The scanner is one of the most used input devices in the office, since the acquisition of paper documents is practically on the agenda. Many scanners are supplied with printers, especially for home models, so as to provide printing, scanning and copier functions (the famous multifunction printers) in a single product.
If we have a new scanner or a new multifunction printer to be connected to a PC with Windows operating system and we do not know how to do it, in this guide we will find all the steps to be done to configure a scanner on Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 .
After the configuration, we will also show you the free programs that we can use on Windows to make the most of the new scanner, so that we can acquire documents but also photos, passport photos and more.
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How to configure the scanner on Windows 10
To install the new scanner on Windows 10, connect it to a free USB port or connect the multifunction printer to the WiFi or LAN network, so as to allow Windows 10 to automatically download the necessary drivers via Windows Update. If the procedure fails or the scanner cannot be installed automatically, retrieve the printer driver through Device Manager .
We right click on the Start Menu icon at the bottom left, then select Device Manager and, on the unrecognized scanner icon (a yellow triangle will appear) we right click and then select Properties .
Now open the driver tab and select the Update Driver item to find a compatible driver.
We select Search automatically for an updated driver ; after a few minutes the driver will be downloaded and installed.
Now that the driver is installed correctly we can add the scanner to the Windows 10 acquisition devices.
We open the Settings menu (just look for this item in the Start menu) then go to Devices -> Printers and scanners ; in this menu (if we don't see the scanner already active) we can add the scanner by clicking on Add a printer or scanner .
The search for printers and scanners connected to the PC or available via the internal network will start, wait until the new printer icon appears, then click Add .
Windows 10 will automatically configure the printer to be used by all programs that require its use.
How to configure the scanner on Windows 8.1
If we use Windows 8.1 as the operating system, the procedure for adding scanner drivers is identical to Windows 10; open Device Manager (present in the context menu reachable with a right click on the Start Menu icon at the bottom left), then select unrecognized scanner icon (a yellow triangle will appear) right click and then select Properties .
Now open the driver tab and select the Update Driver item to find a compatible driver.
Now that the driver is added we can add the scanner by going to the desktop, opening the right sidebar (just move the mouse pointer near the right edge of the screen) and click Settings .
Click on Change PC settings (bottom of the bar), then go to the menu PC and devices -> Devices .
We click the Add a device button to search and add the scanner.
If the scanner is not displayed or it is not possible to add it from this screen, we can open the old Control Panel to add it.
We open the right sidebar on the desktop again, click Settings then Control Panel .
In the new window we click Add a device, under the category Hardware and sounds .
The search system for displayable devices will start; we click on the scanner and as soon as it is visible to add it to the operating system.
How to configure the scanner on Windows 7
If we still use Windows 7 as the operating system, we open the Start menu and search in the Device Manager search bar.
A menu similar to that available for Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 will open, where the unrecognized scanner will be accompanied by a yellow triangle.
Right click on this icon and select Properties, now open the driver tab and select the Update Driver item to find a compatible driver.
As soon as the driver is installed we open the Control Panel and click Add a device, under the category Hardware and Sound .
A new window will appear where every new device to be added to Windows will be detected, including the new scanner.
As soon as it appears we click Next to add it to the system.
Now that the scanner is configured, what programs can we use to take advantage of it ">
To carry out a new scan simply click on the button at the top left New scan and choose the scanner among the available acquisition devices.
A new window will open where we can choose the acquisition profile, whether to scan in grayscale or in color and adjust some scanner settings.
To preview the scan click on the Preview button, if we want to scan instead, click on the Scan button.
Scanner (Windows 8.1 and 10)
Among the new apps available with Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 operating systems there is also Scanner (or Scan ); we can download it from the Windows Store or search for it in the Start menu (it is usually integrated into the system).
To use the app, select the scanner under Scanner, choose the type of file in the field of the same name and finally click at the bottom on Scan to start the scan.
READ ALSO: Best programs to use the Scanner with Windows PC
