The Scan app won’t open or it fails to find your scanner — most often because of a connection, driver, app, or service problem. If your Scan app doesn’t work in Windows 10, this guide explains the common causes and gives step‑by‑step fixes so you can scan again quickly.
You’ll learn the eight most frequent reasons the Scan app fails, exact steps to fix each one (menus, commands, and paths), and tips for testing and prevention.
Key Takeaway
Restart the scanner and PC, ensure the scanner is properly connected and uses the correct driver (WIA or vendor driver), then repair or reinstall the Windows Scan app and restart the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service — these actions resolve the majority of problems.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Scanner not powered or not connected | Power on the scanner, use a different USB cable/port or verify network connection and IP. |
| Missing or outdated scanner driver | Update or reinstall the scanner driver from Device Manager or the manufacturer website. |
| Corrupted or outdated Scan app | Repair, reset, or reinstall the Scan app from Settings > Apps or using PowerShell. |
| WIA (Windows Image Acquisition) service stopped | Open services.msc, set Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) to Automatic and start/restart it. |
| App lacks file system permission | Allow file system access in Settings > Privacy > File system for the Scan app. |
| Windows or app conflicts (antivirus, firewall) | Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall or add exceptions for the scanner and try again. |
| Scanner uses proprietary software (TWAIN/Network) | Use the vendor’s scanning utility or install the correct TWAIN/WSD driver. |
| Corrupted system files or app package | Run sfc /scannow, DISM, and reinstall the Scan app via PowerShell. |
Detailed Fixes for “Scan app doesn’t work in Windows 10”
1) Scanner not powered or not connected
Why this causes the problem
- The Scan app cannot detect the scanner if the device is powered off, disconnected, on a sleep state, or not reachable over the network.
Step-by-step solution
- Physically verify the scanner is powered on and not showing errors on its control panel.
- If USB: unplug and reconnect the USB cable. Try a different USB port (preferably a USB 2.0 port if the scanner is older).
- If network (Wi‑Fi/Ethernet): find the scanner’s IP address from its menu, then open Command Prompt and run ping
. If ping fails, confirm Wi‑Fi/Ethernet connectivity and restart router/scanner. - If the scanner has multiple connection modes (USB vs network), make sure Windows is using the same mode.
- After reconnecting, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners and click Add a printer or scanner to detect the device.
Notes/tips
- For USB devices use a direct port on the PC rather than a hub when diagnosing.
- On network scanners, ensure the scanner and the PC are on the same subnet.
2) Missing or outdated scanner driver
Why this causes the problem
- Windows needs a proper WIA/TWAIN/WSD driver for scanning; outdated or generic drivers may not support the scanner features or communication.
Step-by-step solution
- Open Device Manager (right‑click Start > Device Manager).
- Expand Imaging devices, Cameras, or Printers (your scanner may appear under different categories).
- Right‑click the scanner and choose Update driver → Search automatically for updated driver software.
- If Windows doesn’t find a driver, visit the scanner manufacturer’s support page and download the latest Windows 10 driver (WIA or TWAIN as specified).
- Install the downloaded driver, following manufacturer instructions. If instructed, unplug/replug the scanner during installation.
- After installation, restart your PC.
Notes/tips
- If installer offers both WIA and TWAIN options, prefer WIA for Windows apps, or TWAIN for legacy software that requires it.
- If an updated driver causes problems, use Device Manager > Uninstall device and check Delete the driver software for this device then reinstall an earlier stable version from vendor site.
3) Corrupted or outdated Scan app
Why this causes the problem
- The Microsoft Store Scan app can be damaged by file corruption or Windows updates; a corrupted package can fail to start or to detect devices.
Step-by-step solution
- Try to repair the app: Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find Windows Scan (or Scan), click Advanced options, then click Repair. Try the app.
- If Repair fails, click Reset in the same menu (this clears app data).
- If still broken, uninstall and reinstall:
- To uninstall: open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
- Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsScan | Remove-AppxPackage
- Reinstall from Microsoft Store: open Microsoft Store, search Windows Scan, and install.
- To uninstall: open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
- Sign out/in or restart PC after reinstall.
Notes/tips
- If Microsoft Store won’t install apps, sign in to the Store with your Microsoft account and ensure Windows Update is current.
4) Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service stopped
Why this causes the problem
- The WIA service handles communication between Windows and imaging devices; if stopped, many scanning apps cannot see the scanner.
Step-by-step solution
- Press Windows+R, type services.msc and press Enter.
- Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) in the list.
- Right‑click and choose Properties. Set Startup type to Automatic.
- If the service is stopped, click Start; if running, click Restart.
- Also confirm Shell Hardware Detection is running and set to Automatic.
- Retry the Scan app.
