windows.devices.scanners.dll errors usually appear as “The program can’t start because windows.devices.scanners.dll is missing from your computer.” You may also see “could not be loaded,” “was not found,” or “is either not designed to run on Windows.”
This is a legitimate Microsoft Windows component, not a file that should normally be downloaded separately. It supports the Windows Runtime Windows.Devices.Scanners API, which applications use to find scanners, show previews, and send scans to files through Windows Image Acquisition (WIA). Microsoft documents these functions in the Windows.Devices.Scanners namespace.
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Which fix applies to you
Use the situation that best matches your error:
- Every scanner-related application fails: Repair Windows with Windows Update, DISM, and SFC.
- Only one application or game fails: Repair or reinstall that application from its original developer or launcher.
- The error began after antivirus activity: Check Windows Security Protection history before restoring anything.
- The error says a module could not be found, but the file exists: Repair Windows because a dependency may be missing.
- The problem began after a Windows update: Install pending updates, then consider Windows 11’s repair reinstall or System Restore.
- Scanning stopped after a device change: Reinstall the scanner manufacturer’s WIA-compatible driver and application.
- The error appears only with a 32-bit or 64-bit program: Check application and Windows architecture rather than copying a different DLL.
Do not begin by downloading windows.devices.scanners.dll from a DLL collection site or copying it into System32, SysWOW64, or a program folder. That can introduce malware, use the wrong architecture, bypass Windows servicing, and leave the underlying corruption unresolved.
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Windows.Devices.Scanners.dll is part of Windows and is associated with the Microsoft Windows Runtime scanner API. It is supplied by Windows rather than by a scanner manufacturer. A manufacturer’s driver allows Windows to communicate with a particular scanner, while this DLL provides Windows Runtime functionality used by compatible applications.
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On a typical installation:
- 64-bit Windows uses
%WINDIR%System32Windows.Devices.Scanners.dll - 32-bit components on 64-bit Windows use
%WINDIR%SysWOW64Windows.Devices.Scanners.dll
The directory names are confusing: on 64-bit Windows, System32 contains 64-bit system files, while SysWOW64 contains 32-bit system files. Windows redirects file access for 32-bit applications. Microsoft explains this behavior in its documentation for the File System Redirector.
To check the expected locations:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
%WINDIR%System32and press Enter. - Search for
Windows.Devices.Scanners.dll. - On 64-bit Windows, repeat the check with
%WINDIR%SysWOW64.
A missing file, an incorrect version, a damaged file, or a missing dependency can all produce similar messages. The wording “specified module could not be found” does not always mean the named DLL itself is absent.
Fix 1: Install Windows updates and restart
A failed or incomplete update can leave protected Windows components mismatched.
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Windows Update.
- Choose Check for updates.
- Install all available updates.
- Restart the computer, even if Windows does not insist on a restart.
- Open the affected application again.
If the error disappears, the component was likely repaired or brought back into a consistent Windows state. If it remains, continue with DISM and SFC rather than copying an individual DLL.
Fix 2: Repair Windows with DISM and SFC
DISM repairs the Windows component store that supplies protected files. SFC then checks protected system files and replaces incorrect versions when possible. Run DISM first.
- Open Start.
- Type
Command Prompt. - Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Choose Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
- Run this command:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
- Wait for the command to finish. Do not close the window while it is working.
- After DISM completes, run:
sfc /scannow
- Wait until verification reaches 100 percent.
- Restart Windows.
- Test the application or scanner again.
A successful DISM operation does not necessarily mean the original application will start immediately. SFC must still complete, and a restart may be required.
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If SFC reports that it found and repaired corrupt files, test the program. If it says that some files could not be repaired, run DISM again and then repeat SFC. Review %WINDIR%LogsCBSCBS.log if you need the detailed repair record.
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When Windows Update cannot provide a healthy repair source, DISM can use matching Windows installation files:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:RepairSourceWindows /LimitAccess
Replace C:RepairSourceWindows with a valid source that matches your Windows edition and architecture. Do not guess at the source path or use files from an unrelated Windows installation. Microsoft provides additional guidance for repairing missing or corrupted system files.
Running DISM and SFC manually means interpreting their results and knowing whether a second repair pass changed anything. Outbyte PC Repair can scan for system-file problems and show what it identifies, but its full repair is optional and it is not required for this fix.
Fix 3: Repair or reinstall the affected application
If only one program reports the error, the application may have an incomplete installation, damaged files, or an application-side dependency problem. Do not assume that the program should contain its own copy of this Windows DLL.
First try the program’s built-in repair option:
- Open Settings.
- Select Apps > Installed apps.
- Find the affected application.
- Select the three-dot menu beside it.
- Choose Advanced options, if available.
- Select Repair.
- Start the application again.
If Repair is unavailable or does not help:
- Return to the application’s entry in Installed apps.
- Choose Uninstall.
- Restart Windows.
- Download the application again from its official developer source or use its original installer.
- Install it and test it.
For a game, use the launcher’s Verify, Repair, or Verify integrity function where provided. If the program has a separate desktop installer, use that installer rather than adding a DLL manually.
