Fifty-fifty in this 24-hour interval and age where almost everything is online and virtual, it nevertheless tin can't be helped that you will go some physical documents. And the best manner to preserve these documents is to scan them and save them on your hard drive, cloud storage, or NAS.

To do so, you lot need a multifunction or all-in-1 printer. However, these devices tin be confusing to fix and utilize. They often require unlike apps and drivers, fifty-fifty if yous're using other models from the same maker.

Luckily, both Windows and Mac allow yous to do it easily. Here'southward how.

Scanning on Windows

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

However, if your computer doesn't detect it, you will accept to set the machine 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 you have a network or wireless printer, y'all should too check if it'south connected to the same network that your computer uses.

In one case yous've double-checked the higher up, effort to restart your printer and see if your computer volition find information technology at present. If information technology still doesn't, then let'southward continue with calculation your printer manually.

Beginning, click on the Beginning button, then go to Settings. In the Settings window, go to Devices > Printers & scanners. Under the Add printers & scanners section, select the Add a printer or scanner button. Await for the figurer equally it tries to discover nearby devices, both connected direct to your computer or via the network.

manually adding a printer by other options screenshot

Once your figurer detects all nearby devices, select the one you want to utilise and click on Add together device. It will so automatically add together your car, and you tin can choose it from your scanning options later.

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

One time you've added the hardware, you can open the apps to start your scan. Windows offers two ways of scanning documents; the first is the legacy Windows Fax and Browse app, and the second is the newer Windows Scan app. Nosotros will tackle both beneath.

Windows Fax and Browse

Screenshot of the legacy Windows Fax and Scan app

Click on Start, then go to Windows Accessories > Windows Fax and Browse to admission the app. In the Windows Fax and Scan window, select New Browse. A New Browse window volition then announced. Ensure you lot've called the correct device under Scanner. Otherwise, click on Change… to pick the right one.

In one case you've picked your device and have set your scan settings, click on Preview to start scanning and run into how your document volition announced. And in one case y'all're happy with the results, click on Browse to scan and salve the image.

The saved image will then appear in the main window of the Windows Fax and Browse app. If you lot want to admission the file, it'southward usually saved in your Documents > Scanned Documents folder.

Windows Scan

Windows Scan screenshot

This app isn't usually pre-installed in Windows. You lot get-go need to get to Microsoft Store, search for Windows Scan, and then download and install information technology. Once it's gear up, launch information technology from your Beginning Menu by clicking on Scan.

A new Scan window will appear. If you take multiple scanners, choice out the correct device, select the File type you want to save your scan, and and then press Preview. Yous will then see your scan in the main window. You lot can also adjust the edges of your file by dragging and dropping the white circles at the corners of your file.

In one case you've finalized your settings, click on Scan. After your file is scanned, the app volition show a popular-up at the summit of the window telling you the file name of the scan and where information technology'due south saved. Click on View to open the file in a photo app, or press Close when you lot're done. You can access the saved file in your Pictures > Scans folder.

Scanning on a Mac

If you have an Apple calculator, you lot can also browse from any multifunction printer using your device. First, get to System Preferences > Printers & Scanners to bank check if your multifunction printer is installed on your system. You should see 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 will and then appear. If you're using a USB printer, it should appear automatically listed in this window. Just if yous're using a network printer, yous should click on the IP icon and gear up information technology up using its network accost.

However, if your device is even so non found in the Add Printer window, y'all have to visit your printer brand'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, go back to Printers & Scanners. Select the device you want to employ, and so click on the Scan tab. You should run across your device'due south name in the main window, and then underneath it, click on the Open Scanner… button.

A Scanner window will then open up. In the lower bar, select the folder where you want to salve your scanned file, pick the newspaper size of your document, then printing Scan. The printer will first execute a preliminary scan to decide the docs information technology'due south working with. Information technology will and then scan each document it detects and salve information technology as a separate file.

To notice the file you've recently scanned, head to the folder you've selected in the previous paragraph.

Digitizing Your Life

It'southward definitely a proficient idea to keep digital copies of your near important concrete files. These could be your nativity document, property titles, and contracts. That way, even if y'all lose the original document, you still accept access to their copies for your reference.

Even so, wherever you're storing these copies, ever ensure that it'south in a safe place. If you're saving it on your calculator or a cloud storage service, ensure it's encrypted. And if y'all are keeping it on an offline server, secure those drives in a locked safety. That way, your most precious belongings, similar your identity, cannot exist easily stolen.