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If you scanned using the built-in Windows Scan app and did not choose another folder, open File Explorer → Pictures → Scans. The full default path is:
C:Users<your-username>PicturesScans
That location applies to scans made in Windows Scan. A scan started with the printer’s physical Scan button or the manufacturer’s app may be saved somewhere else.
Find a scan made with Windows Scan
- Open File Explorer.
- Select Pictures in the left sidebar.
- Open the Scans folder.
If you have not selected a different destination, this is where Windows saves the file. The commonly repeated Documents → Scanned Documents location is not the current default documented by Microsoft for Windows Scan.
Check the exact folder Windows Scan is using
You can confirm or change the destination before scanning:
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- Open Start, select Search, and type
Windows Scan. - Under Apps, select Scan.
- On the Scan page, select Show more.
- Under Save file to, select the folder link.
- In Select Folder, choose the destination you want.
- Select Select Folder.
The folder shown beside Save file to is the authoritative location for that scan. It is more reliable than searching common folders based on assumptions.
Scan again and see where it went
With the document loaded, use the controls on the Windows Scan page:
| Setting | What to choose |
|---|---|
| Scanner | Your printer or standalone scanner |
| Source | Flatbed, Feeder, or Auto-configured |
| File type | JPEG, PNG, TIFF, or Bitmap |
Select Scan. Windows automatically saves the result to the selected folder. Select View to open it in the Photos app, or select Close to finish the current scan job and prepare Windows Scan for another one.
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If searching for Windows Scan produces no Scan app result, the app may not be installed. Install Windows Scan from the Microsoft Store, then repeat the steps above.
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Make sure Windows recognizes the scanner
A multifunction printer can appear in Windows as a printer without exposing its scanner controls.
- Open Start → Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- Select your printer.
- Look for a Scanner settings section.
If the printer or scanner is missing, select Add device under Add printers & scanners. For a wireless scanner, the computer and scanner must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network or SSID.
When the printer’s own software saved the scan
If you pressed the physical Scan button on the printer, or used software supplied by the manufacturer, do not assume the file went to PicturesScans. The manufacturer’s configured destination takes precedence.
Brother printers
Brother’s scan workflows can use separate Scan Location Folder, Destination Folder, or Save Folder settings.
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For Brother ControlCenter4:
- Open Brother Utilities and select your model.
- Select Scan → ControlCenter4.
- For scans started in ControlCenter, open Configuration → Button settings → Scan.
- For scans started with the printer’s physical button, open Configuration → Button settings → Device Settings → Device Scan Settings.
- Read the path listed under Scan Location Folder or Destination Folder.
In Brother iPrint&Scan, open Scan, configure the scan, and select All Settings if necessary. Select Scan → Save to PC. The destination appears as Save folder. Select Select folder to change it, then select Save.
HP printers
In HP Smart, recent scans can generally be reviewed through Scan → View scans or Scan History. To check or change the destination, open:
HP Smart → Settings → Preferences → Scan Settings → Save Location
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- Scanner type: Document
- Connectivity technology: USB
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Why a scan may seem to disappear
- The wrong app was checked: A scan made in Brother or HP software may not appear in Windows Scan’s folder.
- The destination was changed: Check Show more → Save file to in Windows Scan before searching elsewhere.
- The wrong source was selected: Use Flatbed for a document placed on the glass, Feeder for the automatic document feeder, or Auto-configured when appropriate.
- The scanner is not fully installed: Check for Scanner settings under the printer in Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners.
- The wireless devices are on different networks: Put the computer and scanner on the same wireless network or SSID.
- The file has a different format or name: Search the destination folder for recently modified
.jpg,.png,.tif, or.bmpfiles.
Windows 10 note
Microsoft’s current scanner instructions cover Windows 10 and Windows 11, but Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date.
Sources
- Microsoft: Install and use a scanner in Windows
- Brother: Where to locate the scanned file
- HP Support Community: Where are my scans saved?
FAQ
Where does Windows 11 save scanned documents?
Windows Scan saves them to Pictures → Scans by default when you have not selected another folder. The full path is C:Users<your-username>PicturesScans.
Why can’t I find my scan in PicturesScans?
You may have scanned through the printer manufacturer’s software or physical Scan button instead of Windows Scan. Check that app’s destination settings, such as Windows Scan’s Save file to, Brother’s Scan Location Folder, or HP Smart’s Save Location.
How do I change where Windows Scan saves files?
Open Windows Scan, select Show more on the Scan page, select the folder link under Save file to, choose a folder, and select Select Folder.
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Where are scans saved from a Brother printer?
Check Brother Utilities → your model → Scan → ControlCenter4 → Configuration → Button settings. Use the Scan section for ControlCenter scans or Device Settings → Device Scan Settings for scans started with the printer’s physical button.
Where can I see recent HP scans?
In HP Smart, open Scan → View scans or Scan History. The destination is under Settings → Preferences → Scan Settings → Save Location, although the labels can vary by model and app version.
The Bottom Line
For a scan made in Windows Scan with no custom folder selected, start at File Explorer → Pictures → Scans. If it is not there, identify the app or printer button that started the scan, then check that tool’s displayed destination rather than relying on the outdated Documents → Scanned Documents path.
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