Brother MFC-L8905CDW Scanner Not Working – How to Fix It

When your Brother MFC-L8905CDW suddenly stops scanning, it can interrupt your work even if printing still functions normally. You might receive a "Scanner Not Found" message, the scanner may disappear from Windows, scanned files may never save, or your scanning application may freeze before completing the job. Although these symptoms can be frustrating, they are often caused by outdated printer and scanner software, Windows communication issues, or incorrect scanner settings rather than a hardware defect. The good news is that you can usually restore scanning with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps.

Quick Fix Checklist

Before trying more advanced solutions, work through these basic checks.

• Restart the Brother MFC-L8905CDW.
• Restart your Windows computer.
• Confirm the USB cable or wireless connection is working properly.
• Verify the printer and computer are connected to the same WiFi network if using wireless scanning.
• Close and reopen your scanning application.
• Install available Windows updates.
• Update your printer and scanner software.
• Try scanning a single page as a test.

If the scanner still does not respond, continue with the methods below.

What Causes the Brother MFC-L8905CDW Scanner to Stop Working?

Your multifunction printer depends on software that allows Windows to communicate with both its printing and scanning features. If that software becomes outdated, damaged, or incompatible after a Windows update, the scanner may stop responding even though the printer still prints documents correctly.

Other possible causes include:

• Outdated printer or scanner software
• Corrupted Windows scanner settings
• Network communication interruptions
• Disabled Windows scanning services
• Firewall or antivirus interference
• Incorrect scanner selection
• Incomplete software installation

Understanding the cause makes it easier to choose the right solution.

Method 1, Update Printer and Scanner Software Automatically (Recommended)

Keeping the software up to date is often the fastest way to restore scanner functionality.

DriverAssist automatically checks your system for outdated or missing printer and scanner software and installs the correct updates for the Brother MFC-L8905CDW.

Steps

1. Download DriverAssist here.
2. Install the program.
3. Open DriverAssist.
4. Run a complete system scan.
5. Locate the Brother MFC-L8905CDW in the results.
6. Install all recommended updates.
7. Restart your computer.
8. Test the scanner using Windows Scan or Brother's scanning application.

Automatic updates help maintain compatibility with new Windows releases and reduce future communication problems.

Method 2, Install the Latest Software from Brother

If you would rather update manually, download the newest software package directly from Brother.

Step 1

Open Brother's support page.

Step 2

Search for:

Brother MFC-L8905CDW

Be sure to choose the exact printer model.

Step 3

Select the correct Windows edition.

Examples include:

• Windows 11 64 bit
• Windows 10 64 bit
• Windows 10 32 bit

Step 4

Download the Full Driver and Software Package.

This package includes the software needed for both printing and scanning.

Step 5

Run the installer.

Step 6

Complete the installation.

Step 7

Restart Windows.

Step 8

Open your scanning software and test the scanner.

Common Mistakes

• Installing software for a different Brother printer
• Choosing the wrong Windows version
• Disconnecting the printer during installation
• Skipping the required restart

Method 3, Update Through Windows Device Manager

Windows can sometimes locate updated software through Device Manager.

Step 1

Right click the Start button.

Step 2

Open Device Manager.

Step 3

Expand Imaging devices, Printers, or Print queues.

Step 4

Find Brother MFC-L8905CDW.

Step 5

Right click the device.

Step 6

Choose Update driver.

Step 7

Select Search automatically for drivers.

Allow Windows to complete the search.

Limitations

Windows may not find the newest scanner software available from Brother. If no update is found, install the latest package manually or use DriverAssist.

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

Restart the Windows Image Acquisition Service

Many scanners rely on the Windows Image Acquisition service.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type:

services.msc

1. Press Enter.
2. Locate Windows Image Acquisition (WIA).
3. Right click the service.
4. Select Restart.

After restarting the service, test the scanner again.

Confirm the Correct Scanner Is Selected

If you have more than one scanner installed, Windows may be trying to use the wrong device.

Open your scanning application and make sure Brother MFC-L8905CDW is selected before scanning.

Check the Connection

For USB users:

• Try another USB port.
• Replace the cable if necessary.

For wireless users:

• Verify the printer and computer are on the same wireless network.
• Restart the router if the connection appears unstable.

Remove and Add the Printer Again

If Windows still cannot communicate with the scanner:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth & devices.
3. Choose Printers & scanners.
4. Remove the Brother MFC-L8905CDW.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Reinstall the latest software package.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 Differences

Windows 11

Large feature updates may temporarily interrupt communication with installed scanners.

Check that:

• The latest scanner software is installed.
• Windows Scan recognizes the device.
• Windows Image Acquisition is running.

Windows 10

Older software versions may become incompatible after Windows updates.

Installing the newest software package generally restores normal scanning.

Why This Problem Keeps Coming Back

Recurring scanner issues are commonly caused by:

• Outdated printer or scanner software
• Windows feature updates
• Network interruptions
• Disabled scanning services
• Incorrect software configuration
• Security software blocking communication

Keeping your software current greatly reduces repeat problems.

Keep Scanner Software Updated Automatically

Manually checking for software updates can be easy to forget.

Automatic update tools regularly scan your computer for outdated printer and scanner software, helping your Brother MFC-L8905CDW remain compatible with Windows and reducing the chance of future scanning failures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can my Brother MFC-L8905CDW print but not scan?

Printing and scanning rely on different software components and Windows services. The scanning software may be outdated or a required service may not be running.

Can outdated software prevent scanning?

Yes. Damaged or outdated software can stop Windows from communicating with the scanner correctly.

Why does Windows say no scanner was found?

This message may appear because of connection problems, outdated software, disabled Windows services, or incorrect scanner settings.

Should I reinstall the scanner software?

Yes. If updating does not solve the problem, reinstalling the latest software package often restores normal operation.

Does Device Manager always find the newest scanner software?

No. Brother frequently provides newer software on its support website than Windows can detect automatically.

How do I avoid scanner problems in the future?

Keep your printer and scanner software updated, install Windows updates regularly, maintain a stable network connection, and verify that the Windows Image Acquisition service remains enabled.

Final Thoughts

A Brother MFC-L8905CDW scanner that stops working is usually the result of software or communication issues instead of hardware failure. Updating the printer and scanner software, checking Windows services, and confirming the connection resolve most scanning problems.

Begin with DriverAssist to install the latest software automatically. If you prefer manual updates, download the newest software package from Brother or use Device Manager to check for updates. Combined with restarting the Windows Image Acquisition service and verifying your scanner settings, these steps can restore reliable scanning on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.