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Windows 11 can scan from a USB, wireless, Bluetooth, or network scanner through the built-in Scan app. The basic process is straightforward: connect the scanner, add it under Printers & scanners, choose the correct paper source, select an image format, and start the scan.
This guide covers physical scanners and the scanner component of multifunction printers. It also explains what to do when Windows cannot find the device, where scans are saved, and why the Windows Scan app does not currently offer PDF as a file-type choice.
1. Connect the scanner to Windows 11
For a local USB scanner, turn it on and connect its USB cable to the Windows 11 computer. Windows will normally detect the scanner and install it automatically.
For a wireless or network scanner, turn on the scanner and connect it to the network. If both the scanner and the Windows 11 computer use Wi-Fi, they must be connected to the same wireless network or SSID. A scanner connected to a guest network while the PC uses the main network may not be discoverable.
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2. Add the scanner in Settings
If Windows does not add the scanner automatically, add it manually:
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Open Printers & scanners.
- Under Add printer or scanner, select Add device.
- Wait while Windows searches for nearby, USB, wireless, or network devices.
- When your scanner appears, select Add device beside it.
Do not use the older Windows 10 path Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. On Windows 11, the current path begins with Bluetooth & devices.
If Windows cannot find the scanner
In the same Settings area, select Add a new device manually beside The printer that I want isn’t listed. Follow the instructions in the Add Printer window. Although the wording refers to a printer, this is the manual discovery route Microsoft provides when the normal search does not find the device.
For a network scanner, first check that the scanner is switched on and that the computer and scanner are on the same Wi-Fi network. For a USB model, reconnect the cable and give Windows another moment to detect it.
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Check that installation succeeded
Return to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Confirm that the scanner is listed before opening the scanning application.
Multifunction printer warning
A scanner built into an all-in-one printer may be listed only by the printer’s name. Select that printer in Printers & scanners. If Windows recognizes the scanner component, its device page includes Scanner settings.
3. Open the Windows Scan app
- Right-click Start and select Search.
- Type Windows Scan in the Type here to search box.
- Under Apps, select Scan.
The search result may be called Scan, even though Microsoft refers to it as the Windows Scan app. If it does not appear, install Windows Scan from the Microsoft Store. Windows 11 does not guarantee that this app is preinstalled.
The documented basic workflow uses Windows Scan. It does not require opening the older Windows Fax and Scan program.
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4. Place the document correctly
Prepare the item according to the type of scanner:
| Scanner type | How to place the item |
|---|---|
| Flatbed | Place the document or picture face down on the glass and close the cover. |
| Document feeder | Put the pages into the feeder. Check the scanner’s documentation to confirm whether pages should face up or face down. |
| Both flatbed and feeder | Use either method, then choose the matching source in the Scan app. |
5. Scan a document or picture
- Open the Scan app and stay on its Scan page.
- Open the Scanner drop-down menu and select the installed scanner.
- Open Source and select Flatbed, Feeder, or Auto-configured.
- Open File type and choose JPEG, PNG, TIFF, or Bitmap.
- Select Show more.
- Under Save file to, select the location link.
- In Select Folder, choose the destination and select Select Folder.
- Select Scan at the bottom of the window.
Source matters. Auto-configured is usually suitable, but it may not match the way you placed the item. A page on the glass should use Flatbed; pages in the automatic document feeder should use Feeder. Choosing the wrong source can prevent a scan or make Windows look in the wrong place.
Which file type should you choose?
| Format | Useful for |
|---|---|
| JPEG | Photos and smaller image files. |
| PNG | Clear documents, graphics, and screenshots. |
| TIFF | Higher-quality image archiving and applications that support TIFF. |
| Bitmap | Basic uncompressed image output. |
The current Windows Scan instructions document image formats only: JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and Bitmap. The app’s File type menu should not be described as having a direct PDF option.
6. Find the scanned file
When the scan finishes, Windows automatically saves it in the folder you selected. To find it, right-click Start, select File Explorer, and navigate to that folder.
If you did not choose a folder, look in Pictures\Scans.
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After the scan, the top of the Scan app provides two useful controls:
- View opens the result in Photos.
- Close finishes the current scan job and prepares the app for another scan job.
How to create a PDF when Windows Scan saves an image
Windows Scan’s documented file types do not include PDF. If you need a PDF, one separate option is Windows 11’s camera-based document workflow, provided the computer’s camera supports it:
- Open the Camera app.
- Choose Document mode, if that mode is available.
- Select Take document.
- Open the scanned document’s ellipsis menu and select Export.
- Use the Print dialog to print or save the capture as a PDF.
This is a camera capture, not a hardware-scanner scan, and it does not add PDF output to Windows Scan. If the Camera app does not offer Document mode, that camera may not support document scanning.
Quick fixes for common scanning problems
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| The scanner does not appear in Scan | Confirm it is listed under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. If not, use Add device and then the manual-add option if necessary. |
| A wireless scanner cannot be found | Make sure the scanner and PC are connected to the same wireless network or SSID. |
| The Scan app is missing | Search for Windows Scan. If it is not installed, get Windows Scan from the Microsoft Store. |
| The wrong side or source is scanned | Match Source to the physical setup: Flatbed for the glass or Feeder for the document feeder. |
| The file cannot be found | Check the folder selected under Show more > Save file to. If none was selected, check Pictures\Scans. |
| An all-in-one printer appears without scanner controls | Open the printer’s device page in Printers & scanners and look for Scanner settings. |
FAQ
Does Windows 11 have a built-in scanning app?
Windows 11 supports the Windows Scan app, which appears in search as Scan. It may not be installed on every system, so install Windows Scan from the Microsoft Store if it is missing.
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Where is the scanner setting in Windows 11?
Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners. Select Add device to add a scanner, or select an installed multifunction printer and look for Scanner settings.
Why is my scanner not showing up on Wi-Fi?
The scanner and Windows 11 computer must use the same wireless network or SSID. Confirm that the scanner is powered on, then search again under Printers & scanners.
Can Windows Scan save directly as a PDF?
Microsoft’s current documented Windows Scan file types are JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and Bitmap. PDF is not listed as a direct File type option. A compatible Windows 11 camera may instead capture a document and export it through the Print dialog as a PDF.
Where does Windows 11 save scans?
If you choose a destination under Show more > Save file to, the scan is saved there. Without a selected folder, Windows Scan uses the user’s Pictures\Scans folder.
The Bottom Line
For a hardware scanner, add the device under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners, open the Scan app, match Source to the way you loaded the item, select an image format and destination, then choose Scan. Remember that the current Windows Scan workflow saves image formats rather than offering a direct PDF choice.
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