scanner idle

Question

my scanner shows idle but also connected, unable to scan

Answer 1

Follow these steps in order, checking after each step whether scanning works again:

1. Restart the scanner and PC

• Turn the scanner/printer off, unplug power and USB/network cable for 30 seconds, reconnect, then restart the PC.
• Try scanning again from the scan app (for example, Windows Fax and Scan or the manufacturer’s software).

2. Check the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service

• Open Services (press Win+R → type services.msc → Enter).
• Find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
  • Startup type should be Automatic.
  • If Status is blank or Stopped, right‑click → Start.
• If the scanner still shows as idle and won’t scan, right‑click Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) → Restart and test again.

3. If the scanner was changed or re‑plugged If a previous scanner was disconnected and a different one connected (for example, switched from a WSD/network scanner to USB, or from one USB scanner to another):

• Uninstall the current scanner from Device Manager (right‑click the device → Uninstall device), unplug it, then plug it back in to reinstall.
• Or stop and restart the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) service as above.
• If still not working, restart the PC with the scanner connected and powered on.

4. If using a WSD/network scanner and New Scan fails

• If Windows Fax and Scan or another app fails when clicking New Scan with a WSD scanner, install the vendor’s latest driver/firmware for that model.
• If the issue matches the behavior described (scan starts then fails with a properties error), install the hotfix/update for WSD scanners from Microsoft Update Catalog as described in the referenced article.

5. If using Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2 and USB 3.0

• For a USB 3.0 scanner on Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 that won’t scan at all, install the Usbscan.sys update described in the referenced article, then restart and test.

6. If the scanner is attached through a USB zero client / MultiPoint Server

• If using Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 and the scanner is connected through a USB zero‑client station and cannot scan:
  • Back up the registry.
  • Open Registry Editor and go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{6BDD1FC6-810F-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}
  • In the right pane, double‑click UpperFilters.
  • Remove WmsImageFilter from the list, click OK, close Registry Editor, and restart.

If none of the above resolves the issue, completely remove the printer/scanner software and driver from Programs and Features and Device Manager, then reinstall the latest full driver package from the manufacturer and test scanning again.

---

References:

• Applications are unable to find a new scanning device after another device is disconnected
• Error message when you click New Scan in Windows Fax and Scan on a Windows-based computer
• You cannot scan data by using a USB 3.0 scanner that is connected to a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computer
• Can't scan from a scanning device connected through USB to a USB-zero-client-connected station
• Cannot scan from a scanning device connected through USB to a USB-zero-client-connected station