Scan a document from your printer or scanner to your Mac

Why it happens

Your Mac has scanning built in, so you usually don't need the printer maker's software. Scanning lives in Printers & Scanners and in the Image Capture app. If your scanner doesn't show up, the Mac can't see it on the network or over USB yet.

How to fix it

1. Turn on your printer or scanner. Put the page face down on the glass, or in the document feeder if it has one.

2. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. Click your printer or scanner in the list, then click Open Scanner….

   Printers & Scanners

3. In the scanner window, click Show Details to pick the settings. Choose a Format such as PDF or JPEG, and choose a folder in Scan To so you know where the file goes.

4. Click Scan. For a page on the glass you can drag a box around the part you want first. When it finishes, the file is in the folder you chose.

5. Prefer an app? Open Image Capture from the Applications folder, click your scanner in the sidebar, and use the same Scan button.

   Image Capture

Still not fixed?

1. If your scanner isn't in the list, make sure it's on and on the same Wi-Fi as your Mac, or connected with a USB cable. Then click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax… in Printers & Scanners and choose it.

   Printers & Scanners

2. If it's listed but Open Scanner… is missing or scanning fails, remove it and add it again. Select it in Printers & Scanners and remove it (on macOS 27 the button is Remove Printer…), then add it back with Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax….

3. Restart the printer and your Mac. Scanners on Wi-Fi often drop off the network after sleep and come back after a restart.

4. Some older scanners need the maker's own driver to work with a Mac. Check the maker's support site for a version that lists macOS 26 or 27.

5. If the scanner works from its own buttons or another computer but never on your Mac, contact the printer maker's support. If it won't work anywhere, it may need a repair.