How to Scan on a Mac (MacOS 13+ Ventura and later) [2023]

A practical guide to using the built-in scanning option on your Mac computer to scan from most multifunction printers and scanners, no extra software required.
Walks you through the process in detail with a printable one-page summary of the steps at the end. Along the way we point out some of the common mistakes people make and how to avoid them!
This video is based on MacOS 13, Ventura. For Macs running an earlier version of the operating system (Big Sur, Monterey, etc.), please see the earlier version of this video:
• How to Scan on a Mac, ...

[@InblisslifeLisaBW]

Wow! I searched and searched and found videos that told me I had to update drivers, etc. SO glad I found your video!! So quick and easy to follow your step by step instructions that allowed me to watch the video (only once!) and FINALLY scan to my Macbook. I love the one page summary at the end too. Thanks so much!

[@jackmeister66]

I spent 45 minutes yesterday trying to fix a scanning problem, and gave up in frustration. I just found your video, watched it, and resolved the issue. Thank you so much!!

[@computersdotmom]

Love to hear that, thank you!

[@vitaltiamo1]

I spent 2 days looking for a solution for my hp & macbook scanning problem, didn't gave up I knew there was a solution somewhere and I found your video. Many thanks this was extremely helpful.

[@computersdotmom]

Great to hear!

[@ian-terrellhawkins3172]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing.

[@cjsebes]

Very nice tutorial. Although I was able to print to my wife's printer/scanner, one of the things that I ran into is that I had older or generic drivers that didn't include the scanning functionality. A quick search on the manufacturer's website netted me more up-to-date drivers with what I needed to now scan.

[@thatgirl629]

Thanks. Your instructions were perfect!

[@aztecataxicabofbakersfield4111]

Thank you, this video Was so helpful!

[@davidsmith8376]

Superb video. Simple and easy to understand.

[@computersdotmom]

Thanks!

[@izzyartzi1894]

Thanks to your video, just realized things got little different with the new Ventura OS, no more system preference, now system settings, couldn't find my scan option, your Info is very useful, saved me time to call Apple, and give them a piece of mind.thx for posting.Mind as well subscribed. to stay informed.

[@computersdotmom]

Thank you!

[@MrMytube14]

Very well explained

[@MikeMaldonado]

This helped so much

[@robert75019]

Works great, thank alot !!!!

[@computersdotmom]

You're welcome!

[@jeffbrown7529]

Thank you. My neat scanner went "south" and I am no longer able to get it back up and functioning as it did in the past. Now I can clean up the pile.

[@kriscunningham1790]

Very helpful Thank you!

[@computersdotmom]

You are most welcome!

[@mariallupo9772]

Thank you for saving my life for a entry exam I have to do.

[@computersdotmom]

Good luck!!

[@patrickmarziano]

GREAT video thank you! Besides combining the documents, would you know how to scan both sides of pages in a multiple page document?

[@computersdotmom]

Thanks! Probably easiest to scan all of one side, then all of the other, then rearrange the pages in Preview. If you turn on the sidebar, you can just drag them.

[@patrickmarziano]

@@computersdotmom I didn't know you could do that! Thanks again.

[@williamshepard1916]

My 14 year old iMac OS 10.6.8 recently quit. Bought this MacBook Air OS 13.5. Is there any way to get the old HP Printer/Scanner model #1510 to work with the new Laptop?

[@computersdotmom]

Very possibly, although I can’t guarantee it. Get the hp easy start app and give it a try.

[@hourglassmediagroup]

My Mac (Sonoma 14.2.1 (23C71)) does not give the "Open Scanner" button. It used to but doesn't now.

[@computersdotmom]

Try deleting and re-adding the printer, it's probably a driver issue.

[@somedude2734]

I don't have "open printer" button, Macs suck. Simple things....

[@cstory50]

No dice with Samsung SCX472x scanner. Vuescan software is able to instantly connect but scans with a watermark unless you pay. Disappointing that the newer MacOS is not working with this particular printer, apparently. Running M1 Macbook Pro with OS 13.4.1 Ventura. 😟

[@computersdotmom]

You probably just need to get the updated driver from the HP website. That should allow you to scan as described here. There’s a pretty decent video on their support page for this printer that explains how to do it.

[@computersdotmom]

support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/samsung-scx-4729-laser-multifunction-printer-series/17157079

[@harleensingh1]

it is helpful, I have two printers one is canon and other is brother, but brother printer not showing open scan options. I tried adding printer twice but its not working with brother.

[@computersdotmom]

You probably need to get the Brother printer driver from the Brother website so your Mac knows it has a scanner.

[@harleensingh1]

@@computersdotmom thank you once again , it was hard to find the driver for the scanner but I downloaded and it works.

[@computersdotmom]

@@harleensingh1 Great work!

[@nihiljo]

my printer(Hp Laser Jet MFP M436dn) has scanning capabilities but it doesn't show the "Open Scanner" option. please help

[@computersdotmom]

I would check the Ho support website for a new driver. You might have to use the HP smart software. Delete the printer and re add it with the updated driver.

[@InblisslifeLisaBW]

Quick question, please. How do I can the next document without having to close the printers & scanners and start over each time? My scanner "holds" the previous image even when it says it's scanning. The only way I have found is to close everything down and then start with step 1 again.

[@computersdotmom]

It depends on the printer’s capabilities. If you’re scanning to pdfs you should have the checkbox option to combine multiple pages, as I mention in the video. But it’s very easy to combine pdf pages in Preview if you don’t have the option.

