{"id":38690,"date":"2023-08-14T15:50:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T12:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=38690"},"modified":"2026-03-22T17:41:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T14:41:23","slug":"cant-find-scanner-software-or-dont-know-how-to-operate-the-scanner-to-scan-documents-and-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=38690","title":{"rendered":"What to Do If There Is No Suitable Program for Scanning With a Scanner or All-in-One Printer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If the manufacturer of your scanner or all-in-one printer did not provide convenient software for scanning documents and photos (images), you can use free tools: <strong>Windows Scan<\/strong>, <strong>Windows Fax and Scan<\/strong>, or <strong>NAPS2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong> These programs require a scanner driver to work correctly. If the manufacturer offers an official driver for your model, it is recommended to install that driver first. In cases where Windows installed the driver automatically and scanning works properly, reinstalling it is not necessary. However, if the scanner does not work or does not appear in the programs, install the original driver from the manufacturer. For instructions on how to install the driver correctly and solve problems that prevent the scanner from working, <a href=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=65389\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">read this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Recommended Free Scanning Programs:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#windows-scan\"><strong>Windows Scan<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 the official app from Microsoft. It can be downloaded for free from Microsoft Store in Windows 11, 10, and 8.1 (Windows activation is not required).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#windows-fax-and-scan\"><strong>Windows Fax and Scan<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 a standard program built into Windows 10, 8.1, 8, and 7. It does not require downloading and is ready to use immediately after the system is installed.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#naps2\"><strong>NAPS2<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 a free program for Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, and 7. It supports saving in PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and PNG formats, offers flexible settings, and includes optical character recognition (OCR).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"windows-scan\">How to Download and Use the Windows Scan App<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Windows Scan<\/strong> is the simplest way to scan in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If the app is not installed, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.microsoft.com\/detail\/9wzdncrfj3pv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">download it for free from Microsoft Store<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-77635 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan.png\" alt=\"Open Windows Scan, install the app, and launch it\" width=\"519\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan.png 519w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan-260x120.png 260w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan-160x74.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 519px) 100vw, 519px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Install the app and launch it. Then select the scanner and the scan source. If the document or photo is on the glass, <strong>Flatbed<\/strong> is usually selected. If the device has an automatic document feeder, <strong>Feeder<\/strong> or <strong>ADF<\/strong> is usually selected. After that, choose the file type and click the scan button.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-77636 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan1.png\" alt=\"Then select your scanner and the scan source\" width=\"670\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan1.png 670w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan1-560x376.png 560w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan1-260x175.png 260w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Scan1-160x107.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 670px) 100vw, 670px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For regular documents, <strong>300 dpi<\/strong> is usually enough. For photos, <strong>300\u2013600 dpi<\/strong> is usually selected. If you did not change the save folder, the finished file will most often be in <strong>Pictures\\Scans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If <strong>Windows Scan<\/strong> does not detect the device, cannot save the result the way you need, or if you need a multi-page PDF and more flexible settings, move on to NAPS2.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"windows-fax-and-scan\">How to Use Windows Fax and Scan<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Windows Fax and Scan<\/strong> is a classic built-in Windows program for simple scanning of documents and photos. This method is especially convenient for <strong>Windows 7<\/strong>, <strong>Windows 8<\/strong>, and <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong>. On some computers with <strong>Windows 10<\/strong>, the program is also available.<\/p>\n<p>Open the <strong>Start<\/strong> menu or Windows search, type <strong>Windows Fax and Scan<\/strong>, and launch the program. Click <strong>New Scan<\/strong>, select the device, then specify the profile, paper source, color mode, and resolution. If a preview is available, first click <strong>Preview<\/strong>, and then <strong>Scan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-77629 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Fax-and-Scan-en.png\" alt=\"Windows Fax and Scan\" width=\"298\" height=\"116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Fax-and-Scan-en.png 298w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Fax-and-Scan-en-260x101.png 260w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Windows-Fax-and-Scan-en-160x62.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 298px) 100vw, 298px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-58644 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-9.webp\" alt=\"In the software menu, click \u201cNew Scan\u201d to go to the settings\" width=\"523\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-9.webp 523w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-9-300x179.webp 300w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-9-260x155.webp 260w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-9-160x95.webp 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the program menu, click <strong>New Scan<\/strong> to go to the settings. The scanner must be connected to the computer.