How to Enable Scan to Computer in Windows 11

A scanner can scan data and store it on the PC in document or image format. This can be an easy way to save and share your documents easily. Everything is fine until you start facing problems with your scanner. At times it may happen that you may not be able to scan through the scanner. 

Often, the issue may be encountered when your computer cannot scan documents, which may be because the PC does not recognize the scanner. Other reasons to face this issue include improper cable connections, outdated printer drivers, insufficient RAM, the problem with the wireless connection, shell hardware detection service-disabled, WIA service-disabled, and others. 

If you face problem scanning documents on Windows 11, then know that troubleshooting this issue won’t be difficult; all you need is a correct guide to help you with that. In this article, we will discuss how you can enable scan to computer in Windows 11. 

Ways to Enable Scan in Windows 11

There are various ways to enable the scan in Windows 11, which you can find in the article below-

1. Connect your Scanner to PC

The first way to enable scan to computer feature in Windows 11 is to set up the scanner. To do so, follow the steps given below-

1. Go to the Start menu, search Printers and Scanners, and open it.
2. Here, tap on Add Device option. Now, follow the on-screen instructions to add the scanner to your PC.
3. Then open the Start Menu again, and search for and open Windows Fax and Scan.
4. Select the New scan option from the top.
5. Now, select that document you want to scan and click on the Preview to see what will be the scanned document like.
6. At last, click on the Scan to scan the document.

2. Run Scanner in Compatibility Mode

Many times the issue may be encountered due to compatibility issues. If the scanner software is incompatible with your Windows version, you will likely face this issue.

You should try running the scanner in compatibility mode and then check if the issue is encountered or not. You can do so by following the steps given below-

1. On your desktop, right-click on the Printer/Scanner icon, and then click on Properties.
2. Here, head to the Compatibility tab. Under the Compatibility Mode, check the check box saying  Run this program in compatibility mode.
3. Next, select the Windows version according to your preference. 
4. Click on Apply and then on OK to save changes. Once done, restart the PC, and the issue shouldn’t be encountered. 

3. Ensure Wireless Connection is Stable

If you face an issue with the wireless network, then that may also prevent your scanner from scanning documents on your PC. This issue generally occurs when you use a wireless printer. You should ensure that your printer and computer are close to Wi-Fi. 

If the computer and printer are in close range with your Wi-Fi but still face the issue, then you should try restarting your Wi-Fi. You can connect to another Wi-Fi network if you are facing this issue. 

4. Update Printer Drivers

Updating your printer drivers can also help fix the issue. The steps for updating your printer drivers are as follow-

1. Press Windows + X key combo and then click on Device Manager.
2. Expand the Printer section by double-clicking on it.
3. Then, right-click on your printer/scanner, and select the Update driver option.
4. Now, click on Search automatically for drivers to update your drivers. 

5. Decrease the Resolution of the Scan

If the user faces a scanning issue due to the device memory, they can reduce the scan resolution. This will make the file size low, and the device will easily scan it in low memory. The steps for this are as follows-

1. Go to the Microsoft Store, and download the Windows scanner on Windows 11 from there.
2. Then press the Windows key, search for the Scan and open it.
3. Now, change the File Type and then change the Resolution to low.
4. Try scanning now, and check if the issue is fixed or not. 

6. Enable Essential Service

If the service is not running properly, it may also cause this issue. You should try starting Shell Hardware Detection and Windows Image Acquisition service. Doing this will most probably help fix the issue. To enable these essential services, follow the steps given below-

1. Open Start Menu, search for Services, and open it.
2. Here, search for the Shell Hardware Detection service. Right-click on service and then click on Start.
3. Now, do the same for the Windows Image Acquisition service.

Note- The Start option will be greyed out if the service is already running. If that is the case, you must click on the Restart option. 

Once you do so, the issue should be fixed. You should now be able to scan documents on Windows 11.

Conclusion

Most probably, issues with the scanner are caused due to issues with drivers or when essential services are disabled. If you have been facing this issue, then the above steps will help you solve it. However, if you still encounter it, you should try checking for hardware-related issues and contact customer support of your scanner to resolve the issue.