computer does not recognize scanner says WIA driver missing

Hi,

Solution 1: Restart Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Service

1. Type services in the search box, and then you will see services application is on the best match position. Open the services desktop application.
2. Find the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) in the services.
3. Right-click Windows Image Acquisition and select Properties from the context menu.
4. In WIA services properties, select the startup type as Automatic. And then click Start button in service status.

Tips: if the services status is running, try to stop it and then restart it again.

After you click the start button, windows 10 is attempting to start the WIA service on local computer. The process takes several seconds.

5. After the services control finish, click OK button.
6. Follow above steps to start other two services: Shell Hardware Detection and Remote Procedure Call (RPC).

After that, you can use the printer and scanner to test if it needs WIA driver when scanning.

Solution 2: Uninstall Scanner Driver

1. Open device manager and expand the Imaging devices.
2. Find the scanner and right-click it to select Uninstall.

Then the scanner driver will be uninstalled in your Windows 10.

3. Restart your computer, system will scan all the devices and install Windows 10 WIA driver for your scanner. And now, when you scan the documents, it can copy files properly.

Solution 3: Update Scanner WIA Driver

If the computer cannot help to install the WIA drivers correctly, you should do this thing by yourself. And sometimes, after you upgrade system to Windows 10, the incompatible or corrupted scanner driver may cause this problem. And there are two ways you can do to update WIA drivers for your scanner.

As the error remind, there is a CD containing WIA drivers for your Scanner, so reboot the CD with the CD/DVD drive to install the WIA driver step by step. But if you cannot find the CD media, you should go to the manufacturer’s website such as HP, Dell, Epson, Fujitsu.

1. Enter the scanner manufacturer’s website to find the scanner drivers and firmware, download them manually.
2. Install the scanner driver and update firmware step by step.

Solution 4: Troubleshoot for your Scanner

If the Scanner appears the error of “You need a WIA driver to use this device”, you can troubleshoot to fix the WIA driver missing problem. It is an automatic tool which can help to fix all the scanners whatever it is, Canon scanner, HP scanner or Dell scanner.

1. Go here: Windows > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
2. Find Hardware and Device, and then click Run the Troubleshooter.

It will start scanning all your Windows system devices including Scanner and find the Scanner error and then repair it automatically.

Tips: If you are using a printer which contains the scanning function, you can also choose to troubleshoot the printer.

I think these three solutions will help to solve WIA driver disappearing problem. And if the scanner cannot scan, you can do a system restore to solve it if you want.

Hi, darrelhill

Check these links, I hope it helps.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

https://windows10skill.com/fix-canon-scanner-no...

https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/how-to-fix...

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.