How to Scan to Computer from the Photosmart 6510

To scan to a computer from the HP Photosmart 6510, place the original on the glass, touch Scan on the printer, touch Computer, pick your computer, choose a scan shortcut, and touch Start Scan. If your computer is missing from the list, open the HP printer software on that computer and turn on Manage Scan to Computer first.

That one setting is the usual reason a wireless Photosmart 6510 cannot find a Windows computer. The steps below cover the setting, the scan itself, and what to do when the software or the option is missing.

What you need before you start

• A Windows computer with the full HP software. Scanning from the printer to a computer depends on HP software running on that computer. A basic driver, or the driver Windows installs by itself, can print but does not include HP Scan or HP Printer Assistant.
• A working connection. The printer needs to be connected to the computer by USB, or to the same wireless network as the computer.
• The computer turned on and signed in. The printer can only list computers that are running and reachable.

HP lists the Photosmart 6510 among the printers supported in Windows 11, and the software HP offers depends on your Windows version. The menu names below come from HP Printer Assistant, the Windows program HP installs with the full feature software. It usually appears in the Start menu under your printer name rather than as “HP Printer Assistant”.

The printer has not been set up on your network yet? Start with our guide on how to set up the HP Photosmart 6510 for wireless printing, then come back here.

Step 1: Enable Scan to Computer in Windows

HP says a printer connected to a Windows computer over a wireless network needs wireless scan enabled in the software first. For USB connections, HP states that Scan to Computer is on by default, so you can skip to Step 2.

1. On the computer, click Start and type the name of your printer, such as HP Photosmart 6510. Click the printer name in the results. HP Printer Assistant opens. On Windows 7, you can also click Start > All Programs > HP > HP Photosmart 6510 series, or double-click the printer in Devices and Printers.
2. Find the scan section. Depending on the software version it is labeled Scanner Actions, Scan, or Print, Scan & Fax.
3. Click Manage Scan to Computer.
4. Click Enable. The window should now show that Scan to Computer is enabled for this printer.

The same window has a Disable button. Use it later if you no longer want this computer to appear on the printer. Disabling it does not remove the printer or affect printing.

Repeat this on every Windows computer that should show up on the printer. The setting belongs to the computer, not the printer.

Step 2: Scan from the Photosmart 6510 touch screen

1. Lift the scanner lid and place the original print side down on the right front corner of the glass. Close the lid.
2. Touch Scan on the printer Home screen. The Scan To menu opens.
3. Touch Computer. If the printer is on a network, it shows a list of available computers.
4. Touch the name of the computer that should receive the scan.
5. Touch the scan shortcut you want. A shortcut is a saved group of scan settings, such as a photo saved to a file or a document saved to a file. In HP software, photo shortcuts normally create an image file such as a JPEG, and document shortcuts normally create a PDF.
6. Touch Start Scan. If the printer asks whether you want to scan another page, answer on the touch screen.

How to confirm the scan worked

When the scan finishes, the file is saved on the computer you selected, in the folder set for that shortcut in HP Scan. On many setups this is the Documents folder, and the folder may open by itself with the new file selected. File names usually follow a pattern such as Scan001, but the exact folder and name depend on your software version and shortcut settings.

Cannot find the file? Open HP Scan from HP Printer Assistant, select the same shortcut, and look at its destination or save location setting. You can change the folder and file type there for future scans.

Your computer is not listed on the printer

• Check that Scan to Computer is enabled. Repeat Step 1. A Windows upgrade or a software reinstall can leave it off.
• Check the network. The printer and the computer must be on the same network. A computer on a guest network or a VPN (a private connection that routes traffic through another network) may not be visible to the printer.
• Wake both devices. Touch the printer screen to wake it, and make sure the computer is on and signed in. Then restart both and try again.
• Check your firewall. Security software can block communication with a network printer. Do not turn your protection off. Instead, allow the HP programs in its settings. HP explains this in Firewall blocks driver install or printer functions.
• Reinstall the HP software. Uninstall the HP printer software, restart the computer, and install the full feature software again. HP covers this in its HP Printer Assistant FAQ.

HP has a longer list of fixes for the “No Computer Detected” and “Scan to computer is currently unavailable” messages in Scanner not found or connected.

Manage Scan to Computer or the HP software is missing

No program named after your printer in the Start menu means the full HP software is not installed. That is common on a newer computer where Windows added the printer automatically.

1. Go to HP’s software and driver downloads for the Photosmart 6510 and check what is offered for your version of Windows.
2. If a full feature driver or HP Easy Start is offered, install it and choose the full software option. That installs HP Printer Assistant and HP Scan.
3. Open HP Printer Assistant and repeat Step 1.

If the program opens to a Connect a new printer screen instead of the printer tools, HP says to set up the printer connection again and, if that fails, to uninstall and reinstall the software.

One older tip no longer applies. HP Print and Scan Doctor, the tool often recommended for scan problems, was retired by HP in May 2025. HP now points to the Diagnose and Fix feature in the HP app instead.

Scan from the computer instead

Starting the scan at the computer avoids the Scan to Computer setting completely. It is the better choice when the full HP software is not available for your system.

Windows

1. Place the original on the glass.
2. Search Windows for Control Panel, open it, and click Devices and Printers.
3. Right-click the Photosmart 6510 and choose Start scan.
4. Click Preview, adjust the area, then click Scan.
5. Click Next, name the scan, and click Import. By default the file goes to your Pictures folder.

HP also lists the Windows Scan app, Windows Fax and Scan, and Paint as scanning options. Our guide on how to scan on Windows 11 walks through the built-in tools.

Mac

HP Printer Assistant is not available for Mac. HP’s current guidance for Mac users is to start the scan from the computer with the HP app or with Image Capture, the scanning program built into macOS. Whether the HP app supports a printer as old as the Photosmart 6510 on your Mac is something to check on HP’s site. See HP’s How to scan with an HP printer for the current options.

Tips for a cleaner scan

• Keep the glass and the back of the lid clean.
• For a book or other thick original, HP says the lid can be removed.
• If scanned text looks faint or is missing, adjust the brightness in the scanning software.
• If the image is cropped incorrectly, turn off automatic cropping in the software and crop it yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the Photosmart 6510 say Scan to Computer needs to be enabled?

The printer shows this when no computer is available to receive a scan. On a wireless connection, each Windows computer must have Scan to Computer turned on in the HP software. Open HP Printer Assistant, click Manage Scan to Computer, and click Enable.

Do I need to enable Scan to Computer with a USB cable?

Usually not. HP states that for USB-connected printers the setting is enabled by default. You still need the full HP software installed for the printer to send a scan to the computer.

Can the Photosmart 6510 scan without a computer?

Yes. The printer Scan menu also offers a memory card destination, according to HP’s setup guide. Insert a memory card in the card slot, touch Scan, and choose the memory card option.

Where is the manual for the Photosmart 6510?

HP still hosts the user guide and the setup guide as PDF files on the Photosmart 6510 setup and user guides page. The scanning steps are in the “Copy and scan” chapter of the user guide.

Does this work on Windows 10 or Windows 11?

HP lists the Photosmart 6510 as supported on both. The steps are the same once HP Printer Assistant is installed. Only the way you open the program differs: search for the printer name from the Start menu.

Next step

Once scanning works, it is worth checking that the printer is ready for printing too. See how to check ink levels on the HP Photosmart 6510 from the same touch screen.