Driver Guide

How To Fix “You Need A WIA Driver To Use This Device” Windows 10 Error

If you are facing the annoying error message “You Need A WIA Driver To Use This Device” while trying to scan a document using your printer or scanning, this is what you need to do to resolve the issue.

What Is A WIA Driver?

WIA stands for Windows Image Acquisition. It’s an intermediate software that helps in establishing successful communication between the graphics software and imaging hardware. So, for instance, it enables high-end utilities like Adobe Photoshop to establish a smooth connection with a scanner device for an uninterrupted experience.

However, under any circumstances, if the WIA Device Driver gets outdated, damaged, or missing, you might encounter several computer issues and errors, including You Need A WIA Driver To Use This Device!

How Do I Fix WIA Driver Error On Windows 10?

Try the below-listed solutions one-by-one to find the ultimate solution that can help you get rid of the You Need A WIA Driver To Use This Device scanner driver error on Windows 10.

Workaround 1- Activate Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) Service

One of the primary reasons why you could get this scanner driver error on your device if the WIA Service on your computer isn’t enabled. Hence, follow the steps carefully to enable Image Acquisition (WIA) Service.

STEP 1- Launch the Run window on your PC. You need to press the shortcut keys – Windows logo + R to invoke the dialog box.

STEP 2- From the dialog box that appears on your screen, type the command: services. msc and hit the Enter button.

 

 

STEP 3- From the new Services window that pops up, locate the Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) entry. Once found, you need to right-click on it and go to its Properties.

 

 

STEP 4- From the new pop-up box, head towards the Startup type and choose the option Automatic from the drop-down list.

 

 

STEP 5- After that, you need to hit the Start button under the Service status and finally click the Apply button followed by the OK button to save the changes!

 

 

If this workaround didn’t help to resolve the issue, go ahead trying the next method!

Must-Read: Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts That You Could Use!

Workaround 2- Install Latest WIA Drivers On Windows 10

In case the WIA drivers are outdated or corrupted, it may affect your device performance and also cause the error You Need A WIA Driver To Use This Device. There are multiple ways to update and install the latest device drivers on Windows 10 and other OS. However, the most reliable and trustworthy way to get the latest drivers is by using Driver Updater Software.

The market has lots of options when it comes to choosing the Best Driver Updater Tool, we recommend using Smart Driver Care to snappily install the latest version of the WIA driver. Here’s what you need to do:

STEP 1- Click the button below to download Smart Driver Care on your Windows system.

STEP 2- Once the driver updater software is successfully installed, launch the utility and register for the product.

 

 

STEP 3- From the main screen, click on the Start Scan button to let the driver updater program scan your entire PC and locate all the missing, outdated, and corrupted drivers.

STEP 4- Once the list of faulty drivers appears on the screen, click the Update All button to replace all the current drivers with the latest versions. Alternatively, you can look for the WIA Driver and hit the Update button next to it, to update the single driver.

Keep patience and let the computer restart its own. This will help in implementing all the changes successfully!

Must-Read: Smart Driver Care VS Driver Easy: Which Is The Best Driver Updater Utility

Workaround 3- Run Hardware & Devices Troubleshooter

Windows 10 has a built-in troubleshooter that allows users to detect and fix common system problems. So, try using this tool to fix the annoying error You Need A WIA Driver To Use This Device.

STEP 1- Launch the Settings app on Windows 10. You can press the shortcut keys – Windows + I altogether to open the Settings.

STEP 2- From the Settings menu, navigate to the Update & Security module, followed by the Troubleshoot section from the left panel.

 

 

STEP 3- Now, click on the Run the troubleshooter button, under the Hardware and Devices header.

 

 

STEP 4- Keep patience and let the tool complete the troubleshooting process.

Once the entire scanning gets completed, restart your PC and all the potential issues will be resolved automatically!

Hopefully, you will not witness the annoying WIA Scanner Driver Error on Windows PC. If you know any other workaround that can fix the issue, do let us know in the comments section below!

Also-Read: How To Fix Epson Scan Not Working in Windows 10?

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