[DIY Guide] Where to Locate My Scanned Documents on Windows/Mac

Discover several efficient methods to locate scanned documents on both Mac and Windows:

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How to Locate or Rescan Your Documents on Mac

Mac users can locate the documents using the Finder or Spotlight. In the Finder or Spotlight window, enter your search terms in the search field, such as the file types or file name.

Scanned files and photos are typically saved by default in the Pictures folder on your Mac device. To access the Pictures folder using Finder on your Mac, follow these steps: 1. Click on the Dock icon that resembles a smiling face – this is the Finder. 2. From the left sidebar in Finder, locate and click on "Pictures." 3. The Pictures folder will open, displaying all the images and scanned files stored within. If you don't see the left sidebar, you can enable it by following these steps: - Press Command + Option + Sidebar Icon (the square with two lines) or - Go to "View" in the top menu bar, then select "Show Sidebar." Now you should be able to navigate and access your scanned files and photos easily.

1. Go to "Finder" and then select "Home." 2. You can locate the photographs folder once the Home pane in Finder is displayed.

Method 1: Go to the Selected Scanned File Location

Where do scanned files go on Mac? As mentioned, when scanning a document on a Mac, you will be prompted to select a storage folder. Simply remember the location you chose. Afterwards, navigate to that location on your Mac. By default, scanned images, PDF files, and multiple documents are automatically saved in your Mac's "Pictures" folder. To access the "Pictures" folder on your Mac:

Step 1. Open "Finder" > "Go" > "Home" on your Mac.

Step 2. In Finder, when the Home window opens, locate the "Pictures" folder. Double-click on its icon to open it.

Next, you can view the scanned files on your Mac. Now, where are scanned files stored on a Mac? Generally, scanned documents are saved by default in the "Scanned Documents" subdirectory within the "Documents" folder. If you want to change this location manually, you can simply move the entire "Documents" folder to a different location of your choice.

Method 2: Recover Lost Documents via Software on Mac

The aforementioned method has fewer drawbacks. If crucial documents are missing, deleted, or if your Mac PC fails to save files in the correct path or location, they may vanish. Therefore, we recommend using professional Mac data recovery software.

To aid Mac users in recovering lost documents, such as unsaved Word files, the Data Recovery Wizard for Mac is an ideal choice. It also helps users to recover unsaved Pages and documents on Mac from devices like cameras and iPods, as well as to recover deleted files on Mac. This tool effortlessly and thoroughly scans all your lost Mac data and retrieves the files you need with ease.

You can run Data Recovery software on both Mac and Windows PCs. Choose one depending on your computer's operating system.

Follow the instructions below to recover deleted scanned documents on Mac: 1. Launch a web browser on your Mac. 2. Navigate to the following URL: /data-recovery/recover-deleted-files-from-scan-and-fix.html 3. Read through the article provided on the webpage, which offers guidance on recovering deleted files, including scanned documents, on a Mac. 4. Familiarize yourself with the recommended data recovery software or methods discussed in the article. 5. Choose a reliable data recovery tool, preferably one that offers a free trial or scan. 6. Download and install the software on your Mac. 7. Launch the software and follow its interface to initiate a scan of your Mac's storage, focusing on the location where the scanned documents were previously stored. 8. Wait for the scanning process to complete. This may take some time, depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of files. 9. Once the scan is finished, review the list of recovered files displayed by the software. 10. Locate the deleted scanned documents you wish to recover and preview them if possible to ensure their integrity. 11. Select the desired files and choose the option to recover or restore them to a safe location on your Mac or an external storage device. 12. Confirm the recovery process and wait for the software to complete it. 13. After the recovery, make sure to back up your important files regularly to avoid future data loss. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully recover your deleted scanned documents on your Mac.

Step 1. Select the drive to be scanned Choose the drive that you want to scan.

In the main Data Recovery Wizard window, you'll see a list of drives connected to your Mac. Choose the drive from which you need to recover lost/deleted files, and click the "Search for lost files" button.

Tip: Before data recovery, it's recommended to click "Disk Backup" from the left panel to create a backup of your Mac to prevent further data loss. Once backed up, the software can retrieve data from the Mac backup, and your computer can then write new data again.

Step 2. Select the lost data/files

Data Recovery Wizard for Mac will instantly scan the selected disk volume and display the scanning results on the left panel. If you're searching for specific files, you can sort the results to locate them more easily.

Step 3. Recover Lost/Deleted Data

Once you've located the desired files, preview them and then click "Recover" to commence the restoration of your deleted/lost Mac files.

How to Find Lost Files on Windows 10

Next, the question often asked by Windows 10 or Windows 11 users is, how do I locate the scanned document?

It can be frustrating when you're unable to locate your recently scanned documents on your computer's hard drive. In this article, we'll delve into the best approaches to address the missing documents issue and how to modify the settings to prevent such occurrences in the future. Keep reading to learn how to solve this problem.

Method 1: Check the Pictures Folder in Windows 10

Typically, when you connect a scanner or printer to your computer, a Windows PC saves the documents in either the "My Documents" or "My Scans" folder by default.

However, if you're a Windows 10 user, you may be able to recover deleted files from the "Pictures" folder, particularly if you saved them as image files, such as .jpg, .jpeg, or .png.

Step 1. Open "This PC" on your desktop.

Step 2. Choose the "Pictures" folder to locate the scanned files within it and recover files from the folder.

