Hello,
What's your Brother's printer/scanner model number?
UNABLE TO SCAN
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Patrick Stever
30
Reputation points
Recently, I am unable to scan to my Brother wireless printer. This just seemed to happen recently and am wondering if a recent WIN 11 update has any issues related to this? I can print to the printer just fine but cannot scan. Wonder if anyone else has noticed this problem or if anyone has any suggestions.
Pat
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Apps
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Patrick Stever 30 Reputation points
2025-11-04T01:31:49.8066667+00:00 BROTHER DCP-L2550DW as well as another printer/scanner, an EPSON ET-2850 series. I can print to both printers and until a few days ago, I could scan from either unit but not any more!
Interestingly, I have another scanner, a CANON LIDE200, which I connect directly to my PC via USB and I can scan from it. I also tried direct connection from the Brother printer but it won't scan! This all happened recently. I hadn't done any scanning in the past few weeks but there was a recent WIN 11 update and I suspect that screwed something up.
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EmilyS726 224.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-11-03T21:51:20.6466667+00:00 -
Patrick Stever 30 Reputation points
2025-11-22T03:26:55.8166667+00:00 I have downloaded everything I can find for my Brother DCP-L2550DW printer and I still cannot scan wirelessly whereas I could before a recent WIN11 update. I am not stuck, however, because I have connected my printer directly to my PC and so I can scan. Interestingly, I can disconnect the printer and print wirelessly just fine. It is just being able to scan wirelessly that is the issue. So, to conclude, downloading every driver that I can find for the printer does not help. Just thought I'd pass along this tidbit of useless info and perhaps one day, Microsoft will identify the issue but good luck with that, I guess.
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Patrick Stever 30 Reputation points
2025-11-04T03:08:04.1233333+00:00 As I previously indicated, before the latest WIN 11 update, I was able to scan without any issues, so the problem is most likely due to the latest WIN 11 update.
Thanks anyway...
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EmilyS726 224.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-11-04T03:11:55.0233333+00:00 During Windows update, especially major version update, like version 24H2 to 25H2, Windows could recognize these devices wrong and apply the wrong driver, this is why I gave you the right driver links to download them and install them, so Windows can recognize what they are and what they can do. Like I said, combo devices tend to be recognized as printer only, so the OEM driver is important to help Windows recognize them correctly.
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Owen Rushby 0 Reputation points2025-11-21T21:32:42.16+00:00 Just upgraded my Win 10 machine to Win 11 25H2 which has killed the scan to pc functionality on my Brother MFC-L8390CDW.
The “LAN” driver from Brother will not install, either by using the full software package or manual download and using device manager.
I’ve given up now after trying to get it to work. Brother support were definitely not “by my side” either.
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EmilyS726 224.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-11-04T03:00:05.9866667+00:00 For combo devices, Windows typically recognizes it as printer only and can automatically give it generic printer driver, the scanner usually requires the OEM driver for Windows to recognize. Your Canon is recognized is because it is not a combo.
For the Brother scanner, go here: https://support.brother.com/g/b/downloadlist.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=dcpl2550dw_us&os=10068 Download and install the following driver.
For the Epson one, go here: https://epson.com/Support/Printers/All-In-Ones/ET-Series/Epson-ET-2850/s/SPT_C11CJ63202?review-filter=Windows+11 download and install the following one.
Note: These are not Microsoft websites/URLs, but they are from the official OEM/manufacturer sites.
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Patrick Stever 30 Reputation points
2025-11-04T02:59:46.6766667+00:00 Not sure what is going on here on this system. Posted a question but not sure it went anywhere, so will post once again. Recently, I had occasion to do some scanning but for some reason, I can no longer access scanning on my Brother Printer, DCP-L255DW although I can print to it. I also have an EpsonET-2850 series printer/scanner and similarly, I cannot access it for scanning although I can print to it as well. I hadn't needed to do any scanning in quite some time. There was a WIN 11 update not too long ago and I suspect that screwed things up. From what I have seen on the internet, the latest WIN 11 update messed things up. Some people commented that they could no longer print but that is not the case with my situation as I can print to both printers. I print and scan (used to scan..LOL) wirelessly to both printers but no scanning now. I even tried connecting to the printer via USB but still no luck. Interestingly, I have a CANON LIDE200 scanner and if I connect it via USB, I can indeed scan! Some comments have said to update the drivers but why would the drivers suddenly be obsolete since everything worked fine just before the latest WIN 11 update! Any suggestions?