If your Canon printer won’t scan, the problem may involve its connection, scanning software, device selection, or computer permissions. Sometimes the printer prints normally but cannot send scanned documents to your computer. In other cases, the scanning application displays a “Cannot communicate with scanner” message or fails to detect the device.

A Canon printer not scanning does not automatically mean the scanner is damaged. Start with basic checks, then troubleshoot the connection and software. This guide covers scanning problems on Windows and Mac, including wireless scanning and scanning from the printer’s control panel.

Why Is My Canon Printer Not Scanning?

Common causes include:

• Missing or incompatible scanner drivers.
• The wrong scanner selected in the scanning application.
• A disconnected USB cable or unstable WiFi connection.
• The computer and printer connected to different local networks.
• Security software blocking scanner communication.
• Missing local network permissions on a Mac.
• Another application already using the scanner.
• Incorrect document source or destination settings.
• A paper jam in the automatic document feeder.
• A scanner hardware error.

Printing and scanning use different software components. A working print function does not confirm that the scanner is configured correctly.

How to Fix a Canon Printer That Won’t Scan

1. Confirm That Your Printer Supports Scanning

Check your model’s features first. A single-function printer cannot scan documents, while a compatible multifunction model includes a scanner.

Also confirm which scanning methods your model supports. Scanning from a computer, scanning from the control panel, and scanning to a mobile device may have different setup requirements.