Fix Acrobat Pro DC Freezing When Scanning with Canon Scanner
Question details
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC freezes and remains unresponsive during the PDF creation process when using a Canon imageFORMULA scanner.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Creating a PDF document directly from a connected hardware scanner.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat freezes and shows a continuous 'scanning in progress' message even though the Canon scanner is inactive. Other scanners, such as Epson models, continue to function correctly in the same environment.
Ensure your Canon scanner is properly connected to your computer, powered on, and that the physical USB or wireless connections are secure before attempting to troubleshoot the software drivers.
Update or Reinstall the Canon TWAIN Driver
Since other scanner brands work properly, the issue is highly likely related to an outdated, incompatible, or corrupted Canon TWAIN driver interacting with Acrobat.
Acrobat relies heavily on the TWAIN interface to communicate with your scanner. If the specific Canon driver is malfunctioning or incompatible with your current macOS or Acrobat version, it will cause the software to hang indefinitely.
Navigate to your system settings or Applications folder and completely uninstall the existing Canon imageFORMULA drivers and utilities.
Visit the official Canon support website, enter your specific scanner model (e.g., DR-C225W), and download the latest TWAIN driver certified for your current macOS version.
Run the downloaded installer, follow the on-screen prompts to install the new driver, and then restart your computer to ensure all background services are refreshed.
Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, navigate to File > Create > PDF from Scanner, select your Canon device, and attempt a new scan.
Test the Scanner Using the Native System Utility
Verify if the freezing problem is isolated to Adobe Acrobat by using the built-in image capture tools on your operating system.
Scan Documents to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to experience driver conflicts or freezing issues, switch to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible PDF module that seamlessly connects with standard desktop scanners to create flawless PDFs.
- 1. Launch WPS Office: Open the WPS Office desktop application and click on the 'PDF' tab to access the dedicated PDF tools.
- 2. Select the Scanning Tool: Click on 'Create PDF' and select the 'From Scanner' or 'Picture to PDF' option from the main menu.
- 3. Scan and Save: Choose your Canon scanner from the drop-down device list, adjust your preferred DPI and color settings, and click 'Scan' to generate your PDF document instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat Pro DC only freeze with my Canon scanner and not my Epson?
This generally happens due to conflicting or outdated TWAIN drivers specific to the Canon hardware. Acrobat uses these drivers to communicate with the physical device, and any corruption or incompatibility in the Canon software can cause the Adobe application to hang while the Epson driver remains stable.
Can recent macOS updates affect my scanner's compatibility with Adobe Acrobat?
Yes, major operating system updates can sometimes disrupt existing driver integrations. It is highly recommended to ensure both Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and your scanner's firmware are updated to versions that officially support your current macOS release.
What is a TWAIN driver and why do I need it for scanning?
TWAIN is an industry-standard applications programming interface (API) that acts as a bridge, allowing software applications like Acrobat to correctly communicate with imaging hardware like your Canon scanner. Without a properly functioning TWAIN driver, the software cannot issue scan commands.