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-58645 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-10.webp\" alt=\"You can change scanner settings or click \u201cScan\u201d to scan documents\" width=\"515\" height=\"391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-10.webp 515w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-10-300x228.webp 300w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-10-260x197.webp 260w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lexmark-10-160x121.webp 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 515px) 100vw, 515px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can change the scanner settings or click <strong>Scan<\/strong> to scan documents.<\/p>\n<p>For documents, <strong>300 dpi<\/strong> is usually selected. For photos, <strong>300\u2013600 dpi<\/strong> is usually used. If the device has an automatic document feeder, make sure the correct paper source is selected. After scanning, the result will appear in the program window, and it can be saved to the desired folder on the computer.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"naps2\">How to Download and Use NAPS2<\/h2>\n<p><strong>NAPS2<\/strong> is a free scanning program that allows you to save files in <strong>PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and PNG<\/strong>, supports <strong>OCR<\/strong>, and is suitable for multi-page scanning. The latest version works with <strong>Windows 10<\/strong> and <strong>Windows 11<\/strong>, and for <strong>Windows 7\/8\/8.1<\/strong> the latest compatible version listed is <strong>7.5.3<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The NAPS2 download page is in English, but the program itself supports more than 40 languages, and the language can be selected during installation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naps2.com\/windows-scanning\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">To download the program, go to the official NAPS2 website<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For <strong>Windows 10\/11<\/strong>, download the current version of the program. For <strong>Windows 7\/8\/8.1<\/strong>, use version <strong>7.5.3<\/strong>; the link to it is on the same page.<\/p>\n<p>After installation, open NAPS2 and click <strong>Scan<\/strong>. When launched for the first time, the program will prompt you to create a scan profile. Select the device, page size, source, and resolution. If the scanner does not appear in the list, try switching the driver type: <strong>WIA Driver<\/strong>, <strong>TWAIN Driver<\/strong>, or <strong>ESCL Driver<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-77637 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-scan.png\" alt=\"After installation, open NAPS2 and click Scan\" width=\"515\" height=\"322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-scan.png 515w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-scan-260x163.png 260w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-scan-160x100.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 515px) 100vw, 515px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-77638 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-profile.png\" alt=\"The first time you launch it, the program will ask you to create a scan profile\" width=\"424\" height=\"458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-profile.png 424w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-profile-260x281.png 260w, https:\/\/drivernew.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/naps2-profile-160x173.png 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For documents, it is usually convenient to choose <strong>PDF<\/strong> and <strong>300 dpi<\/strong>. For photos, <strong>JPEG<\/strong> or <strong>PNG<\/strong> and <strong>300\u2013600 dpi<\/strong> are usually selected. After scanning, the result will appear in the program window, and it can be saved immediately. If needed, you can continue scanning and add new pages to the same document.<\/p>\n<p>NAPS2 is especially convenient if you need <strong>PDF<\/strong>, <strong>OCR<\/strong>, multi-page scanning, or more flexible settings than the built-in Windows programs provide.<\/p>\n<h2>If Scanning Does Not Work<\/h2>\n<p>If Windows detects only the printer but does not detect the scanner, check the driver. If the built-in Windows programs are not suitable, try NAPS2 and switch the driver type to <strong>WIA<\/strong>, <strong>TWAIN<\/strong>, or <strong>ESCL<\/strong>. If the automatic document feeder does not work, make sure that <strong>Feeder<\/strong> or <strong>ADF<\/strong> is selected as the source, rather than scanning from the glass.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>If there is no convenient manufacturer program for your scanner or all-in-one printer, start with the method that suits your version of Windows.<\/p>\n<p>For <strong>Windows 11<\/strong> and <strong>Windows 10<\/strong>, it is usually most convenient to use <strong>Windows Scan<\/strong>. For <strong>Windows 7<\/strong>, <strong>Windows 8<\/strong>, and <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong>, it is worth trying <strong>Windows Fax and Scan<\/strong>. If you need <strong>PDF<\/strong>, <strong>OCR<\/strong>, multi-page scanning, or more settings, use <strong>NAPS2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"social-share-buttons\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=38690\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=38690&text=What+to+Do+If+There+Is+No+Suitable+Program+for+Scanning+With+a+Scanner+or+All-in-One+Printer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=38690&title=What+to+Do+If+There+Is+No+Suitable+Program+for+Scanning+With+a+Scanner+or+All-in-One+Printer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=38690&description=What+to+Do+If+There+Is+No+Suitable+Program+for+Scanning+With+a+Scanner+or+All-in-One+Printer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pinterest<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If the manufacturer of your scanner or all-in-one printer did not provide convenient software for scanning documents and photos (images), you can use free tools: Windows Scan, Windows Fax and Scan, or NAPS2. Important: These programs require a scanner driver&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-p\"><a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/?p=38690\">Read more &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-software"],"modified_by":"DriverNew","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38690"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77641,"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38690\/revisions\/77641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drivernew.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}