WIA driver required – how to fix scanner error and download WIA driver

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When connecting a scanner or MFP with scanner functionality, many users encounter the error message “This device requires a WIA driver. Please install it from the installation CD or the manufacturer’s website and try again. ”

The WIA driver is a Windows Image Acquisition driver that is required for graphics programs to communicate with their respective devices. In this manual, we will analyze in detail possible ways to solve the problem and download the WIA driver if necessary.

A WIA driver is required to use this device – first steps

Before trying to find on the Internet where to download the WIA driver for your printer / scanner / MFP, I recommend following these simple steps, which can often solve the problem:

  1. Open Windows Services. In Windows 10 and Windows 11, press the Win + Rkeys on your keyboard (Win is the Windows logo key), type msc, and press Enter.
  2. Find Windows Image Download Service (WIA) in the list of services. This service should be running and the Startup Type is set to Automatic.
  3. If it is not, double-click the service name, set the startup type to Automatic, apply the settings, and then click Start – it is possible that these steps will already solve the problem.

The next simple action, which, judging by many reviews, often turns out to be workable, is to connect a device that requires a WIA driver for USB 2.0 instead of USB 3.0 (usually USB 3.0 connectors are blue, and 2.0 connectors are black), sometimes a subsequent reinstallation may be required scanner (MFP). Try this option – it really helps a lot.

In case the proposed methods did not work, the WIA service was already started, and the connection to USB 2.0 had no effect, proceed to the next steps.

Where to download the WIA scanner driver

If the device during installation says that it requires a WIA driver to use it, it is almost guaranteed that it is on the official website of the device manufacturer on the support page for your model.

Please note: the official website may not have a driver for the current version of the system. For example, the question in question is often raised about the HP LaserJet M1120 MFP. If you have Windows 10 or Windows 11. Do not pay attention that the official website has a driver only for Windows 8 – it can be used quite successfully on newer operating systems.

If the downloaded driver fails to install, reporting an unsupported operating system, you can:

  1. Unpack the driver installer file. For example, for LaserJet M1120 7-Zip copes with this successfully, sometimes utilities like Universal Extractor can come in handy. The image below is a screenshot of the open driver installer file, where we observe, including the WIA driver files (which follows from the name of the driver files).
  2. Install the driver manually from the INF file .

If you have problems installing drivers, first remove all existing drivers for your scanner or MFP and the device itself using the device manager (you may need to enable the display of hidden devices in the “View” menu and find the device in the “Imaging devices” section), as well as programs from the manufacturer – HP, Canon, Epson or other.

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