A scanned page that loses its bottom, sides, or fine print often needs a settings adjustment—not a new scanner. Start by checking how the original is positioned, which scan source Windows is using, and whether the selected area is large enough. If those checks don’t help, look for a compatible scanner driver.

This guide applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11 and uses Microsoft’s Windows Scan app. The exact controls available can vary with the scanner and its driver.

An open flatbed scanner and laptop display a document in a bright, tidy home office. 1. Position the page and choose the scan source​

First, turn on the scanner and open Scan from the Start menu. If it isn’t installed, Microsoft says you can get Windows Scan from the Microsoft Store.

  1. Select the correct device under Scanner.
  2. Place the original on the glass or in the document feeder.
  • Flatbed: Put the page face down, aligned with the marks on the scanner glass, and close the lid.
  • Feeder: Load the page according to the markings or your scanner’s instructions; the correct face-up or face-down orientation varies.
  1. Under Source, select Flatbed or Feeder to match where you placed the page. If the app shows Auto-configured, try selecting the source explicitly instead.
  2. Scan a test page and inspect the saved image.

Microsoft documents the scanner and source controls in Windows Scan; which choices appear depends on the device.

If the page is complete when scanned on the glass but cropped through the feeder, that’s a useful clue: concentrate on feeder alignment, paper-size settings, and the feeder’s capabilities before changing drivers.

2. Check paper size and the preview area​

A scan area that is smaller than the original can cut off content. For example, a legal-size page is longer than a letter-size page. Selecting Letter for a legal original can leave the bottom behind.

  1. In Windows Scan, select Show more and look for any size or scan-area options exposed by your scanner.
  2. If a paper-size choice is available, select the size that matches the original. For an unusual size, use a custom size if your software and scanner support it.
  3. For a flatbed scan, select Preview if it is available. If a selection boundary appears around the page, expand it to include all four edges and a little space around the content.
  4. Select Scan, then open the saved image and compare it with the original.

Don’t see a paper-size or preview control? Windows Scan does not expose the same options for every device. Try your scanner manufacturer’s scanning software, where document-size and crop settings may be available. Feeder scans may not offer the same preview controls as flatbed scans.

Automatic cropping can also misjudge an original. As a device-specific example, Epson’s guidance for certain scanners recommends adjusting the automatic crop margins in Epson Scan 2 or trying its document-size detection options. Those controls are not universal Windows Scan settings.

Also check the scanner’s physical limits. A page larger than the supported glass or feeder area may not fit in a single scan regardless of the setting. Check the specifications for your model; for an oversized original, scanning in sections may be necessary.

3. Update the scanner driver​

If the settings and placement look right but the image is still cropped, check for a driver update. A driver helps Windows communicate with the scanner; updating it may help, although it is not a guaranteed fix.

Check Windows Update​

Microsoft recommends Windows Update as the normal route for driver updates. Optional drivers are not installed automatically.

  • Windows 11: Open Settings → Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates.
  • Windows 10: Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update, select Check for updates, and then select View optional updates if it appears.

If a relevant scanner driver is offered, select it and choose Download and install. Restart the PC, then repeat the same test scan.

Check the manufacturer’s support site​

If Windows Update offers nothing useful:

  1. Find the scanner’s exact model name on the device or its documentation.
  2. Open Settings → System → About and note your Windows version and System type.
  3. On the manufacturer’s official support site, find the matching scanner driver or scanning software for that model and Windows system.
  4. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions, restart if prompted, and test again.

For a multifunction printer, make sure you are getting the scanner-related software—not only a printer driver. Avoid third-party driver-download sites; Microsoft advises obtaining device drivers from the manufacturer.

If the cropping began immediately after a driver update, Microsoft also documents a Roll Back Driver option in the device’s Properties → Driver tab in Device Manager, when available. Administrator permissions are required.

4. Confirm the fix​

Open the newly saved scan and check that all four edges and the content near them are present. Microsoft says Windows Scan saves to the selected folder, or to Pictures/Scans by default.

Still cropped? Try the same original in the manufacturer’s scan application and, if your device has both options, compare the flatbed with the feeder. Note which source and application produce the problem before contacting the manufacturer; that narrows down the troubleshooting.

Windows 10 note: Microsoft’s free Windows 10 security updates and technical support ended on October 14, 2025. The scanning steps may still work, but consider the security implications of running an unsupported system.

 

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