If the application requires a separate runtime, install that runtime only when the complete error specifically names it. windows.devices.scanners.dll does not by itself indicate that Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET is missing.
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Fix 4: Check Windows Security quarantine
Antivirus software can quarantine a damaged or suspicious file. Do not blindly restore it.
- Open Start and search for Windows Security.
- Select Virus & threat protection.
- Choose Protection history.
- Open the detection associated with the file.
- Review the detected path, threat name, and action.
- If malware is suspected, leave the file quarantined and run a scan.
- Restore or allow the file only if it is in the expected Windows directory and the detection is understood.
Microsoft describes this process in its guide to Protection history. If the file repeatedly disappears, investigate malware, third-party system cleaners, disk errors, and antivirus detections. Replacing it repeatedly is not a solution.
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Fix 5: Check architecture and dependencies
Do not copy a 32-bit DLL into a 64-bit program directory or a 64-bit DLL into a 32-bit program directory. A 32-bit program on 64-bit Windows may use the SysWOW64 copy through Windows redirection.
Check your Windows architecture:
- Open Settings.
- Select System > About.
- Look at System type.
- Compare it with the application’s supported architecture.
If the error occurs in only one older application, install a current version of that application or use its supported 32-bit build. If the message says “specified module could not be found” while the DLL is present, repair Windows with DISM and SFC instead of hunting for individual dependency files.
Fix 6: Reinstall the scanner driver or scanning software
A scanner driver will not normally restore Windows.Devices.Scanners.dll, but it can fix a separate device-integration problem that appears at the same time.
- Disconnect the scanner.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
- Select the scanner and choose Remove.
- Open Start, search for Device Manager, and open it.
- Expand Imaging devices, Cameras, or Printers, depending on the hardware.
- Right-click the scanner and choose Uninstall device.
- Restart Windows.
- Download the current Windows-compatible driver and scanning application from the scanner manufacturer.
- Install the package according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Reconnect the scanner and test it in Windows Scan or the manufacturer’s application.
Outbyte Driver Updater can show outdated driver entries when manually checking several hardware components is difficult; its full driver installation is optional. For a scanner-specific failure, the manufacturer’s official WIA-compatible package remains the definitive source.
Do not run regsvr32 for this file
regsvr32 is used for DLLs that provide registration entry points such as DllRegisterServer, commonly ActiveX or certain COM components. It is not a general-purpose missing-DLL repair command.
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Running commands such as these is not an appropriate fix for this Windows Runtime component:
regsvr32 Windows.Devices.Scanners.dll
regsvr32 /u Windows.Devices.Scanners.dll
They may produce an error and do not repair Windows component servicing. Microsoft documents regsvr32, but does not identify this scanner runtime DLL as a file that should be manually registered.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If DISM and SFC cannot repair Windows
If the error began immediately after an update, first check Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Remove a recent update only when the timing clearly matches, and restart afterward.
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- Open Settings.
- Select System > Recovery.
- Find Fix problems using Windows Update.
- Select Reinstall now.
- Follow the prompts and keep the computer connected to power.
This reinstalls the current Windows version while preserving apps, files, and settings. Microsoft documents this option in Reinstall the current Windows version.
If that option is unavailable, use System Restore when a suitable restore point exists:
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- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
rstrui.exe. - Select a restore point from before the problem began.
- Review the affected programs and drivers.
- Start the restore and let Windows restart.
Back up important files before recovery operations. If corruption continues, use matching Windows installation media for an in-place repair, or consult Microsoft support. Their Windows recovery options explain the tradeoffs between System Restore, reset, and installation-based recovery.
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Prevention and information for further help
Avoid registry cleaners, DLL download sites, and manual replacement of protected Windows files. Keep Windows updated, allow scanner drivers to come from the manufacturer, and keep regular backups.
If the error remains, record:
- Windows edition, version, and build
- The exact application name
- The complete error text
- The path where the error names or finds the DLL
- Whether Windows is 32-bit or 64-bit
- Whether the file exists in
System32orSysWOW64 - Recent updates, application installs, antivirus detections, or hardware changes
- The final DISM and SFC results
That information distinguishes a Windows-wide component failure from an application-specific installation problem.
FAQ
Is windows.devices.scanners.dll a genuine Microsoft file?
Yes. It is a Windows Runtime component for scanner APIs built over Windows Image Acquisition. It is normally serviced as part of Windows, not downloaded as a standalone Microsoft package.
Should I install Visual C++, DirectX, or .NET?
Not based on this filename alone. Install another runtime only if the complete error separately identifies that runtime as missing.
Can I download the DLL and copy it into System32?
No. An unofficial copy may have the wrong architecture, version, dependencies, signature, or servicing metadata. Repair Windows with Windows Update, DISM, and SFC instead.
Why does the error mention a missing module when the file exists?
A dependency may be missing or damaged, or the application may be loading the wrong architecture. DISM and SFC are safer than replacing individual files.
Will reinstalling my scanner fix the DLL?
Usually not. Reinstall the scanner driver when the device itself is not detected or scanning fails. Repair Windows when the Windows Runtime DLL is missing or damaged.
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