You’ve placed your document on the scanner, hit "Scan," and… nothing. When your Epson printer won’t scan wirelessly, it can be incredibly frustrating—especially if printing works fine. But don’t worry, this is a common issue and usually fixable with some targeted troubleshooting.

This guide will walk you through all the possible reasons your Epson printer isn’t scanning over Wi-Fi and provide clear, step-by-step solutions to get things back on track—whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or even a mobile device.

 

 

🔍 Why Epson Wireless Scanning Might Fail

Before diving into fixes, let’s look at why this problem happens:

  • Scan utility not installed or outdated

  • Wi-Fi connection issues or IP address mismatch

  • Firewall or antivirus software blocking scanner communication

  • Epson Scan Settings not pointing to the right device

  • Scanner service not running on Windows/macOS

  • Driver or firmware issues

  • Mobile scanning app errors (iOS/Android)

Now, let’s tackle these step by step.

✅ Step 1: Confirm Your Printer Is Connected to Wi-Fi

Sounds basic, but it’s a critical first step.

  1. On your Epson printer's screen, navigate to Wi-Fi settings or Network Status.

  2. Make sure it says Connected.

  3. Note down the IP address displayed (e.g., 192.168.1.25).

You can also print a network status report from the printer’s control panel to verify the connection.

✅ Step 2: Check Your Computer’s Connection

Make sure your computer is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Epson printer. If your PC is connected to a guest network or using Ethernet on a different subnet, the devices might not “see” each other.

  • Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center (Windows) or System Settings > Wi-Fi (Mac).

  • Ensure you're on the same network as the printer.

✅ Step 3: Download or Reinstall Epson Scan Utility

If the scanning software is missing or corrupted, the printer won't be able to send scanned data to your computer.

  1. Visit Epson’s support site and enter your printer model.

  2. Under the Drivers and Utilities section, download:

    • Epson Scan or Epson Scan 2

    • Epson Event Manager Utility (important for some models)

  3. Install the software and restart your computer.

💡 Tip: If you're not sure which utility to download, Epson Scan 2 is the newer standard for most wireless-capable models.

✅ Step 4: Adjust Epson Scan Settings

Once Epson Scan or Scan 2 is installed:

  1. Open the Epson Scan Settings or Epson Scan 2 Utility (search for it in the Start menu or Applications folder).

  2. Click Add or Network Connection.

  3. Click Auto Search to find your printer.

  4. If it doesn’t show up, click Enter address manually and input the IP address you noted earlier.

Once the correct scanner is selected, click OK.

✅ Step 5: Run a Test Scan

  1. Launch the Epson Scan or Epson Scan 2 application.

  2. Choose your scan type (e.g., Document, Photo).

  3. Hit Preview or Scan.

If the scan works—great! You’re done. If not, let’s keep troubleshooting.

 

 

✅ Step 6: Temporarily Disable Firewall/Antivirus

Sometimes your firewall or security software can block scanning over the network.

On Windows:

  1. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall.

  2. Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.

  3. Temporarily disable it and try scanning again.

On Mac:

  1. Go to System Settings > Network > Firewall.

  2. Turn it off temporarily and try again.

If scanning works, you’ll need to add Epson software to your firewall exceptions list instead of leaving it off permanently.

✅ Step 7: Ensure Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Service Is Running (Windows Only)

WIA is a Windows service that allows scanners to communicate with software.

  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.

  2. Scroll down to Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).

  3. Right-click it and select Start or Restart.

  4. Make sure the Startup Type is set to Automatic.

Try scanning again afterward.

✅ Step 8: Restart Everything (Printer, Router, PC)

Sometimes a simple power cycle solves network and driver glitches.

  1. Turn off your Epson printer, unplug it from power.

  2. Restart your router/modem.

  3. Restart your computer.

  4. Once everything is back online, turn on the printer.

Try a wireless scan again.

✅ Step 9: Update Printer Firmware and Drivers

An outdated driver or printer firmware can affect scanning functions.

  • Visit Epson’s official support page for your model.

  • Download and install the latest:

    • Printer drivers

    • Epson Scan 2

    • Firmware updates

Run the firmware updater with your printer turned on and connected to the network.

✅ Step 10: Try the Epson Smart Panel or iPrint App (Mobile Scanning)

If you're scanning via phone or tablet:

  1. Download Epson Smart Panel or Epson iPrint from the App Store or Google Play.

  2. Make sure your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network.

  3. Open the app and allow it to find your printer.

  4. Use the Scan feature in-app and save/send documents as needed.

If scanning fails here too, it confirms a printer-network issue.

✅ Bonus Fix: Assign a Static IP to the Printer

If your router changes the printer’s IP address over time, the scan utility may lose track of it. Fix this by:

  1. Logging into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1).

  2. Find the DHCP settings and assign a static IP to your printer’s MAC address.

  3. Update your Epson Scan settings with this static IP so it never breaks again.

🧼 Final Tip: Reset Network Settings on the Printer

If nothing else works, reset the printer’s Wi-Fi settings:

  1. On the printer’s control panel, go to Settings > Network Settings > Reset Network Settings.

  2. Reconnect the printer to your Wi-Fi.

  3. Reconfigure it with your scan utility using the new IP.

 

 

🧠 Conclusion

When your Epson printer won’t scan wirelessly, the issue is often something small—a software glitch, a changed IP, or a missing utility. By walking through these steps, you can usually get wireless scanning working again in 15–30 minutes.

Remember:

  • Keep your software and firmware updated.

  • Set a static IP to avoid future issues.

  • Make sure the Epson Scan utility is correctly configured to talk to your printer.

Still stuck? Let me know your printer model and OS—I can help troubleshoot further or even provide model-specific steps.

Want a printable checklist version of this guide or need help with wireless scanning on a specific app (like Google Drive or Dropbox)? I’ve got you covered—just ask!