Epson Printer Won’t Scan Over Wi-Fi? Here’s the Fix

Introduction

When your Epson printer refuses to scan, it can bring your workflow to a halt—especially when you rely on it for digitizing important documents. Whether you’re using a Windows PC or a Mac, scanning problems can arise due to outdated drivers, incorrect settings, connectivity issues, or software malfunctions. This guide will help you diagnose and resolve the issue with step-by-step troubleshooting.

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Epson Printer Won’t Scan Over Wi-Fi? Here’s the Fix

1. Check Basic Hardware and Connection Setup

Before diving into technical solutions, ensure your Epson printer is set up correctly.

• Power On: Make sure the printer is turned on and doesn’t show any error lights or warnings.
• Check Cables: For USB connections, inspect the cable and try using a different USB port or cable.
• Wi-Fi Connection: If you’re scanning wirelessly, confirm that your Epson printer and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network.
• Restart Devices: Restart both your printer and computer to refresh connections.

2. Confirm Scanner is Recognized by Your Computer

If your Epson printer isn’t recognized as a scanner, it won’t function correctly.

On Windows:

• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Right-click your Epson printer and check if there’s a scan option.
• If missing, reinstall the drivers (more on that later).

On Mac:

• Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners.
• Click your Epson printer and see if the Scan tab appears.

If the scan option is missing, your system might not have installed the necessary drivers or software.

3. Update or Reinstall Epson Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of scanning failures.

Steps to Update or Reinstall:

1. Visit the official Epson Support website.
2. Enter your printer model and download the latest drivers and Epson Scan Utility.
3. Uninstall previous versions of the software from your system.
4. Restart your computer and install the freshly downloaded drivers.

After installation, test the scanner using the Epson Scan Utility or your system’s built-in scan tools.

4. Use the Epson Scan Utility or Epson ScanSmart

Sometimes, scanning doesn’t work because users aren’t using the correct software.

• Epson Scan Utility is essential for basic scanning functions.
• Epson ScanSmart is useful for more advanced features like multi-page scanning or PDF conversion.

Make sure the software is installed and updated. Open the utility and try scanning directly from it rather than relying on the printer’s scan button.

5. Resolve Firewall and Antivirus Blocking Issues

Security software like Windows Defender Firewall or third-party antivirus programs may block the Epson scanner’s communication with your PC.

Fix:

• Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus and attempt to scan.
• If it works, create an exception in your security software for Epson Scan Utility.

Note: Always re-enable your security software after testing.

6. Check Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Service

If the WIA service is disabled, the scanning function won’t work on Windows systems.

How to Enable WIA:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down and find Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
3. Right-click and choose Start (or Restart).
4. Set Startup Type to Automatic.

Try scanning again after restarting the WIA service.

7. Reset the Epson Printer

A quick reset might solve unknown errors or glitches.

To Reset:

• Turn off the printer.
• Unplug it from the power outlet.
• Wait 1–2 minutes, then plug it back in and power on.

Now, try scanning again from your PC or the printer’s control panel.

8. Epson Printer Won’t Scan Over Wi-Fi?

Wireless scanning can sometimes be the culprit due to network instability.

Solutions:

• Ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi.
• Try scanning from Epson iPrint App on mobile devices to confirm scanner functionality.
• Assign a static IP address to your printer to avoid dynamic IP-related disconnection.

You can also try temporarily connecting your printer with a USB cable to verify if the issue is network-related.

9. Scanner Button Not Working on the Printer?

If pressing the scan button on the Epson printer does nothing:

• Ensure Epson Event Manager is installed and configured (especially on Windows).
• Go to Control Panel > Epson Event Manager and select your scanning action.
• Check that the scanner button is mapped to open Epson Scan or another program.

10. Use Built-in Scanning Tools (Alternative)

You can bypass Epson’s software and use built-in tools:

On Windows:

• Open Windows Fax and Scan or Scan app.
• Select your Epson printer and try scanning.

On Mac:

• Use Preview or Image Capture applications.
• Choose your Epson printer from the list and test scan.

These tools can help you verify whether the issue lies with Epson’s software or system settings.

Conclusion

When your Epson printer won’t scan, it’s usually fixable by checking your connections, reinstalling drivers, or adjusting security settings. Whether you’re using it over USB or Wi-Fi, most scanning issues stem from software conflicts, outdated utilities, or network misconfigurations.

By following the steps above, you can restore your scanner’s functionality and get back to digitizing documents without frustration.

FAQs

Q1. Why won’t my Epson printer scan to my computer?
A: This can happen due to missing drivers, network issues, or software misconfiguration. Reinstalling the Epson Scan Utility and checking network connectivity usually resolves it.

Q2. What is Epson ScanSmart?
A: Epson ScanSmart is an advanced scanning application that allows document scanning with additional features like saving to PDF, cloud upload, and multi-page scanning.

Q3. My Epson scanner is not detected. What should I do?
A: Ensure the printer is properly connected, powered on, and has updated drivers. Try using the Epson Scan Utility or built-in Windows/Mac scanning tools.