Notes/tips
- If WIA immediately stops after starting, check Event Viewer for errors: open Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and look for WIA-related entries.
5) App lacks file system or background permission
Why this causes the problem
- The Scan app may need permission to access your file system to save images; Windows privacy settings can block file access for Store apps.
Step-by-step solution
- Open Settings > Privacy > File system.
- Make sure Allow apps to access your file system is set to On.
- Scroll the list and ensure the Scan app is allowed.
- Also check Settings > Privacy > Background apps and confirm the Scan app is allowed to run in background if necessary.
- Verify Settings > System > Storage > Change where new content is saved if you use a non-default save location.
Notes/tips
- If saving to a network share, ensure the account used has write permission to that folder.
6) Conflicting antivirus, firewall, or security software
Why this causes the problem
- Security software may block communication between the Scan app and the scanner, especially for network scanners or when the app needs file access.
Step-by-step solution
- Temporarily disable third‑party antivirus and firewall (right‑click the antivirus icon > pause or disable).
- If the Scan app works with security software disabled, add exceptions:
- Allow the Scan app in your antivirus and Windows Defender Firewall: Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Allow an app through firewall.
- Add the scanner’s executable or port (for network scanning, common ports are 139, 445 or device‑specific).
- Re-enable your antivirus after testing.
Notes/tips
- Avoid leaving protection disabled; add specific rules instead.
7) Scanner requires vendor software or incompatible interface (TWAIN/WSD issues)
Why this causes the problem
- Some scanners rely on vendor utilities or drivers not fully compatible with Windows Store apps; network scanners may use WSD or proprietary protocols.
Step-by-step solution
- Check the manufacturer site for recommended scanning software and install it (e.g., Epson Scan, HP Scan and Capture).
- Try scanning with the vendor’s utility; if that works, the issue is with the Windows Scan app compatibility.
- For network scanners, install the WSD driver or use Add a printer or scanner to add the device as a network scanner.
- In some cases, set the scanner to use WIA in the device’s web interface or control panel.
Notes/tips
- Vendor apps often offer advanced features (duplex, ICC profiles) that the Windows Scan app lacks.
8) Corrupted system files or app package
Why this causes the problem
- System corruption can break APIs and the app platform; repaired system files often restore proper behavior.
Step-by-step solution
- Run System File Checker:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow.
- If SFC finds errors it can’t fix, run DISM:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- After DISM completes, run sfc /scannow again.
- Reboot and test the Scan app.
- If issues persist, consider creating a new user account to see if the problem is profile-specific.
Notes/tips
- These commands can take 10–30 minutes. Ensure a stable internet connection for DISM to download repair files.
Additional section — How to test and verify scanning works
Why this section helps
- After fixes, you should verify scanning both locally and to file.
Steps to test
- Use an alternative app: open Windows Fax and Scan (type “Fax” in Start) and choose New Scan to test.
- Try the vendor’s scanning utility — this helps isolate Scan app vs driver problems.
- Scan a single page using a basic setting (black & white, 200–300 dpi) and save to Pictures.
- Check the saved file for content and correct orientation.
- For network scanners, try scanning directly to an SMB share if supported by the scanner and confirm file appears on the destination PC.
Tips
- If all apps fail, the problem is almost certainly driver/hardware or network related.
- If vendor app works but Windows Scan doesn’t, focus on app repair/reinstall and permissions.
FAQ
How can I prevent Scan app problems in the future?
Keep Windows and your scanner drivers up to date, avoid using USB hubs for scanning, periodically repair/reset the app after major Windows updates, and use vendor drivers for best compatibility.
Can I scan from the command line?
Yes — some vendors supply command-line utilities. Windows doesn’t include a universal command-line scanning tool by default, but PowerShell scripts can automate vendor utilities or interact with WIA APIs for advanced users.
Why do I get blank pages when scanning?
Blank scans are typically caused by dirty scanner glass, incorrect scan settings (exposure or color format), or a driver communicating incorrectly — clean the glass first, then test with different settings or with the vendor utility.
Does Windows 10 still support older TWAIN-only scanners?
Many older scanners still work with TWAIN drivers, but you may need legacy software that supports TWAIN. If the vendor no longer supplies drivers, community drivers or running older scanning software in a virtual machine may be options.
When should I contact the scanner manufacturer or Microsoft?
Contact the manufacturer if hardware diagnostics or vendor apps fail, the scanner shows hardware errors, or you need device-specific drivers. Contact Microsoft if background services or Windows Store app platform issues persist after system repairs.
Conclusion
Most cases where the Scan app doesn’t work in Windows 10 are resolved by checking connections, updating or reinstalling drivers, repairing the Scan app, and ensuring the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service is running. Follow the step‑by‑step fixes above to isolate and fix the root cause so scanning works reliably again.