If you’re unable to locate the scanned files, you can search your entire hard drive for them.

Show Hidden Files on USB Drive with Attribute Command

On this page, you will learn how to display hidden files on USB flash drives, pen drives, hard drives, memory cards, and pen drives using Control Panel, Command Prompt, and utility software.

Method 2: Locate Scanned Files by Checking the Scanner Utility

When uncertain about the file types of your scanned documents after compression, you can inspect your scanning application to identify the default save location. Follow these steps to examine the built-in scanning programs on Windows 10: 1. Launch the Scan app: You can do this by searching for "Scan" in the Windows search bar or by accessing it through the Start menu. The app is usually called "Windows Fax and Scan." 2. Open the Scanner settings: In the Scan app, select the scanner you're using from the list of available devices. 3. Check the Save options: Click on the "Scan" button, which will open a new window with scanning options. Locate the "Save As Type" or "File Type" option. This will indicate the default file format for your scans (e.g., PDF, JPEG, TIFF). 4. View the Save location: Look for an option like "Save To" or "Folder," which will show the default folder where your scanned files are saved. 5. Access the saved scans: Navigate to that folder to view and check the file types of your previously scanned documents. Remember that some third-party scanning applications might have different steps or locations for saving files. If you're using a different scanning program, consult its user manual or online support for specific instructions.

Step 1. Click on the search button in your Taskbar and type Scan.

Step 2. Click on the app "Windows Fax and Scan" to select it.

Step 3. Click on the "Scan" button located in the bottom left corner of the "Windows Scan" application window.

Step 4. In this step, select the "Save as" option. The default save location for scans is the "Scanned Documents" subfolder within the "Documents" folder in the dialogue box. (If you wish to change this manually, you can move the entire Documents folder to a different location.)

Translation: Where can I locate my scanned files - Scan Settings

Step 5. Next, navigate to "This PC > Documents > Scanned Document" to locate the scanned files on your Windows 10/8.1/8/7 PC.

Depending on the scanner you're utilizing, specialized software might be installed on your PC. (If you use an HP scanner, you'd access scanned files through the HP Solution Center). If you encounter difficulties locating your files, such as issues with unhiding virus-hidden files in USB using the aforementioned method, it's advisable to consult the original software provided by your scanner manufacturer.

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If any of these methods help you find a scanned document on Mac, share it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media platforms!

Scanning Tips: Where Do Scanned Files Go on a Mac?

Before wondering where scans are saved on a Mac, consider whether you used the correct method for scanning on a Mac. You can learn how to scan a document on a Mac using Image Capture.

Step 1. Turn on your scanner, connect it to your Mac, and place the document you wish to scan onto the scanner.

Step 2. Launch "Image Capture" on your Mac.

Step 3. Choose your scanner from the pane on the left side of the main window.

Step 4. In the Pictures drop-down menu, choose a destination for the scan. In this case, I select the "Pictures" folder.

Step 5. Choose a file size for the bounding box. US Letter is the default, and you can create multiple bounding boxes to scan different sections of the document. After that, click "Scan" to initiate the process. The scanned image will be saved to the location you specified.

Conclusion

Depending on the scanner brand and the chosen storage location, your scanned files may appear in various places. If you're unable to locate the scanned files, you can utilize the deep scan recovery feature with Data Recovery Wizard. This tool can thoroughly scan and recover formatted hard drive, assisting you in finding lost or existing files.

Where to Find Scanned Document FAQs

Here are 4 additional questions regarding where to locate scanned documents on both Mac and Windows. You can find the answers here.

1. Where can I find scanned documents on my iPhone?

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can use the Google Drive app to view and download scanned documents. Follow these steps: 1. Ensure that you have the Google Drive app installed on your device. If not, download and install it from the App Store. 2. Open the Google Drive app. 3. Sign in to your Google account, if prompted. 4. Tap the "+" icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new file or upload one. 5. Select "Upload" and choose "Photos & Videos" from the options. 6. Locate and select the scanned document you want to access from your device's photo gallery. It should be the one you saved after scanning within the Notes app. 7. Once the document is uploaded, you can view, download, or share it as needed. Alternatively, if you want to access the scanned document directly from your Notes on iCloud account: 1. Open the "Notes" app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. 2. Tap on the "iCloud" tab at the bottom left corner to view your iCloud-stored notes. 3. Find and open the note containing the scanned document. 4. Tap and hold the image of the scanned document until a context menu appears. 5. Choose "Copy" or "Save Image" to save the scanned document to your device, then you can share or import it into other apps like Google Drive if needed.

2. Where can I find the scanned document on my computer?

1. Click the "Windows" - "Start" buttons. 2. Choose your username. 3. Search for the "My scanned image" folder.

Most programs will usually create this directory as the default location to save documents. Check the "My Pictures" folder if your folder is not accessible.

3. Why isn't my scanned document saving?

The original document might not be properly aligned, or the scanner driver could be the culprit as a possible cause. Another reason could be that the storage disk is filled with data and files, preventing the scanned document from being written to the hard disk, thus resulting in the issue of the internal hard drive not displaying files even though they still exist.

4. Why aren't my scanned documents appearing in iCloud Notes?

Ensure that Notes is activated in Settings - [Your Name] - iCloud, especially if it wasn't previously enabled. Also, confirm that you have a stable Internet connection. If possible, try to replicate the issue on a different network to isolate the problem. If the issue persists, please inform us if the note appears in iCloud.