Use an older Canon CanoScan or compatible USB scanner on Windows 10 and 11
Older USB scanners can be difficult to use on modern 64-bit Windows. The Canon CanoScan N670U, for example, has no official driver for 64-bit Windows. This can leave owners with a perfectly usable scanner that their computer no longer recognises.
ScannerCanoScan is a free application that offers a way to get these scanners working again on Windows 10 and 11. It uses an alternative scanner driver and provides a simple interface for scanning documents and photographs, without needing the original manufacturer's software.
The developer, Marco Cirillo, has successfully tested ScannerCanoScan with the Canon CanoScan N670U. The software may also work with a range of older Canon, Epson, HP, Plustek and other scanners that use the same underlying driver. We've included the full list of potentially compatible models below.
What can you do with it?
ScannerCanoScan lets you preview documents and photographs, choose which part of the page to scan and save the result as a PDF or image file.
You can scan in colour, greyscale or black and white, at resolutions up to 600 dpi. It also includes automatic cropping, which can help when scanning smaller items such as photographs or receipts.
The software is free and runs in its own window, rather than through the usual Windows scanning applications.
Getting started
You'll need a compatible USB scanner and a computer running a 64-bit x64 version of Windows 10 or 11.
There are two parts to setting up ScannerCanoScan. First, you'll use a tool called Zadig to change the USB driver Windows uses to communicate with your scanner. You then run ScannerCanoScan to preview and scan your documents.
This driver change only needs to be done once. ScannerCanoScan itself doesn't need installing — you can run it directly after downloading it.
The developer provides instructions covering the setup process, including how to identify your scanner and select the correct driver.
Useful links
- Download ScannerCanoScan and Zadig
- Step-by-step installation instructions
- How to reverse the driver change
Take care when selecting your scanner in Zadig. The tool can change drivers for other USB devices too, so it's important to select the correct scanner and check its USB identifier against the project's instructions. You'll need administrator access to make the change.
The developer also provides instructions for reversing the change if you want to return to your previous setup. This doesn't restore discontinued manufacturer drivers, but allows you to install another compatible driver if one is available.
The ScannerCanoScan application is not digitally signed, so Windows may display a security warning. As with any independently distributed software, check that you're downloading from the original project and consider the warning before choosing whether to proceed.
Other scanners that may work
ScannerCanoScan uses a driver that supports a number of older USB scanners from different manufacturers. Because these scanners use similar underlying technology, the developer expects the application to work with them too.
So far, only the Canon CanoScan N670U has been physically tested by the developer. The models below are potential matches, not confirmed working setups. If you own one, the software may be worth investigating, and your experience could help establish which models work.
| Manufacturer | Potentially compatible models |
|---|---|
| Canon | CanoScan N676U, LiDE 20, LiDE 25, LiDE 30, N1240U, N650U, N656U, N1220U, D660U |
| Plustek | OpticPro U12, U24, UT12, UT16, UT24 |
| Epson | Perfection 1250, Perfection 1260 |
| HP / Hewlett-Packard | ScanJet 2100C, ScanJet 2200C |
| Mustek | BearPaw 1200, BearPaw 2400 |
| UMAX | 3400, 3450, 5400 |
| Compaq | S4-100 |
| KYE / Genius | ColorPage HR6 V2, HR6A, HR6X, HR7, HR7LE |
| Syscan | TravelScan 662, TravelScan 464 |
| Visioneer | Strobe XP100 |
| Portable Peripheral Co. | Q-Scan USB001, Q-Scan USB201 |
Before trying the software with another model, check the project's scanner compatibility list. This includes the USB identifiers needed to select the right device during setup.
Some smaller sheet-fed scanners may not accept the app’s full A4 scanning area. The project asks owners to report any scan-area errors.
About this solution
ScannerCanoScan was created by Marco Cirillo, a software developer at Host Service S.r.l., an Italian company whose work includes custom software, AI and CRM systems, industrial technology and cybersecurity. He has made the application freely available through the ScannerCanoScan GitHub project.
The software builds on existing open-source projects, including the SANE scanner drivers, their Windows adaptation by revvv, and Pete Batard's Zadig tool.
Marco has tested ScannerCanoScan with the Canon N670U, but the other listed models still need confirmation. Keep Things Working has not independently tested the software or the scanners.
Have you tried ScannerCanoScan?
If you've used ScannerCanoScan with an old scanner, we'd love to hear how you got on — particularly if you have one of the models that hasn't yet been tested.
Let us know your scanner model, Windows version and whether you managed to preview and save a scan. Reports of problems are just as valuable as successes, and can help other owners decide whether to give the software a try.