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You can restore it from Settings, install it with DISM, or use matching optional-feature media if Windows Update cannot download the files. The correct capability name is Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0.
Install Windows Fax and Scan from Settings
This is the simplest method on a normally configured Windows 11 PC with internet access.
- Right-click Start and select Settings.
- Open System.
- Select Optional features.
- Under Add an optional feature, select View features.
- Search for Windows Fax and Scan, or search for fax.
- Select the checkbox beside Windows Fax and Scan.
- Select Next, review the feature, and select Add.
Microsoft’s current Windows 11 interface uses the button name Add. Older guides may say Install; they are describing an earlier version of the page.
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You can open the Optional features page directly by pressing Windows key + R, entering the following command, and selecting OK:
ms-settings:optionalfeaturesOn some Windows 11 installations that are not fully updated, the page is located at Settings > Apps > Optional features instead of Settings > System > Optional features.
Open the application after installing it
Search the Start menu for Windows Fax and Scan. You can also press Windows key + R, type:
wfs.exeThen press Enter. The traditional executable is:
C:WindowsSystem32wfs.exeIf wfs.exe is not present, the capability has not been installed successfully. Installing a scanner driver alone will not create it.
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Install it with DISM if it is missing from Optional features
If Windows Fax and Scan does not appear in the Settings list, use an elevated terminal. The command works in either an administrator Command Prompt or an administrator PowerShell window.
- Right-click Start.
- Select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
- Approve the User Account Control prompt.
- Run this command exactly:
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0Wait for DISM to reach 100 percent. Restart Windows if prompted, then try wfs.exe again.
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The equivalent PowerShell command is:
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name "Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0"Do not substitute FaxScanClient~~~~0.0.1.0. That is not the capability name listed in Microsoft’s current Windows 11 Feature on Demand catalog.
Check the capability status
To list the capabilities in the current Windows installation, run:
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DISM /Online /Get-CapabilitiesLook for Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0. Its status will indicate whether it is installed or still available to add.
Use installation media when Windows Update cannot provide the files
Optional features normally download their payload from Windows Update. That can fail on a PC that is offline, configured to use an unreachable WSUS server, restricted by company policy, or unable to contact Microsoft’s update endpoints.
In that situation, use a Windows 11 Languages and Optional Features ISO that matches the installed Windows image version. Mount the ISO in File Explorer. If Windows assigns it drive letter X:, run this command from an administrator terminal:
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0 /Source:X:LanguagesAndOptionalFeatures /LimitAccessReplace X: with the actual drive letter. The /Source option tells DISM where to find the Feature on Demand files. /LimitAccess prevents it from trying Windows Update or WSUS.
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The media must match the Windows image version being serviced. A mismatched ISO can result in errors or an incomplete installation. Windows Fax and Scan is a satellite Feature on Demand, so copying a random CAB file into a folder and installing it with DISM /Add-Package is not a reliable replacement. Microsoft recommends /Add-Capability for this type of feature.
Why Windows Fax and Scan may still be unavailable
Windows Update or WSUS is blocking optional content
Settings and the basic DISM command need access to a valid content source. Common errors include:
| Error | Typical cause |
|---|---|
0x800F0954 |
WSUS or Group Policy is preventing the capability payload from being retrieved |
0x800F0950 |
Windows could not obtain or install the optional feature files |
0x8024402C |
Windows Update connection or proxy problem |
0x80240438 |
Update service or endpoint cannot be reached |
0x8024500C |
Optional-content download or update-service failure |
On a work or school computer, do not change update policies without approval. An administrator may need to install the capability or provide matching Feature on Demand media.
Your organization has hidden the Optional features page
Organizations can hide Windows feature-management pages through Group Policy or device-management policies. One relevant policy is:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Control Panel > Programs > Hide “Windows Features”
Intune and other management systems can apply similar restrictions. If the page is missing entirely on a managed computer, contact the administrator rather than trying to bypass the policy.
