Fifty-fifty in this day and age where virtually everything is online and virtual, it all the same tin can't exist helped that you lot will get some physical documents. And the best way to preserve these documents is to scan them and save them on your difficult drive, deject storage, or NAS.

To do and then, you lot need a multifunction or all-in-one printer. All the same, these devices can be confusing to fix and utilise. They frequently require different apps and drivers, even if y'all're using other models from the same maker.

Luckily, both Windows and Mac allow you to do information technology easily. Here'southward how.

Scanning on Windows

If you're a Windows user, your computer will automatically detect your device one time it's plugged in via the USB port. Whether your printer is a wireless or network device, Windows will automatically detect it, provided it's continued to your network or to the computer'due south Bluetooth connectedness.

Still, if your computer doesn't detect it, y'all will have to set the auto up manually.

Manually Adding a Printer

screenshot of printers and scanners in windows settings

Before starting this procedure, you must ensure the following: your printer has power, is turned on, and is connected to your computer. If y'all have a network or wireless printer, you should also check if it's connected to the same network that your computer uses.

In one case you've double-checked the above, try to restart your printer and see if your reckoner will detect it now. If it still doesn't, then let's proceed with adding your printer manually.

Get-go, click on the Start push button, then go to Settings. In the Settings window, go to Devices > Printers & scanners. Under the Add printers & scanners department, select the Add a printer or scanner push button. Wait for the reckoner as it tries to observe nearby devices, both connected directly to your estimator or via the network.

manually adding a printer by other options screenshot

In one case your computer detects all nearby devices, select the one yous want to use and click on Add device. It will and so automatically add your machine, and you can cull it from your scanning options later.

Notwithstanding, if that doesn't happen, click on The printer that I want isn't listed link. Windows will then open up a magician to add your printer. Just follow the instructions to install your device.

Once you've added the hardware, y'all can open up the apps to start your browse. Windows offers two means of scanning documents; the get-go is the legacy Windows Fax and Browse app, and the second is the newer Windows Scan app. Nosotros will tackle both below.

Windows Fax and Browse

Screenshot of the legacy Windows Fax and Scan app

Click on Start, then go to Windows Accessories > Windows Fax and Scan to admission the app. In the Windows Fax and Browse window, select New Scan. A New Browse window will then appear. Ensure you've chosen the correct device under Scanner. Otherwise, click on Alter… to pick the correct one.

Once yous've picked your device and have gear up your scan settings, click on Preview to start scanning and see how your document will appear. And once y'all're happy with the results, click on Browse to scan and save the paradigm.

The saved prototype will then appear in the main window of the Windows Fax and Scan app. If you want to access the file, it's unremarkably saved in your Documents > Scanned Documents folder.

Windows Scan

Windows Scan screenshot

This app isn't usually pre-installed in Windows. Y'all first demand to go to Microsoft Store, search for Windows Scan, so download and install information technology. Once it'southward set up, launch it from your Start Menu by clicking on Scan.

A new Scan window will appear. If you lot take multiple scanners, pick out the correct device, select the File type y'all want to salvage your scan, and so printing Preview. You volition then see your scan in the main window. You can also adjust the edges of your file by dragging and dropping the white circles at the corners of your file.

One time you've finalized your settings, click on Browse. Afterwards your file is scanned, the app volition show a pop-up at the top of the window telling you the file name of the scan and where it's saved. Click on View to open up the file in a photo app, or press Close when y'all're washed. You can access the saved file in your Pictures > Scans binder.

Scanning on a Mac

If y'all have an Apple computer, you can also browse from whatever multifunction printer using your device. Outset, go to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners to check if your multifunction printer is installed on your organisation. You should run into it listed in the left column; otherwise, you need to add it.

Adding Your Printer

screenshot of how to add a printer on a mac

To practise then, click on the + sign. An Add Printer window volition and then announced. If you're using a USB printer, information technology should appear automatically listed in this window. But if y'all're using a network printer, you should click on the IP icon and prepare information technology up using its network address.

Withal, if your device is yet non plant in the Add Printer window, you have to visit your printer make'due south website and download the pertinent drivers.

Starting Your Browse

Screenshot of how to scan on a Mac

Once your device is installed on your Mac, become back to Printers & Scanners. Select the device you lot want to utilise, and then click on the Scan tab. Y'all should see your device'southward name in the primary window, then underneath it, click on the Open up Scanner… button.

A Scanner window will and so open. In the lower bar, select the binder where you want to salvage your scanned file, choice the newspaper size of your document, then press Browse. The printer will first execute a preliminary scan to determine the docs it'south working with. It will then scan each document it detects and relieve it equally a separate file.

To find the file y'all've recently scanned, caput to the folder you've selected in the previous paragraph.

Digitizing Your Life

It'due south definitely a good idea to keep digital copies of your most of import physical files. These could exist your nascence certificate, property titles, and contracts. That way, even if you lose the original document, you withal have admission to their copies for your reference.

Still, wherever y'all're storing these copies, always ensure that it's in a rubber place. If you lot're saving information technology on your computer or a cloud storage service, ensure it's encrypted. And if you are keeping it on an offline server, secure those drives in a locked safe. That way, your virtually precious belongings, similar your identity, cannot exist easily stolen.