Lexmark Scanner Not Working — Fix Scan to Computer
By Ryan Green · Updated August 2026 · Independent guide · PrinterCare USA LLC (not affiliated with any printer manufacturer)
Lexmark all-in-one printers can print perfectly while the scanner refuses to respond, and this frustrating split behavior usually points to driver issues rather than hardware failure. The print engine and scanning engine operate independently, so a corrupted scanner driver will block scanning while leaving your printing untouched.
This guide walks you through the exact troubleshooting steps a Lexmark technician would perform remotely, starting with the easiest fixes and moving to deeper diagnostics. Most users resolve this within 15 minutes by following the driver and connection steps below.
How to fix it — step by step
- Power cycle the printer and computer together. Turn off your Lexmark all-in-one using the power button on the device itself and let it sit for 60 seconds. While the printer is off, shut down your computer completely through the Windows or macOS menu, wait another 60 seconds, then power everything back on in this order: printer first, then computer. This clears temporary memory conflicts that often prevent the scanner from initializing.
- Check the physical USB connection and try a different port. Disconnect the USB cable from both the printer and your computer, inspect both ends for bent pins or debris, and reconnect firmly to a different USB port on your computer (avoid USB hubs if you are using one). If your printer is connected via network, restart both your router and the printer to refresh the connection. A loose or failing USB port is one of the most common reasons scanning stops working while printing continues.
- Uninstall the current scanner driver completely. On Windows 11, go to Settings, then Devices, then Printers and Scanners, find your Lexmark device, click it, and select Remove Device. On macOS, open System Settings, go to Printers and Scanners, right-click your Lexmark, and select Delete. Do not just uninstall the software from the Programs menu; you must remove it from the device list to force Windows or macOS to forget the old configuration.
- Download and install fresh drivers from Lexmark. Visit the official Lexmark support website, enter your exact printer model number, and download the latest scanner and printer drivers for your operating system. Run the installer as Administrator on Windows or with full permissions on macOS, and allow it to complete without interruption. This fresh driver installation reestablishes proper communication between your computer and the scanner hardware.
- Clean the scanner glass and auto-document feeder. Open the scanner lid and gently wipe the glass surface with a lint-free microfiber cloth slightly dampened with distilled water, moving in one direction only. If your model has an automatic document feeder, open it and wipe the two white rubber rollers with the same damp cloth. Dust or paper residue on the glass prevents the sensor from reading the scan, which may appear as a driver failure.
- Restore scanner settings in Lexmark software. Open the Lexmark printer software on your computer (typically found as Lexmark Printer Home or similar in your Start Menu on Windows, or Applications folder on macOS). Navigate to Scan settings or Scanner Preferences and verify that your scanner is selected and active. Click any Reset or Restore Defaults button if available, then attempt a test scan of a simple document.
- Check Windows Device Manager for driver errors. On Windows 11, right-click the Start Menu, select Device Manager, and expand Imaging Devices or Scanners to locate your Lexmark scanner. If you see a yellow exclamation mark or error symbol, right-click the device, select Update Driver, and choose Search automatically for updated driver software. If the scanner does not appear in Device Manager at all, it is not being recognized by Windows and the USB connection or hardware failure is likely.
- Request remote diagnostic support if scanning still fails. If the scanner remains unresponsive after completing all steps above, contact Lexmark support or a certified repair service for remote diagnostics, which typically costs $49 for one incident. A technician can log into your computer remotely, verify hardware detection at the BIOS level, and determine whether the scanner sensor itself has failed and requires component replacement. This is faster and often cheaper than attempting further troubleshooting on your own.
Still stuck? A technician can fix it remotely today.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does my Lexmark print fine but refuse to scan?
The printing and scanning functions use completely separate drivers and processing paths inside the printer. A corrupted scanner driver, outdated firmware, or USB communication issue will block scanning while printing continues to work normally because the print engine does not depend on the scanner driver at all.
Can I scan over WiFi if the USB connection is bad?
Yes, many Lexmark models support WiFi or Ethernet scanning if your printer is connected to your network. Check your printer display panel for Network Settings or WiFi status, and ensure your computer and printer are on the same network, then try adding the printer again via network discovery rather than USB. This often resolves USB-specific scanning failures.
What does the error message 'Scanner not available' mean on my Lexmark?
This message means your computer cannot detect or communicate with the scanner hardware, usually because the driver is missing, corrupted, or outdated. It can also mean the scanner did not initialize properly during startup, in which case a restart of both the printer and computer typically resolves it.
Is my Lexmark scanner broken if nothing I try works?
Not necessarily; the scanner hardware itself often remains functional even when software communication fails. However, if you have completed all the steps above and the scanner still does not appear in Device Manager or Devices and Printers, the scanner sensor or cable inside the printer may be defective and require professional repair or component replacement.