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The PC uses a Snapdragon processor
Microsoft states that Windows Fax and Scan is unavailable on any edition of Windows 11 running on a Snapdragon processor. In that case, installing the capability through Settings or DISM is not a supported workaround.
Windows 11 in S mode also has platform restrictions around this feature. If the computer is running S mode, check Microsoft’s current S-mode compatibility information before spending time troubleshooting a missing package.
Windows Fax and Scan is different from Windows Scan
Windows Scan is a separate scanning app distributed through the Microsoft Store. It is suitable for scanning documents and pictures, but it does not restore Windows Fax and Scan or add its fax functionality.
If Start search cannot find Scan, install Windows Scan from the Microsoft Store. Choose this option when you only need basic scanning. Install the Windows Fax and Scan Feature on Demand when you specifically need the older fax-and-scan application.
| What you see | What it usually means |
|---|---|
wfs.exe is missing |
Windows Fax and Scan is not installed |
| Windows Fax and Scan opens, but no scanner appears | The application is installed; investigate the scanner, driver, connection, or device setup |
| Windows Scan works, but Windows Fax and Scan is absent | The Store app is installed, but the separate Windows capability is not |
Set up the scanner separately
Installing Windows Fax and Scan does not guarantee that Windows will detect a scanner.
- Connect the scanner or multifunction printer and turn it on.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the scanner or multifunction printer.
- Look for Scanner settings.
If it is not listed, check the USB cable or network connection, install the manufacturer’s Windows 11 driver, and confirm that the device is powered on. These steps address scanner detection; they do not install the Windows Fax and Scan capability.
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- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation (PC only), bleed through prevention/background removal, text enhancement, color drop to enhance scans. Software suite includes document management and OCR software. (4)
What changed in Windows 11?
Windows Fax and Scan was not generally removed from Windows 11. Microsoft lists it as the installable Feature on Demand Print Fax Scan, with the capability name Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0. The important change is that it is not preinstalled after Windows 11 version 22H2.
Microsoft’s catalog lists the feature for Windows 10 version 2004 and later, which includes supported Windows 11 releases. The listed package size is approximately 18.76 MB, although the actual space used can vary by release and configuration.
Avoid these outdated fixes
- Do not assume the application was permanently removed. It remains an available Windows capability on supported systems.
- Do not rely on Control Panel as the primary installation route. Current Windows 11 instructions use Settings > System > Optional features.
- Do not use the wrong capability name. Use
Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0. - Do not use
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeaturefor this package. Use DISM/Add-Capabilityor PowerShellAdd-WindowsCapability. - Do not expect a scanner driver to restore the app. Drivers and Windows capabilities are separate.
FAQ
Was Windows Fax and Scan removed from Windows 11?
No. Microsoft still provides it as the Print Fax Scan Feature on Demand. It is simply not preinstalled after Windows 11 version 22H2.
What is the correct DISM command?
Open Command Prompt or Terminal as administrator and run DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0.
Why is Windows Fax and Scan not listed under Optional features?
Windows Update or WSUS may be unable to provide the payload, an organization may have hidden the feature-management page, or the PC may use an unsupported platform such as Windows 11 on a Snapdragon processor.
Can I use Windows Scan instead?
Yes, if you only need to scan documents or pictures. Windows Scan is a separate Microsoft Store app and does not provide the same fax functionality.
Why does Windows Fax and Scan open without finding my scanner?
Installing the application and detecting a scanner are separate tasks. Check Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, then verify the connection and install the scanner manufacturer’s driver if necessary.
The Bottom Line
Start with Settings > System > Optional features > View features and add Windows Fax and Scan. If it is not listed or the download fails, run DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:Print.Fax.Scan~~~~0.0.1.0 as administrator. For offline or WSUS-managed PCs, use a matching Windows 11 Languages and Optional Features ISO. If the computer runs Windows 11 on Snapdragon, the feature is not available.
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