How to Fix Canon Printer Not Scanning?

Your Canon printer prints fine but refuses to scan. You press the scan button and nothing happens, or you get an error message on your computer saying the scanner is not found. This is a common problem that can happen on any Canon model — PIXMA, MAXIFY, or imageRUNNER — and it usually comes down to a driver, connection, or software issue.

Here is how to fix it step by step.

Check the USB or WiFi Connection

Scanning requires a stable connection between your printer and computer. If you are using USB, try a different USB port on your computer and make sure the cable is firmly plugged in at both ends. If you are scanning over WiFi, make sure both your computer and the Canon printer are connected to the same WiFi network. A common mistake is having the computer on 5GHz WiFi while the printer is on 2.4GHz — they need to be on the same network for scanning to work.

Restart the Scanner Service on Windows

Windows has a service called Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) that handles all scanner communication. If this service stops running, no scanner will work. Here is how to restart it:

1. Press Windows key + R and type services.msc then hit Enter
2. Scroll down and find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)
3. Right-click it and select Restart
4. Also find Shell Hardware Detection in the same list and restart it too
5. Try scanning again

Update or Reinstall the Canon Scanner Driver

An outdated or corrupted scanner driver is the most common cause of scanning failures. Go to the Canon support website, enter your printer model number, and download the latest ScanGear or IJ Scan Utility for your operating system. Before installing the new driver, uninstall the old one from Control Panel then Programs and Features. Install the fresh driver and restart your computer.

On Mac, download the ICA Driver from Canon support. After installing, go to System Preferences then Printers and Scanners, remove the Canon printer, and add it back.

Use Canon IJ Scan Utility Instead of the Button

If pressing the scan button on the printer does not work, try initiating the scan from your computer instead. Open Canon IJ Scan Utility from your Start menu, select your scanner, and click the type of scan you want — Document, Photo, or Custom. This bypasses the button communication issue and scans directly through the software.

Check Firewall and Antivirus Settings

If you are scanning over WiFi, your firewall or antivirus might be blocking the communication between your computer and the Canon scanner. Temporarily disable your firewall and try scanning. If it works, add Canon IJ Scan Utility and the WIA service to your firewall exception list so scanning works without disabling the firewall every time.

Run the Windows Scanner Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter for hardware problems. Go to Settings then Update and Security then Troubleshoot then Additional Troubleshooters. Find Hardware and Devices or Printer and run the troubleshooter. It will automatically detect and attempt to fix common scanner issues including driver problems and service failures.

Reset the Printer

If nothing else works, try a full power reset. Turn off the Canon printer, unplug the power cord from the back of the printer and from the wall outlet. Wait 2 full minutes. Plug everything back in and turn the printer on. This clears the internal memory and can fix software glitches that prevent scanning from working.