How to open Scan app in Windows 10 computer and Scan a document

Microsoft Store offers a Scan application which you can use to quickly scan documents and images in Windows 10. The app is useful when scanning a single photo or multiple pages. In this article we will explain how to open the scanning application on a Windows 10 computer and use it to properly scan a document.

How to open the Scan app in Windows 10

Before starting with the scanning application, the OEM of the scanner may have its own scanning software, which can help you to scan a document. I suggest you examine it as well as it may offer additional functionality compared to the Windows Scan application.

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Type Windows Scan in the search box.
3. Once it appears, click on the Get button to install it on the computer or Open this link.
4. After installation, Windows Scan will be available from the Start menu under the "SCAN" app.
5. Click it to open the scanning app on a Windows 10 computer.

If you just connected the scanner, make sure to install the driver. Windows 10 usually finds it and lists it under Settings> Devices> Printers and scanners. Make sure their status is online; otherwise, you will not be able to use it.

Before launching the scanner application, make sure the scanner is physically plugged into a power source and connected to the computer via the USB socket. Launch the scanner app and it will automatically detect the scanner and list it. If you have multiple scanners, you can always choose between them.

When the application launches, it displays only the name of the scanner and the file type in which the scan will be saved. Under the file type option, click Show more links at the top to reveal the full set of options, including:

1. File type: Choose between TIFF, JPEG, PDF, XPS, BMP and OpenXPS
2. Color mode: Here you can choose between Color, Black and white and Grayscale.
3. Resolution: The higher the value, the better the quality of the print, the saved document and, of course, the size. Depending on where and how you plan to use it, choose wisely.
4. Save the file in: Make sure you choose this option, and I would say, save it to the cloud. Not only can you instantly share with someone; you will not lose it. When you change computers, you can still cross them if they are on Dropbox or OneDrive

Related: General scanner troubleshooting tips

How to scan a document in Windows 10

<img class = "ezlazyload aligncenter size-full wp-image-198322″ alt=”Overview Scan Windows Scan application” width=”598″ height=”382″ sizes=”(max-width: 598px) 100vw, 598px” src=”https://thewindowsclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Preview-Scan-Windows-Scan-App.png” srcset=”https://thewindowsclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Preview-Scan-Windows-Scan-App.png 598w, https://thewindowsclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Preview-Scan-Windows-Scan-App-400×256.png 400w, https://thewindowsclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Preview-Scan-Windows-Scan-App-150×96.png 150w”/>

Now that you know all the features of the scanning application, let's learn how to scan a document or image using this application.

1. Place a document on the scanner bed and place the cover.
2. Switch to the Scan app and configure options
3. Click the Preview button. Make sure each time to see what the output of the analysis will look like.
4. Once the preview is displayed, you can use the selection or circle markers to decide which area to scan. If the preview doesn't meet your expectations,
   1. change color mode and DPI
   2. make sure the scanner cover is on
   3. Accurately mark the area to be scanned using circle markers
   4. if you plan to edit the image later, save it in IMAGE format.
5. Click the Scan button to perform a final scan. This time, you should see Scan instead of preview. When finished, a message will appear above the app.

That’s it. This is how you scan a document or image in Windows 10. Although the Scanning application is basic, it does offer enough features that allow you to scan almost anything.

However, OEM software would do a much better job as it can offer additional functionality, the ability to save in multiple places, etc. As an example, I can save multiple scans in a single PDF file, which is great when scanning a document with many pages. So be sure to install the scanner app from the OEM and also try.