How to Use the Scanner on Your Printer: Setup & Troubleshooting for HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother

Updated November 2, 2026

Quick answer: Place the document face-down on the scanner glass (or face-up in the document feeder), then start the scan from the printer's touchscreen, your computer's scan app, or the manufacturer's app: HP Smart (now simply called the HP app in newer versions), Canon PRINT or IJ Scan Utility, Epson Smart Panel or Epson Scan 2, or Brother iPrint&Scan. If printing works but scanning doesn't, reinstall the full driver package, not just the print driver.

The Short Answer

Most all-in-one printers include a built-in flatbed or automatic document feeder (ADF) scanner. To scan, you place your document on the glass or in the feeder, then start the scan either from the printer's own touchscreen, from your computer's Scan app, or from the manufacturer's mobile app. This guide covers setup and scanning steps for HP, Canon, Epson, and Brother all-in-one printers, plus troubleshooting for common scanner problems.

How to Tell If Your Printer Has a Scanner

Not every printer includes scanning. Check for these signs: a flat glass panel with a lid on top of the printer (flatbed scanner), a small paper tray on top designed for feeding multiple pages (automatic document feeder), or "All-in-One" / "MFC" (multi-function) in the model name. If your printer is a single-function inkjet or laser printer with no glass panel, it does not have scanning capability. Brother model names make this easy: MFC and DCP models scan, while HL models are print-only.

How to Set Up Your Printer's Scanner (First-Time Setup)

1. Install your printer's full driver package (not just the print driver) from the manufacturer's website — this typically includes the scan utility software
2. Connect your printer to your computer via USB or the same Wi-Fi network
3. Open your computer's built-in scan app (Windows: "Windows Fax and Scan" or the "Windows Scan" app from the Microsoft Store; Mac: "Image Capture", the Printers & Scanners pane in System Settings, or Preview's Import from Scanner) and confirm your printer/scanner is detected
4. Alternatively, use the manufacturer's dedicated app (HP Smart / HP app, Canon IJ Scan Utility, Epson Scan 2, or Brother iPrint&Scan) for a more full-featured scanning experience

How to Scan on an HP Printer

1. Place your document face-down on the scanner glass (align with the corner marker) or face-up in the automatic document feeder if your model has one
2. Open the HP Smart app on your computer or phone (recent versions are branded simply as the HP app; the scan steps are the same)
3. Select your printer, then tap "Scan"
4. Choose the scan type (document or photo), adjust settings if needed, and click "Scan"
5. Save the scanned file as a PDF or image, or send it directly to email, cloud storage, or print

You can also start a scan directly from the printer's touchscreen on many HP OfficeJet and Envy models: press the Scan icon on the display, choose your destination (computer, email, or USB drive), and follow the prompts.

How to Scan on a Canon Printer

1. Place your document on the glass, face-down, or in the ADF face-up
2. Open Canon IJ Scan Utility (desktop) or the Canon PRINT app (mobile)
3. Select "Document" or "Photo" scanning mode
4. Click/tap "Scan" and choose your save location

Many Canon PIXMA models also let you initiate scans from the printer's own control panel: press the Scan button, select your computer as the destination, and the scan will process and save automatically.

How to Scan on an Epson Printer

1. Load your document on the glass or ADF
2. Open Epson Scan 2 or the Epson Smart Panel app
3. Choose Document Mode or Photo Mode depending on what you're scanning
4. Adjust resolution (300 DPI is standard for documents; 600 DPI+ for detailed photos)
5. Click "Scan" and select where to save the file

How to Scan on a Brother Printer

1. Place your document on the glass or in the ADF
2. Open Brother iPrint&Scan on your computer or phone
3. Select "Scan," choose your document type, and tap Scan
4. Alternatively, on the printer's own touchscreen: press Scan > Scan to PC (or Scan to USB/Email/Cloud) > select destination > Start

Document Scanning vs. Photo Scanning Settings

Setting	Document Scanning	Photo Scanning
Resolution	200-300 DPI	600-1200 DPI
Color mode	Black & white or grayscale	Full color
File format	PDF	JPEG or TIFF
Auto-crop/deskew	Usually on	Usually off (preserve original)

How to Connect Your Printer's Scanner to a Computer

If your scanner isn't showing up when you try to scan:

• USB connection: Make sure the USB cable is fully seated in both the printer and computer. Try a different USB port.
• Wi-Fi connection: Confirm both devices are on the same network. Some routers with "AP isolation" or guest network settings block device-to-device communication — check your router settings if the printer prints fine but won't scan.
• Reinstall the full driver package (not just "print driver only") from your manufacturer's support site — scanning requires a separate driver component that's sometimes skipped during quick installs.

