check that your scanner isn’t already listed there.

   

4. Start a search. Click Add device. Windows takes a few seconds to search for hardware it can add.
5. Select your scanner. Wait for the scanner’s name to appear in the list, click it, then click Add device to install that model. Windows downloads and sets up the driver. When the scanner appears in the Printers & scanners list, you’re done.
   

   

6. Open the Add Printer window if the scanner doesn’t appear. After the search🔍 finishes, click The printer that I want isn’t listed. The link appears next to the search progress and opens a separate Add Printer window. That window can find multifunction devices and some standalone scanners that the first scan misses.
   

   

7. Choose manual settings. In the Add Printer window, select Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings, then click Next. The next screen asks you to choose a port.
   

   

8. Choose the port. Select the port your scanner uses. For a USB device it is often listed as something like USB001. If you aren’t sure, choose the USB entry. Click Next to see a list of manufacturers and models.
   

   

9. Get the manufacturer’s driver if your model isn’t listed. This step requires administrator privileges. A standard account prompts for an administrator’s password, so ask whoever manages the PC if you don’t have one. Download the⬇️ driver from the manufacturer’s support site for your exact model, and choose the Windows 11 version if there is one. Many packages are installers you can run directly. Others contain only driver files that you point to in the next step. If the package is a ZIP file, extract it first so you can browse to the files.
10. Point Windows to the driver. In the manufacturer and model list, click Have Disk, then click Browse and go to the folder where you saved the driver files. Select the driver’s setup information file and click OK. Your model should now appear in the list. If it doesn’t, the driver may not match your model or Windows version.
    

    

11. Finish and test. Follow the on-screen instructions, then click Finish when the wizard says it is done. To test the scanner, put a page on the glass, open the Scan app and run a preview. If the scan fails, restart the🔄 computer and the scanner and try again. A restart isn’t normally required, but it clears up many driver problems.
    

    

How to Add a Wireless Scanner

1. Connect the scanner to Wi-Fi📶. Turn the scanner on and join it to your home Wi-Fi📶 network. Check the scanner’s manual if you’re not sure how. Most scanners show a Wi-Fi light or a network status on their display once connected. Confirm that your computer is on the same network.
2. Open Settings⚙️. Click the Start button⊞ and then the gear icon, or press Windows key + I.
3. Open Printers & scanners. Go to Bluetooth🔷 & devices › Printers & scanners. Windows lists the devices it already knows about.
4. Search for the scanner. Click Add device. The search🔍 can take up to a minute, so stay on the page until it finishes.
5. Add it. When your scanner’s name appears, click it and select Add device. Windows installs the driver, and the scanner then appears in the Printers & scanners list.
   

   

If the scanner stays hidden, click The printer that I want isn’t listed and follow the prompts to add it manually. The Add Printer window offers an option to add a Bluetooth, wireless or network discoverable printer. It also lets you add a device by IP address or hostname, which helps if you know the scanner’s address from its display or your router’s device list. Also check that the scanner is still on the Wi-Fi network, because scanners often drop off after a router restart.

A wireless scanner removes cable clutter and lets you scan from anywhere on your network. The trade-off is that it depends on your Wi-Fi, so a weak signal or a router change can make the scanner disappear until it reconnects.

If you’re still stuck, check the scanner manual or the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting guidance. Have your exact model number ready, because drivers and instructions differ between models.

Quick Tips

• Keep drivers updated. In Settings, open Windows Update, then Advanced options and Optional updates, to see whether any driver updates are waiting. You can also download newer drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
• Use the Scan app. Type Scan in the Start menu search box to find it. In the app, choose your scanner, pick a file type and a resolution, and use Preview before you run the final scan.
• Install the Scan app if it’s missing. Download it for free from the Microsoft Store. Once installed, it appears in the Start menu like any other app.

What to do next

Open the Scan app, choose your scanner and run a preview to confirm it works. If the scanner still doesn’t appear, try the manufacturer’s driver package for your exact model. For more troubleshooting help, see the official Microsoft support page for scanning.