How to Fix Acrobat X Scanner Error: Scanning Is Still In Progress
Question details
Users are unable to complete a scan because the software freezes and displays a continuous "scanning is still in progress" message.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat X
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Attempting to create a PDF directly from a connected HP, Epson, or Brother scanner using Adobe Acrobat X.
- Observed behavior
- The Acrobat application hangs and reports that the scan is still running, failing to generate the PDF even after restarting the computer and scanner hardware.
Verify that your scanner is properly connected to your computer via USB or Wi-Fi, and ensure no other applications are currently trying to access the scanner.
Terminate Processes and Use Native Scan Mode
Force close the stalled application and change Acrobat's scan settings to use the scanner's native interface, which bypasses the software conflict.
This bug often occurs after an automatic software update disrupts the communication between Acrobat X and the scanner's default drivers. Forcing the software to use the scanner's native interface typically resolves the hang.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Locate the Adobe Acrobat process and any scanner-related processes in the list, select them, and click 'End task'.
Turn your scanner off completely using its power button, wait roughly 10 seconds, and turn it back on to reset the hardware state.
Relaunch Adobe Acrobat X. Navigate to the option to create a PDF from a scanner, and select 'Custom Scan' instead of a default preset.
In the Scan Options menu, ensure the Data Transfer Method is set to 'Native Mode' and check the box that says 'Show Scanner's Native Interface'. Click 'Scan' to try again.
Update Scanner Drivers and Acrobat
Install the latest software updates for both your scanner and Adobe Acrobat to fix known compatibility bugs.
Create PDFs from Scanners Easily with WPS Office
Avoid frustrating software hangs and scanning errors by using WPS Office. With its powerful built-in PDF tools, you can quickly scan physical documents and save them directly as high-quality PDFs without hardware compatibility issues.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab from the main workspace to open the PDF toolkit.
- 2. Select the scanning tool: Click on 'Create PDF' and choose the 'From Scanner' option to initialize the connection with your connected scanning device.
- 3. Adjust scan settings: Select your scanner from the device list, adjust your preferred color mode and resolution settings, and click 'Scan'.
- 4. Save as PDF: Review the scanned pages within the WPS interface, make any necessary adjustments, and save the final document directly to your computer as a standard PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat X freeze and say scanning is still in progress?
This error is typically caused by a communication bug between Acrobat X and the TWAIN or WIA drivers of your scanner (especially common with HP, Epson, and Brother devices) following an automatic software update.
How do I force close Acrobat when it gets stuck scanning?
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Windows Task Manager. Find 'Adobe Acrobat' in the list of active processes, click on it to highlight it, and select the 'End task' button to force the program to close.
Does Native Mode fix the scanning issue for all scanner brands?
While highly effective for HP, Epson, and Brother scanners experiencing this specific freeze in Acrobat X, results can vary. If Native Mode fails to bypass the issue, fully updating your scanner drivers and Acrobat software is the next recommended step.
