If Image Capture does not list your scanner, first check whether macOS can see it in System Settings > Printers & Scanners. That comparison narrows the problem: a scanner absent from both places points toward connection, setup, or compatibility; one listed in settings but missing from Image Capture calls for checking the app and the scanner maker’s software. Work through these checks in order, changing one thing at a time.

Check power, cable, and connection

Make sure the scanner is plugged into power and turned on, and that its cables are firmly connected. If it uses USB, connect it directly to the Mac for the first test. Apple specifically recommends connecting a scanner to the Mac rather than to an AirPort base station’s USB port. If you are using an adapter or hub, try a direct connection or another suitable port if available; this is a practical way to isolate the connection path, not a guarantee that every adapter is compatible. Apple’s scanning troubleshooting guide

For a network scanner, confirm the scanner is on and connected to the network you intend to use. Follow the device maker’s setup instructions for its network connection. A scanner that is only reachable through a different network or an offline shared computer may not appear to the Mac. Avoid assuming that a printer’s ability to print proves its scanner is configured or supported as well.

See whether macOS has added the scanner

Open Apple menu > System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Look for the scanner in the device list. A multifunction printer may provide scanner features through its existing entry, so check that entry too. If it is missing, choose Add Printer, Scanner or Fax, select the scanner if it appears, then click Add. Apple advises checking the manufacturer’s site for scanner software updates before setup; the available software depends on the scanner model and macOS version. Apple’s scanner setup instructions

If the device does not appear in the add list, check its manual for Mac compatibility and the required connection or software. Apple does not document a universal terminal command that makes an unsupported scanner discoverable, and network-printer IP-add instructions should not be treated as a universal scanner fix. Use the vendor’s model-specific instructions for any manual network setup.

Compare Image Capture with another scan route

After setup, open Image Capture and look under Devices or Shared in its sidebar. If the scanner still is not listed, try System Settings > Printers & Scanners, select the device, and look for Open Scanner. Apple documents both Image Capture and the system scanner window as ways to scan; scanner options can vary by model. Apple’s Image Capture guide and Mac scanning guide

This comparison helps identify where discovery is failing. If the scanner appears in the system list and Open Scanner works, the device is available to macOS, so focus on Image Capture and vendor software. If it is in settings but neither route opens it, follow the scanner maker’s troubleshooting steps. If it is absent in both, return to connection, setup, and compatibility checks.

Refresh setup if the scanner used to appear

If the scanner previously appeared but has disappeared, Apple recommends removing the scanner or multifunction printer from the device list and adding it again. In Printers & Scanners, select the device and use its remove control; then use Add Printer, Scanner or Fax to add it again. This removes that device entry, so note any configuration details you may need to restore. Apple’s scanning troubleshooting guide

If multiple user accounts are logged in on the Mac, Apple also recommends logging out all users, signing back in, and trying again. Restarting the scanner and Mac can be a useful basic retry, but if the problem remains, look for current software and model-specific instructions from the manufacturer instead of repeatedly reinstalling unrelated apps.

Know when to stop troubleshooting Image Capture

If the scanner remains missing from Image Capture and the system scanner list, check the manufacturer’s support page for your exact model, macOS compatibility, and available scanning software. Apple explicitly advises checking whether software is available when a scanner or multifunction printer does not appear under Image Capture’s Devices or Shared lists. Apple’s Image Capture guide

A useful endpoint is to record what you observed: connection type, whether the Mac lists the device, whether Open Scanner appears, and the macOS version. Those details help distinguish a connection problem from missing setup or model-specific software, and give the manufacturer’s support team a clear starting point.

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