Troubleshooting: Scanner Not Working

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix
Scanner not detected by computer	Driver not installed or outdated	Reinstall full driver package from manufacturer site
Printer works but scanner doesn't	Scan component missing from install	Run "modify/repair" on driver installation, or reinstall fully
Scan quality is blurry or has lines	Dirty scanner glass	Clean glass with a lint-free cloth and glass cleaner
ADF jams or misfeeds pages	Too many pages loaded, or dusty rollers	Load fewer pages at once; clean feed rollers
Scan-to-email not working	Email server settings not configured on printer	Set up SMTP settings via printer's web interface (EWS)
Scanned file is blank or black	Document placed wrong side up	Confirm correct orientation (usually face-down on glass, face-up in ADF)
Vertical lines only on ADF scans	Dirt on the narrow ADF scanning strip	Clean the thin glass strip to the left of the main glass

For a deeper walkthrough, see Why Is My Scanner Not Working But My Printer Still Prints? and our Printer Troubleshooting Center.

How to Clean Your Scanner Glass

Dust, fingerprints, or debris on the scanner glass will show up as lines, streaks, or spots on every scan. To clean:

1. Power off the printer and open the scanner lid
2. Use a soft, lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water or a dedicated glass cleaner (avoid spraying directly on the glass — spray the cloth instead)
3. Wipe gently in one direction, then dry with a clean, dry section of the cloth
4. For the underside of the lid (the white or black backing), wipe gently as well — buildup here can also cause scan artifacts

If your printer has a document feeder, also wipe the narrow glass strip beside the main glass; that strip is what the feeder scans through, and a single speck there causes a line down every page. For related maintenance, see our guide on How to Clean Printer Ink Cartridges.

Scan to Email and Scan to Cloud Setup

Most business-oriented all-in-one printers support scanning directly to an email address or cloud storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) without going through a computer. This is typically configured through the printer's built-in web interface (accessed by typing the printer's IP address into a browser) under a "Scan Settings" or "Network Scan" section. You'll need your email provider's SMTP server details, or you can sign in directly to supported cloud services from the printer's touchscreen on many newer models. Many email providers, including Gmail, no longer accept a plain account password from devices; you may need an app password or the manufacturer's cloud relay service instead.

How do I scan multiple pages into one PDF?

Use the document feeder if you have one, or choose the "add page" or multi-page PDF option in your scan app, then save once at the end.

In HP's app, tap the plus icon to add pages before saving. In Canon IJ Scan Utility, use Document mode with PDF (multiple pages) as the file format. In Epson Scan 2, choose PDF and use "Add/Edit Page". In Brother iPrint&Scan, scan each page and save as a single PDF. Our guide on scanning to a computer, PDF, email or phone covers each destination in more detail.

Can I scan with my phone instead of my printer?

Yes. For everyday documents, your phone's built-in scanner is often good enough and faster than walking to the printer.

On iPhone, the Notes and Files apps both have a document scanner; on Android, Google Drive and many camera apps include one. A flatbed scanner still wins for photos, fragile originals and anything that needs accurate color or a true 300+ DPI. See How to Scan a Document on iPhone for the steps.

Why is my scanned PDF so large?

It's almost always scanned at too high a resolution or in full color when grayscale would do.

Drop documents to 200-300 DPI and grayscale or black-and-white, and the file size usually falls dramatically. Save high-resolution color scans for photos and artwork.

Summary

Scanning with your printer is straightforward once the correct driver is installed: place your document on the glass or in the automatic feeder, then start the scan from your printer's touchscreen, your computer's scan app, or the manufacturer's mobile app (HP Smart, Canon IJ Scan Utility, Epson Scan 2, or Brother iPrint&Scan). If scanning doesn't work but printing does, the most common fix is reinstalling the complete driver package rather than just the print-only driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need special software to scan with my printer?

No. Windows and macOS both include basic scan apps. The manufacturer's app adds features like multi-page PDFs, text recognition (OCR) and scan-to-cloud.

Why can my printer print but not scan?

Usually the scan driver wasn't installed, or your network blocks the scan connection. Reinstall the full driver package and make sure the computer and printer are on the same network, not a guest network.

Which way does paper go in the scanner?

Face-down on the glass and face-up in the automatic document feeder on most models. Check the small icon near the glass or feeder if unsure.

What DPI should I scan documents at?

200-300 DPI is enough for documents and keeps files small. Use 600 DPI or more for photos you plan to enlarge or reprint.

Does low ink or toner stop the scanner from working?

On some all-in-ones, an empty or unrecognized cartridge triggers an error that blocks every function, including scanning. Replacing the cartridge clears it. Use our Find Ink by Printer tool to get the right one.

Need supplies for your all-in-one printer? Browse Castle Ink's full range of remanufactured ink and compatible toner cartridges at castleink.com/collections/all, look up your exact model with Find Ink by Printer, or find recommended all-in-one printers with scanning on Amazon (all-in-one printer scanners). Our Best Printers Buying Guide also covers all-in-one picks.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Castle Ink earns from qualifying purchases.

Need a copy, not a scan? See how to make copies on a printer, including double-sided and ID card copies and fixes for blank or streaky copies.

Related Reading

• Why Is My Scanner Not Working But My Printer Still Prints?
• How to Scan From Your Printer to Computer, PDF, Email or Phone
• How to Scan a Document on iPhone