How to scan with an HP printer

Scan documents and photos from the printer, capture items with the computer camera, or use the scan tools with files saved on the computer.

1. Open the HP Smart app. If you do not have HP Smart, download it from 123.hp.com or your app store.

2. Click the Scan tile on the home screen.

3. Select an option from the top menu bar.

   • Scanner: Place the original on the printer scanner glass or into the automatic document feeder (ADF). Select scan job type, size, color, and resolution settings, and then click Scan in the lower right corner.

   • Import: Select photos saved on your computer to apply a boundary, and then use the settings to edit, print, and share.

   • Camera: Uses the computer camera or a webcam to capture, edit, and print or share a photo or document.

   

4. Click Get Started.

   Note:

   The Get Started screen displays when you select Scan, Import, or Camera for the first time.

5. From the Scan window, change settings, such as document or photo type, page size, output type, source, and resolution to match the scan job.

6. Select the Auto Enhancements icon to toggle the enhancement features on or off.

   • Auto-Enhancements: Turn on or off automatically brightening colors and sharpening the image contrast.

   • Auto-Orientation: Turn on or off automatically rotating images to their correct orientation.

7. Click Scan.

   A preview of the scan displays.

   

8. If the Detect Edges window opens, adjust the boundaries by clicking and dragging the blue dots.

   A preview of adjusting boundaries displays.

   

9. In the Edit window, you can add another page to your scan, reorder multi-page scans, change the file name or type, edit the scan, start a Shortcut, print, share, or save your scan.

   

10. When you complete the edits, click Done.

    

11. Use the features in the Preview window to work with your scan.

    • Print: Send your scan to your printer.

    • Save: The default save location for scanned documents is the Documents folder and the Pictures library for scanned photos. Save your scan in the default location or browse to a different folder.

    • Share: Send your scan in an email, share via social media accounts such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or save the scan in a cloud storage account, such as Box or OneDrive. You can also look for other apps in the Windows Store.

    • Shortcuts: Create or use an existing shortcut for printing, emailing, or saving scanned files to cloud accounts.

    • Fax: Send your scan via fax.

12. Click OK.

Use the HP Smart app to create a PDF of a scanned document.

1. Open the HP Smart app. If you do not have HP Smart, download it from 123.hp.com or your app store.

2. Click the Scan tile on the home screen.

3. Select an option from the top menu bar to start the scan.

   • Scanner: Place the original on the printer scanner glass or into the automatic document feeder (ADF). Select scan job type, size, color, and resolution settings, and then click Scan in the lower right corner.

   • Import: Select photos saved on your computer to apply a boundary, and then use the settings to edit, print, and share. This option does not work with document file types.

   • Camera: Uses the computer camera or a webcam to capture, edit, and print or share a photo or document.

   

4. Adjust the boundaries, and then click Apply.

5. For multi-page documents, click Add in the Preview window to return to the Scan window. Load the next page onto the scanner glass or capture it with your camera.

   Repeat this process until all the pages of your document are scanned.

6. Change the file name and select Basic PDF as the file type.

   

7. Click Save to save the PDF to a folder on the computer, or click Share for options to email or share the file.

Use the HP Smart app to email a scanned document or photo.

1. Set up your personal email account with the pre-installed Mail app on your computer.

   • Windows: Open the Mail app, click Settings, and then click Manage accounts > Add account. Select your service provider, and then enter your email address and account password to complete the setup.

   • Mac: Open the Mail app, and then click Mail > Add Account. Select your service provider, and then enter your email address and account password to complete the setup.

2. Open the HP Smart app. If you do not have HP Smart, download it from 123.hp.com or your app store.

3. Click the Scan tile on the home screen.

4. Select an option from the top menu bar.

   • Scanner: Place the original on the printer scanner glass or into the automatic document feeder (ADF). Select scan job type, size, color, and resolution settings, and then click Scan in the lower right corner.

   • Import: Select photos saved on your computer to apply a boundary, and then use the settings to edit, print, and share.

   • Camera: Uses the computer camera or a webcam to capture, edit, and print or share a photo or document.

   

5. Adjust the boundaries using the circles at the corners of the imported or captured item, and then click Apply.

   

6. In the Preview window, change the file name and type, and then click Share.

   

7. Click Mail.

   An email message opens with the file attached.

8. Enter the email address in the To field, and then click Send.

Scan documents and photos from the printer, or capture items with the phone or tablet camera.

1. Open the HP Smart app. If you do not have HP Smart, download it from 123.hp.com or your app store.

2. Open the app, and then click the plus sign to set up your printer.

3. Select one of the following scan tiles from the app home screen.

   • Printer Scan: Place the original on the printer scanner glass or into the automatic document feeder (ADF). In the app, tap the settings icon to select the input source, resolution, and color, and then tap Done. Tap the blue circle to scan the item.

   • Camera Scan: Uses the camera on your phone or tablet to capture a photo or document that you can edit, print, or share.

4. If an Adjust Boundaries screen displays, tap Auto or manually adjust the boundaries by tapping and moving the blue dots.

   

5. In the Preview window, use the following options and settings to complete the scan job.

   

   • Save multiple pages in a single scan file: Tap the plus sign.

   • Create a PDF or select an image file type: Tap Share/Save, and then tap Format to select a file type.

