FIX: Could not complete scan Windows Fax and Scan error

Solutions to fix Windows Fax and Scan not working

1. Update the drivers for your scanner
2. Run Hardware troubleshooter
3. Repair corrupted system files
4. Perform Windows update

Some Windows users encountered the error Could not complete scan when trying to scan their documents using the Windows Fax and Scan feature.

If you are also facing this inconvenience and you are searching for a solution to fix the error Could not complete scan, you can find below a couple of solutions that may help you fix your problem:

How can I fix Scan could not be completed?

Solution 1: Update the drivers for your scanner

Users acknowledged that many times they encounter this problem when the drivers were not up to date.

So the first solution you should try is uninstalling the printers and scan drivers and then install the drivers manually. In order to do this, please follow the steps described below:

1. Press the Windows key + R 
2. Type control  and press Enter
3. In Control Panel go to Programs and features
4. Right click on your scanner’s driver and select Uninstall
5. Restart your computer
6. Download the scanner drivers from the device manufacturer’s website
7. Right click on the driver setup file and click on Properties
8. Click on Compatibility tab and check the box Run this program in compatibility mode for and select Windows 10 from the drop down menu and proceed with the installation
9. Restart your computer

Solution 2: Run the hardware troubleshooter

Windows 10 features a series of built-in troubleshooting tools that can help you fix general technical issues in just a couple of minutes. So this is another solution you could try if you still receive the message Could not complete scan. In order to do this:

1. Press the Windows key in order to open the Start menu
2. Type troubleshooting in the search box
3. Click on the Troubleshooting tab
4. Select the option Hardware and Device
5. Click Run the troubleshooter

You might also me interested in reading our article about 7 of the best Windows 10 scanner software

Solution 3: Repair corrupted system files

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

Could not complete scan error can occur if certain components of your operating system are damaged or corrupted, and in order to fix them you can use SFC scan. To do that, follow these steps:

1. click Start and type Command Prompt in the search box
2. Right click Command prompt and then click Run as administrator (If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow)
3. When Command prompt opens, enter sfc/ scannow and press Enter
4. Wait for the process to complete, close Command prompt and check if the error is solved

If the SFC scan did not fix the problem, you might want to consider using also DISM scan. To perform a DISM scan, you just need to follow the steps below:

1. Start Command prompt as administrator
2. Enter DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth and press Enter to run the command
3. DISM scan will now start and make sure you do not interrupt it

Once the scan is finished, please check if the problem is solved. If the issue is still there or if you were unable to run SFC scan before, a good solution now would be to repeat the SFC scan. After doing that, check if the Could not complete scan error still occurs.

Solution 4: Run Windows update

In order to have a healthy computer, you need to keep updating Windows to  the latest system updates, and drivers. This also helps you solve any issues or difficulties you may be experiencing. Here is how to manually check and install Windows Update:

1. Go to Start
2. In the search field, type Windows Update
3. Click on Windows Updates Settings from the search results
4. Install the latest Windows updates

Did any of these solutions help you fix error Could not complete scan? Your experience is always important to us and you can share it by leaving a comment below. Feel free to list additional troubleshooting solutions as well.

FAQ: Read more about Windows Fax & Scan errors

• How do I fix a scanner error?

First, try to update or change the driver for your scanner. If that doesn’t work, run the hardware troubleshooter and the SFC scan to fix any corrupted files.

• How do I change the scanner on Windows Fax and Scan?

Launch the Windows Fax and Scan. At the bottom-left corner of the window, select click on Scan.  Then, click the Tools menu and select the Scan settings option. You might see two or more profiles. To change the setting of a profile, select it, and then click the Edit button. To add a new profile, click the Add button and then select the settings.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2018 and has been since revamped and updated in March 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.