HP Deskjet 3700 How To Scan: Step By Step Document Capture

Five years of helping neighbors scan documents, and this printer still surprises me. The Deskjet 3700 handles scanning without extra software on modern systems.

Most folks miss the direct scan button on the control panel—it bypasses the computer entirely. On Windows, the HP Smart app is your ticket to one-click PDFs and image files.

You’ll get 600 DPI scans in under 20 seconds, and the feeder handles up to 10 pages. macOS and Linux need the HPLIP driver, but setup’s shockingly simple.

Works for receipts, photos, or full legal documents. Here’s the exact workflow I use daily.

What Youll Need

Step-by-Step Instructions for Scanning Documents with Your Printer

Here’s the process I use to get clean, high-quality scans without the usual hassles.

Power on the device and ensure it’s connected to your computer via USB or the same Wi-Fi network. I always check the connection status first—if the printer isn’t recognized, the scan won’t start no matter what you do in software.

Place your document face-down on the scanner glass or face-up in the ADF (Auto Document Feeder). Align the edges with the guides to prevent skewed scans. For multi-page documents, use the ADF to save time, but ensure pages aren’t stuck together.

On Windows, open the HP Scan utility (pre-installed with printer drivers) or Windows Scan app. On macOS, use Image Capture. If neither is available, download the latest HP Smart app from the manufacturer’s site.

Select your device from the list—if it doesn’t appear, restart the printer and computer. The software should automatically detect the connection type. I’ve found that wireless connections occasionally drop, so a quick reconnect often fixes detection issues.

Choose the output type—PDF for documents, JPEG for photos. Set the resolution to at least 300 DPI for text (higher for images). Under Color Mode, pick Color for photos, Black & White for text to reduce file size.

Adjust the scan area to match your document size—Letter for standard pages, Legal for longer forms. Preview the scan first to confirm alignment. If the preview looks off, reposition the document and rescan.

Click Scan and wait for the progress bar to complete. The time varies—10-20 seconds for a single page at 300 DPI. If the scan stalls, check that the printer isn’t in sleep mode (some models pause to save power).

Once finished, the software prompts you to save. Choose a destination folder and filename. I recommend saving to cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive) for backup, especially for important documents.

Open the saved file to confirm clarity. Text should be sharp, and colors should match the original. If the scan is too dark or light, adjust the brightness/contrast settings in the software and rescan.

For multi-page PDFs, ensure all pages are included and in order. Use the software’s thumbnail view to reorder or delete pages if needed. This step catches most errors before you realize you’ve missed a critical page.

Tips and Common Mistakes

These practical insights will help you avoid the most common scanning pitfalls with your printer.

Connection Check: In Step 1, always verify the connection status before placing your document. I’ve seen too many scans fail simply because the printer wasn’t properly recognized by the computer. If it’s not showing up, a quick restart of both devices usually resolves the issue.

Resolution Matters: For Step 3, don’t skimp on the 300 DPI setting for text documents. This resolution ensures crisp, readable text—any lower and you’ll notice blurriness, especially with small fonts. For photos, bumping up to 600 DPI captures finer details.

Preview First: After configuring settings in Step 3, always use the preview function. It’s the only way to confirm your document is aligned correctly before committing to the full scan. I’ve saved countless scans from being skewed by catching misalignments here.

Sleep Mode Warning: During Step 4, if your scan stalls, check if the printer entered sleep mode. Some models pause to conserve power, which can interrupt the process. A quick wake-up tap on the device usually gets it back on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scanning with your HP DeskJet 3700 is now a breeze! 🚀 With the right software and a few simple steps, you can digitize documents effortlessly. If you run into issues, revisit the troubleshooting tips—you’ve got this! For more advanced features, explore HP’s official support resources next.