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- HP Community
- Printers
- Scanning, Faxing, and Copying
- Scan defaults to PDF file

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01-28-2017 08:45 AM
Recently all my scans are now entered as PDF files whereas in the past a letter, etc. would be scanned and entered as a Word document. I downloaded Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and am wondering if that program has somehow caused this to happen?
A document I scanned came in as a PDF file (same document had been scanned before and showed as a Word document) and I tried to work with it - doesn't seem to be very user friendly. The opened file says I can convert to Word but when I tried that a pop-up says that I have to purchase a product to make the conversion.
Is there any way I can get my scanner to function without everything becoming a PDF file? Any help in this is greatly appreciated as I do not have great pc knowledge.
John
Solved! Go to Solution.
Accepted Solutions
01-30-2017 10:54 AM
@Bridgebuster, thanks for the reply.
Thanks for trying out the steps.
By default, there is no way of saving the scan to a word document on your printer.
You have to use Microsoft Office Scanning utility provides OCR and comes with most versions of MS Office.
Refer the user guide for more information.
Note: Refer page 23
Take Care! 🙂
A4Apollo
I am an HP Employee
01-29-2017 08:47 AM - edited 01-29-2017 08:48 AM
Hey there! @Bridgebuster, Thanks for stopping by the HP Support Forums!
I understand that scanning from your printer saves the files default to PDF.
Don't worry I will try to help you out.
Please try the steps mentioned below to change the file type.
Select the file type you want to save, and then scan the item.
Press the Power button to turn on the printer, if it is not on already.
On the printer control panel, touch Scan ().
Touch Computer, and then touch the name of your computer.
Touch the scan-to type that corresponds to the document or photo you are scanning.
Save as JPEG
Use this setting to scan pictures and images.
The scan saves as a JPG file in the default destination scan folder.
Refer this article to know further details about changing the file format.
Let me know if it works!
Have a beautiful day ahead! 🙂
A4Apollo
I am an HP Employee
01-29-2017 11:29 AM
Thanks for the reply. I tried your suggestion but wasn't able to achieve what I wanted. I scanned the letter and sent it to my document file. I tried to save it as a Word document but it saved as a PDF. I have a letter that I would like to scan into my document folder as a Word document. Whenever I try to scan, it automatically goes to a PDF file and this action has recently started happening. In the past I could take the same letter and scan and it would go into a Word document. Any other suggestions will certainly be aprreciated.
John
01-29-2017 12:09 PM
@Bridgebuster, thanks for the response.
Thanks for trying out the steps.
Try uninstalling all the printer components from you PC and reinstall the printer drivers.
First uninstall the printer software from control panel uninstall programs.
Then click start and type devices and printers.
Open Devices and Printers.
Select any printer and then click "Print server properties" at the top of the window.
Click on the Drivers tab.
Select the desired printer and click uninstall.
Update the printer software using this link.
Let me know if this works!
Cheers! 🙂
A4Apollo
I am an HP Employee
01-29-2017 02:49 PM
Regretfully, I could not get it to work. I uninstalled and then reinstalled the printer. Put a document in for scan and it scanned in as a PDF. As mentioned, earlier, I just wonder if a recent download of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC might have "taken over" my scanning. I was going to try and contact HP but theprinter is out of warranty. Thanks for trying.
John
01-29-2017 03:00 PM
@Bridgebuster, thanks for your response and time.
Thanks for trying out the steps.
As you mentioned the issue still persists.
Uninstall the adobe reader from the control panel.
Then try to scan and select a different program.
I'll watch your reply! 🙂
A4Apollo
I am an HP Employee
01-29-2017 04:15 PM
I uninstalled Reader DC and started a scan. It showed up as a PDF but was able to convert it to a Word document that was very "jumbled". When I unintalled DC I checked in my document folder and all previously entered PDF files had their "icon" changed ( no red PDF).
I was looking for a chance to reinstall my old Adobe reader x (10.1.0) MUI in hopes thatit would correct this but was not able to reinstall. Regret bothering you but hoping for a resolution.
John
01-29-2017 04:26 PM
@Bridgebuster, thanks for the response.
Thanks for trying out the steps.
Download and update the adobe reader to the latest version using this link.
Please keep me updated!
Cheers! 🙂
A4Apollo
I am an HP Employee
01-29-2017 04:49 PM
Still at it. Opened link and clicked proceed to download and that took me to "Download FAQ". Donloaded and opened that and got the following: It can't be installed because a program to be upgraded may be missing, or the upgrade patch may update a different version of the program. Verify that the program to be upgraded exists on your computer and that you have the correct upgrade patch".
I guess I don't have what they are referring to and certainly don't know where to find it. I am truly sorry to take up so much of your valuable time. Perhaps it's just not meant to be resolved.
John
01-30-2017 08:34 AM
@Bridgebuster, thanks for the response.
Thanks for trying out the steps.
Download and install adobe reader cleaner tool on your PC and check if it helps.
Download the cleaner tool using this link.
Once the uninstallation completes reinstall the adobe reader on your PC.
Let me know how it goes!
Have a great day ahead! 🙂
A4Apollo
I am an HP Employee