HP Printer Not Scanning to Computer? Try These 7 Easy Fixes

If your HP printer is not scanning the computer, you’re not alone. Many HP users in the USA face this issue after a Windows update, printer driver problem, or connection glitch. Whether you use a USB cable or Wi-Fi connection, your HP printer may stop communicating with your PC for scanning tasks. Don’t worry — this blog will show you how to fix it with 7 simple troubleshooting steps that work for almost every HP model.

If you recently set up a new printer and are having problems scanning or connecting, you may also be dealing with an HP printer setup issue. Let’s start by checking the most common causes before diving into solutions.

Why Your HP Printer Won’t Scan to Computer

Scanning issues can come from several technical reasons. Here are the most common causes:

1. Outdated or missing scanner drivers
2. Connection problems (Wi-Fi, USB, or network)
3. HP Smart App or Windows Fax & Scan malfunction
4. Firewall or antivirus blocking HP scanning features
5. Corrupted printer software or firmware
6. Incorrect scan settings or permissions

Understanding the cause helps you choose the right fix faster. Now, let’s go through the solutions one by one.

1. Check the Printer Connection

Before making any advanced changes, confirm that your printer is connected properly:

• If connected via Wi-Fi: Make sure the printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network.
• If using USB: Try connecting to another USB port or cable.
• If it’s an Ethernet printer: Check the router connection and network light on the printer.

Tip: You can print a network configuration page from the printer’s control panel to confirm connectivity.

If the printer isn’t showing up in the HP Smart app or your computer’s “Devices and Printers” list, reconnect it and restart both the computer and the printer.

2. Restart HP Print and Scan Components

Sometimes, the simplest trick works best. Restarting all HP-related services can fix hidden communication issues.

Here’s how:

1. Turn off your HP printer and unplug it for 30 seconds.
2. Restart your computer.
3. Plug the printer back in and power it on.
4. Open HP Smart or HP Scan Doctor and test scanning again.

If the printer scans successfully after restart, you’ve just solved a temporary software glitch.

3. Run HP Print and Scan Doctor Tool

HP provides a free utility called HP Print and Scan Doctor, specifically designed to detect and fix issues automatically.

Steps to use it:

1. Download the tool from HP’s official support site.
2. Run the program and select your printer.
3. Click on “Fix Scanning.”
4. Wait while the tool checks the connection, driver, and software.

This tool can automatically resolve most issues like firewall conflicts, offline printer status, or missing scan registry entries.

4. Reinstall or Update HP Printer Drivers

If your HP printer still won’t scan, the problem might be with outdated or corrupted drivers. Updating or reinstalling drivers ensures full compatibility with your computer.

To reinstall drivers on Windows:

1. Go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on your HP printer → Select Remove device.
3. Download the latest driver package from HP’s official website.
4. Install the drivers and restart your system.

For Mac users:

1. Go to System Preferences → Printers & Scanners.
2. Remove and re-add your printer.
3. Install HP Easy Start for Mac to reinstall the scanner components.
   
    

5. Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

Security programs can sometimes block HP scanning processes from connecting to the network.

To fix this:

• Temporarily disable your antivirus or firewall and test the scanning.
• If it works, add HP Printer Assistant, HP Smart, and ScanToPCActivationApp.exe to the “Allowed Apps” list in your firewall.
• Re-enable your antivirus afterward.

Be cautious when changing security settings — make sure to restore protection after the test.

 

6. Verify Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Service

HP scanners rely on a Windows service called WIA (Windows Image Acquisition). If it’s turned off, your scanner won’t communicate with the PC.

To enable WIA:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Scroll down and locate Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
3. Right-click → Choose Properties → Set “Startup Type” to Automatic.
4. Click Start, then Apply → OK.

After enabling this service, open HP Smart or Windows Fax & Scan and try again.

7. Perform Regular HP Printer Maintenance

If your printer often runs into scanning or printing issues, it’s a sign that your device needs regular care and software cleanup. Simple maintenance can prevent most connectivity or performance errors.

You can follow this guide on HP printer maintenance to learn how to:

• Keep your printer drivers updated.
• Clean your scanner glass and feeder sensors.
• Check for firmware updates regularly.
• Avoid using outdated utility apps or duplicated software.

A well-maintained printer not only scans better but also lasts longer.

Use HP Smart App Effectively

The HP Smart app helps manage scanning, printing, and setup tasks easily — but many users skip its advanced features.
Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Sign in with your HP account to sync your devices.
• Use the “Scan to Email” and “Scan to PDF” options for quick sharing.
• Access HP Cloud services for remote scanning.
• Update the app regularly to fix bugs and improve compatibility.

If you encounter issues where the app can’t detect your scanner, remove and re-add the printer in HP Smart, then retry scanning.

When to Reset or Contact HP Support

If none of the above solutions work, perform a factory reset of your HP printer:

• Go to Settings → Printer Maintenance → Restore Defaults.
• Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi and reinstall the driver.

If the scanning problem persists, your device might have a hardware fault or software corruption. In that case, contact HP support in the USA for model-specific troubleshooting.

Other Common Related Issues

Many users who face scanning issues also experience related problems like:

• Printer not connecting to Wi-Fi
• Slow printing or freezing while scanning
• HP Smart app not recognizing the printer

These issues often point to an HP printer not responding error, which usually occurs after a driver crash or unstable connection. Solving one problem often fixes the other too — so always keep your software updated and perform maintenance regularly.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with an HP printer not scanning to a computer can be frustrating, but most of the time, it’s fixable with the right steps. Start by checking connections, drivers, and HP services, then move on to firewall and software settings.

A few minutes of troubleshooting can save hours of wasted effort and keep your printer running smoothly for years. If the issue repeats often, consider reinstalling HP Smart or scheduling routine maintenance.

With these seven proven fixes, your HP printer should be scanning to your computer again in no time.