Fix Acrobat Cannot Find the Selected Scanner on Windows 10
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where their PDF software fails to detect connected hardware scanners.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI Pro
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to scan a physical document directly into a PDF format using Adobe Acrobat XI Pro.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat reports that the selected scanner was not found, despite the Brother and Plustek scanners appearing correctly in the Windows Device Manager.
Ensure your scanner is securely connected to your computer via USB or local network, powered on, and not currently being used by another background scanning application.
Update and Reinstall Scanner Drivers
Installing the latest manufacturer drivers often resolves communication and compatibility issues between hardware scanners and PDF software.
Even if Windows Device Manager recognizes the hardware, Acrobat requires specific TWAIN or WIA drivers to establish a scanning interface. Outdated drivers are the most common cause of this error.
Unplug the scanner's USB cable from your Windows 10 computer before beginning the driver installation.
Visit the official support website of your scanner manufacturer (such as Brother or Plustek) and download the latest Windows 10 compatible driver for your exact scanner model.
Run the downloaded driver installer file and follow the on-screen instructions. Reconnect your scanner only when prompted by the installer.
Close and reopen Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, then attempt to initiate a new scan to see if the scanner is now detected.
Configure Acrobat's Custom Scan Interface
Adjusting the scanner interface settings within Acrobat can help force the software to recognize connected devices.
Scan Documents to PDF Easily Using WPS Office
If your current PDF software struggles to find your local scanner, switch to WPS Office. The built-in WPS PDF tool offers robust, seamless integration with Windows 10 scanners, allowing you to digitize documents quickly without driver compatibility headaches.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and click on 'PDF Edit' or open the dedicated WPS PDF application from the home screen.
- 2. Select Create from Scanner: Navigate to the 'Menu' or 'Tools' tab, click on 'Create PDF', and select the 'From Scanner' option.
- 3. Choose Your Device: Select your Brother or Plustek scanner from the available device list.
- 4. Scan and Save: Adjust your scanning preferences (such as color and DPI), then click 'Scan' to generate and save your new PDF document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my scanner show up in Windows Device Manager but not in Acrobat?
Device Manager simply confirms that a USB or network connection exists between the computer and the hardware. However, PDF software like Acrobat requires dedicated TWAIN or WIA software drivers to control the scanner, which might be missing or outdated.
Does Adobe Acrobat XI Pro natively support newer Windows 10 scanners?
Adobe Acrobat XI Pro is an older, legacy software version and may lack native support for modern scanner interfaces introduced in newer Windows 10 updates. Ensuring your scanner has legacy or TWAIN drivers installed can improve compatibility.
What should I do if updating the scanner driver doesn't fix the Acrobat error?
If a standard driver update fails, try completely uninstalling the scanner device via Device Manager. Disconnect the scanner, restart your PC, and perform a clean installation of the manufacturer's scanner suite before plugging the device back in.
