Scan guide · macOS
A Mac can scan from a Samsung multifunction printer with built-in Apple tools. Whether the scanner shows up depends on the driver HP lists for your macOS.
Quick answer
- EasiestPrinters & Scanners → Open Scanner.
- Other appImage Capture lists the scanner too.
- MissingNo scanner shown? Check these.
1. Scan from Printers & Scanners
Apple’s built-in scanning needs no extra app. Put the page in the feeder or on the glass, then:
- Open Apple menu → System Settings → Printers & Scanners.
- Select your Samsung printer in the Printers list and click Open Scanner.
- Select Use Document Feeder for the feeder, or clear it for the glass.
- Choose where to save the scan in the Scan To menu.
- Click Show Details for resolution, colour, duplex, file name and format. Choose PDF to use OCR or to combine several pages into one file.
- Click Scan.
Apple says the Duplex option depends on the scanner and may not be available.
2. Or use Image Capture
Image Capture is the other Apple route. Open Image Capture, select the scanner under Devices or Shared in the sidebar, set the options and scan. A feeder scans a multipage document into one file. A flatbed can save several items in separate files.
3. No “Open Scanner” button or no scanner in the list
Apple says that if there is no Open Scanner button, the scanner may still need to be set up, or you should check the printer’s documentation. Check these in order:
- Add the printer first with the Mac install steps. A network printer must be on the same network as the Mac.
- Look at your model on our driver guides page. HP lists Samsung scan drivers for Mac only for older macOS. For example, the SCX-5737 page shows its Mac scan driver for Mac OS X 10.4 to 10.10. If HP lists no scan driver for your macOS, say so plainly: scanning may not be available there.
- Restart the Mac and the printer and open the scanner again.
Common questions
Why can I print from my Mac but not scan?
Printing can work through AirPrint or a generic driver. Scanning often needs the maker’s scan software, and HP lists it only for older macOS. See the Mac fix guide for printing.
Where do scans go?
Wherever you set in the Scan To menu in Printers & Scanners, or in Import To in Image Capture.
Can I scan to one PDF with many pages?
Yes, with a document feeder. Choose PDF as the format in Printers & Scanners and combine the pages into one file, or let Image Capture scan the feeder into one file.
Sources
The steps above come from these official pages.
- Apple: Scan images or documents using a scanner and your Mac
- Apple: Image Capture User Guide
- Apple: Add and manage printers on Mac