[@InblisslifeLisaBW]

@@computersdotmom Thank you :)

[@robin55gomes]

I recently bought a new Macbook Pro 14" with MacOS Ventura and upgraded it to Sonoma. The problem is that the "open scanner" button of my Epson printer-scanner is missing, and hence cannot scan; only print. I reset the printer and reinstalled it but the scan button is missing. In my old Macbook Pro the same printer worked perfectly with scanning. Is it a problem with Sonoma?

[@computersdotmom]

Most likely you need to reinstall the printer, maybe get an updated driver from the Epson website.

[@estherkwok6492]

I got the same problem with my HP printer too, the "open scanner" button missing in my Mac OS Ventura 13.5.1, even I did re-install it again, still missing, but it works well in my old computer...why ? and how to fix it?

[@fundamentalimageprocessing7434]

The "Open Scanner" dialogue doesn't appear for the Epson Stylus SX535WD Multifunction printer. Note: can't add screenshot here!

[@computersdotmom]

Try deleting and re-adding the printer.

[@user-df3bf2fo1k]

my printer is an MFP 225DN with scanner in it. however following this video when you open the window clicking on the printer it doe NOT show the OPEJN Scanner button on tis screen at all. how to make this work on a Mac Studio M1 running MacOS Sonoma 14.1.1? thanks

[@computersdotmom]

If you don’t see the scanner option, then you probably need to get a different driver from the manufacturer’s website.

[@user-df3bf2fo1k]

@@computersdotmom Hmmm! relatively new to Mac (PC user since they were invented so know them and windows inside out) Wasn't aware that drivers were a thing on the MAcalthough it makes sense there must be. When i pointed at the MFP on the network it just set itself up automagically for printing. How do you even "INSTALL" a new driver for the device on a MAC, assuming you can even find it, without messing up current ability to print, air print a print wirelessly from other devices? Any help you can offer here would be greatly appreciated. I thought your KZbin video was well done and well presented except for the fact that one key piece was missing for me. Cheers!

[@computersdotmom]

@@user-df3bf2fo1k yup, Macs use drivers. Apple has a lot of them built in, so you can usually get printing to work, but some advanced functionality (like scanning) is not available in the Apple driver for certain printers.

[@user-df3bf2fo1k]

I found the Mac driver for my MFC on the HP site and installed it. Following you KZbin video I saw what you showed completely and ran a couple of scans which worked great, so thank you. However the last step to add the “printer” to the dock for scanning is not working. I get a scanner icon in the dock but when I click on it to launch a scan, I get a message saying can’t do it and it fails. I dragged the app from app list to the doc. Is that how you get the scanner in the dock so that it works?

[@computersdotmom]

@@user-df3bf2fo1k Well done! You can add the PRINTER to the dock, normally, and then open it and click the Scan button (upper right corner). You're not adding the scanner--it's a function of the printer, not a separate device. Sorry if that's obvious!

[@OWK000]

What if you are running a OS 12 canon driver on the OS 13 system? We'll find out . . . eventually.

[@OWK000]

It doesn't work. (Not like this video) Bummer. Probably why I got the printer for free. Knowing Canon they may upgrade the scanner drivers eventually. I have noticed with other printer/scanners and/or systems there are a half a dozen ways to scan, but I've had windows too.

[@estherkwok6492]

After I click on my printer, jumped out a new widow but in there NO "Open scanner" 👈 this button show out for click? Please, does anyone can help? my Mac OS is ventura 13.5.1

[@computersdotmom]

Most likely you need to get a new driver for the printer. Try deleting and re adding it, or check the manufacturer website for a driver.

[@estherkwok6492]

@@computersdotmom Thank you so much, just followed your advice to fix my scanner problem, I installed the updated HP driver, it works as normal now, great thanks for your help in quick response!

[@maxroos4153]

Thank you for saving the day!!! Now to Apple: never change a running system! It worked before, so why change the buttons??? Innovations are something different

[@computersdotmom]

Probably trying to make the interface more like the iPhone/iPad for consistency. Much as it might feel like it, they don’t change things just to torture us. 😄

[@user-nb2qr7xk4q]

Why doesn't my printer show any scanner capabilities, despite it being able to do so for my older macs?

[@computersdotmom]

Wrong driver. Try deleting it and re-adding it, or check the mfr website for a driver.

[@elburro75]

I dint see you doing multiple pages or how to do more then one page to be on the same file that u scanned.

[@computersdotmom]

Didn't want to make the video longer than necessary. If you select PDF as the format, you get the "combine multiple pages" option and if that is checked, you'll be prompted for the next page IF you're using the flatbed (glass), until you're done.

[@rarecoral212]

1:43 Thank you just go to system preferences and find printers and scanners and take things from there..

[@user-sh8ni3ek5f]

my printer is showing the yellow dot because its low on ink

[@computersdotmom]

It should work anyway

[@markster136]

The software use to better it is lousy now. The pdf doesn't seem to save more than 1 page anymore.

[@computersdotmom]

It should if you check the box for “combine multiple pages…” which shows up if you select PDF as the file format. I point this out in the video.

[@user-og4fn8rf9h]

there's no Open scanner

[@computersdotmom]

Look for a button on the upper right of the window that looks like a scanner. If you don't have that OR the "open scanner" option, then you need a different driver for your printer--try deleting and re-adding it, or check the manufacturer's website.

[@agungkurniyantoismail5959]

mee too, i've looked for it but never found it