   • Send the scan to email: Tap Share/Save, change any file settings, and then tap Share/Save to display the Mail option.

   • Make scan quality edits: Tap the edit icon to adjust colors, apply filters, crop, and add text.

Use the HP Smart app to create a PDF of a scanned document.

1. Open the HP Smart app. If you do not have HP Smart, download it from 123.hp.com or your app store.

2. Select one of the following tiles from the app home screen to start the scan.

   • Printer Scan: Place the document on the printer scanner glass or into the automatic document feeder (ADF). In the app, tap the settings icon to select the input source, resolution, and color, and then tap Done. Tap the blue circle to scan the item.

   • Camera Scan: Uses the camera on your phone or tablet to capture a document.

3. Adjust the boundaries, and then tap Next.

4. For multi-page documents, tap the plus sign to return to the scan step. Load the next page onto the scanner glass or capture it with your camera.

   Repeat this process until all the pages of your document are scanned.

5. Tap Share or Save.

   

6. If necessary, tap Format. Select PDF, tap the back arrow, and then tap Share/Save for options to save or send the PDF.

   

Use the HP Smart app to email a scanned document or photo.

1. Set up your personal email account in your mobile device settings.

   • Android: Go to Settings, select Accounts or Users & accounts, and then tap Add Account. Select your service provider, and then enter your email address and account password to complete the setup.

   • Apple iOS and iPadOS: Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts, and then tap Add Account. Select your service provider, and then enter your email address and account password to complete the setup.

2. Open the HP Smart app. If you do not have HP Smart, download it from 123.hp.com or your app store.

3. Select one of the following scan tiles from the app home screen.

   • Printer Scan: Place the original on the printer scanner glass or into the automatic document feeder (ADF). In the app, tap the settings icon to select the input source, resolution, and color, and then tap Done. Tap the blue circle to scan the item.

   • Camera Scan: Uses the camera on your phone or tablet to capture a photo or document.

4. Adjust the boundaries, and then tap Next.

5. In the Preview window, tap Share or Save.

   

6. Change any file settings, and then tap Share or Save.

   

7. Tap Mail.

   An email message opens with the file attached.

8. Enter the email address in the To field, and then tap Send.

Use Chrome OS to scan documents and photos from a Chromebook.

1. Update the Chromebook to the most current version of Chrome OS.

2. Click the clock in the bottom right corner, and then click the Settings icon .

3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, and then click Advanced.

4. Under Print and scan, click Scan.

5. Select your printer, and then change any settings in the menu on the right and in More settings.

6. Click Scan.

For scan-enabled printers, you can scan documents and photos using Webscan over a network connection. No additional software or drivers are required.

1. Place the original on the scanner glass or into the automatic document feeder (ADF).

   Note:

   Do not load photos into the ADF to prevent damaging them or the printer.

2. Make sure your printer is connected to the same network as your computer or mobile device.

3. Find the printer IP address.

   • Printers with a control panel menu: Find the IP address in the Wireless Summary or in network settings.

     

   • Printers without a control panel menu: Print a Network configuration or Wireless Network Test Results page that lists the IP address.

     Most printers without a control panel menu: Press the Wireless and Information buttons at the same time, or press the Wireless and Start Copy Black buttons at the same time.

     HP DeskJet 6000 and 6400, ENVY 6000 and 6400, and Tango printers: Touch and hold the Information button until all control panel buttons light up, and then touch the Information and Resume buttons at the same time.

     

4. Type the printer IP address into the web browser address line, and then press Enter to open the printer homepage, or Embedded Web Server (EWS).

   

5. If a login or certificate window displays, complete the information to finish opening the EWS.

   • If a website security certificate displays, click Continue to open the printer homepage.

   • If a login window opens, type admin for the username, and then type the PIN found on the label located underneath or on the back of the printer, or the password set by the printer administrator.

   

6. Click Scan.

   A You cannot use this function because it has been disabled message displays.
   

7. Click Settings > Security > Administrator Settings.

8. If you are prompted to go to a secure HTTPS-enabled webpage, click OK or Redirect to HTTPS.

9. If a Your connection is not private message displays, click Advanced > Proceed to [Printer IP address].

10. In the Administrator Settings, locate and select the box next to Webscan or Webscan from EWS, click Apply > OK.

11. Return to the Scan menu, select the scan preferences, click Start Scan, and then follow the instructions to save the scan.

    

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software converts the letters in a scan original to an editable text file. Install the HP printer software package for Windows and Mac to use the feature, if available.

1. Go to 123.hp.com to install the driver and software.

2. After completing the printer setup, open the scanning software to check if OCR scanning is supported.

   • Windows: Search Windows for your printer model name and number to open HP Printer Assistant. On the Scan tab, click Scan a Document or Photo to open HP Scan. Look for a Save as Editable Text (OCR) shortcut.

   • Mac: Open HP Easy Scan from your Applications list. Click the Scanner drop-down menu, and then select your printer. Scan a document, click Send, and then select Folder. Click the Format menu, and then find RTF or TXT.

3. If these options are not available, your printer did not ship with OCR software. Contact a third-party OCR software vendor such as OmniPage, FineReader, or Readiris to see if your printer is compatible.