Scanner not detected in simple-scan in Ubuntu 24.04

Question

I recently re-installed my OS, upgrading from 22.04 to 24.04. After re-installing simple-scan, my Fujitsu (Ricoh) fi-800r, connected directly by USB, is no longer detected by simple-scan, my preferred scanning software. This configuration worked OK in the prior 22.04 installation.

Notes

Installed latest drivers from the Ricoh website (pfufs/now 2.8.0 amd64 [installed,local])
- ls /usr/lib/sane/ shows libsane-pfufs.so libsane-pfufs.so.1 libsane-pfufs.so.1.1.24
lsusb reports my scanner at Bus 009 Device 005: ID 04c5:15fc Fujitsu, Ltd
ls -l /dev/bus/usb/*/* reports sufficient permissions crw-rw-rw-+ 1 root root 189, 1028 Aug 28 09:40 /dev/bus/usb/009/005
SANE documents the scanner as supported here.

From apt list *sane*:

libsane-common/noble,noble,now 1.2.1-7build4 all [installed]
libsane-dev/noble,now 1.2.1-7build4 amd64 [installed]
libsane-dev/noble,now 1.2.1-7build4 i386 [installed]
libsane-hpaio/noble,now 3.23.12+dfsg0-0ubuntu5 amd64 [installed,automatic]
libsane1/noble,now 1.2.1-7build4 amd64 [installed]
libsane1/noble,now 1.2.1-7build4 i386 [installed,automatic]
sane-airscan/noble,now 0.99.29-0ubuntu4 amd64 [residual-config]
sane-utils/noble,now 1.2.1-7build4 amd64 [installed]
sane/noble,now 1.0.14-18 amd64 [installed]
xsane-common/noble,noble,now 0.999-12ubuntu4 all [installed,automatic]
xsane/noble,now 0.999-12ubuntu4 amd64 [installed]

From sane-find-scanner:


  # sane-find-scanner will now attempt to detect your scanner. If the
  # result is different from what you expected, first make sure your
  # scanner is powered up and properly connected to your computer.

No SCSI scanners found. If you expected something different, make sure that
you have loaded a kernel SCSI driver for your SCSI adapter.
could not fetch string descriptor: Pipe error
could not fetch string descriptor: Pipe error
could not fetch string descriptor: Pipe error
could not fetch string descriptor: Pipe error
found possible USB scanner (vendor=0x04c5, product=0x15fc) at libusb:005:003
Your USB scanner was (probably) detected. It may or may not be supported by
SANE. Try scanimage -L and read the backend's manpage.
Not checking for parallel port scanners.
Most Scanners connected to the parallel port or other proprietary ports
can't be detected by this program.

From scanimage -L:

device `pfufs:fi-800R:009:005' is a  fi-800R scanner

/etc/sane.d/dll.conf has fujitsu (not commented out)
- /etc/sane.d/fujitsu.conf has usb 0x04c5 0x15fc
xsane can successfully scan images.
Opening simple-scan does not list my scanner in the drop down.
Opening simple-scan pfufs:fi-800R:009:005 times out when trying to start a scan.

Resources I've already read

Did you install simple-scanner with apt or snap(i.e. the app store)? Can you try removing the one installed from app store, and install it with apt sudo apt install simple-scan? — Archisman Panigrahi, Aug 28 '24 at 14:32
I had used the snap, and I just uninstalled and reinstalled everything using apt and was able to detect/scan successfully! Feel free to repost as an answer, and I will happily give credit. Thank you. — David Elner, Aug 28 '24 at 14:34
Snaps are sandboxed, which may indeed block USB if the proper connections are not set up in the package YAML. Please report the issue to the snap packager so they can fix their bug. — user535733, Aug 28 '24 at 15:01
@user535733 It seems that the snap package maintainer is canonical. How do you report an issue here https://snapcraft.io/install/simple-scan/ubuntu ? — Archisman Panigrahi, Aug 28 '24 at 15:12
The best place I know to report a bug in snap packaging is https://forum.snapcraft.io — user535733, Aug 28 '24 at 15:45
One of the best written, thoroughly researched, questions I've read here. — WinEunuuchs2Unix, Sep 11 '24 at 23:16

Archisman Panigrahi · Accepted Answer · 2024-09-11T23:16:22.683

2

This seems to be a bug related to snap packaging.

The solution is to remove the snap app of simple-scan from snap store, and reinstall the apt app. Open a terminal and enter the following commands one by one.

sudo snap remove simple-scan
sudo apt install simple-scan

edited Sep 11 '24 at 23:16

answered Aug 28 '24 at 14:35

Archisman Panigrahi

40,026

Good to know. I hope Canonical gives people warnings not to use Snap in cases like this. (Of course they won't warn you). – WinEunuuchs2Unix Sep 11 '24 at 23:14
@WinEunuuchs2Unix I wish Canonical tested their new technologies before pushing them so aggressively. Ubuntu is not anymore what it used to be :sigh: – Archisman Panigrahi Sep 11 '24 at 23:15
Agreed. I wish Canonical read the Ask Ubuntu website. – WinEunuuchs2Unix Sep 11 '24 at 23:17
1

@WinEunuuchs2Unix Also, many apps are not working out of the box in 24.04 (includes all electron apps except VS Code. Also includes many apps using web technologies). Here is the fix https://askubuntu.com/q/1511654/124466 – Archisman Panigrahi Sep 11 '24 at 23:22

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 13 '24 at 18:13

1

firstly, the snap is made private. That means, only if you explicitly run sudo snap install simple-scan the snap shouldn't be there. But, I guess, you went to the internet and searched for simple-scan linux.. and the result showed up for you. I'll let the team know about this issue. Secondly, can you kindly try once if this fixes your issue?

sudo snap connect simple-scan:raw-usb

Because raw-usb is a very privileged plug, it's not auto connected. And this command will manually connect it. Can you check if this fixes it? Is there any other log you also see? Can you kindly share it with us?

answered Sep 13 '24 at 18:13

soumyadghosh

71

It gives me error: snap "simple-scan" is not installed. – Jomo Dec 15 '24 at 18:03
It means you're not using the snap. So, it must not be a snap related issue. :( – soumyadghosh Dec 16 '24 at 19:20
Searching for simple-scan in App center it does not give me any snap, only Document Scanner in Debian packages. But it loses connection every second or third page scan. So, I am looking for a solution. – Jomo Dec 17 '24 at 04:16
As I read here https://askubuntu.com/a/1205931/933309, the new name for the Simple Scan (simple-scan) utility is indeed Document Scanner. HP photosmart 5520 printer with USB connection. – Jomo Dec 17 '24 at 20:56
Because the snap is made unlisted. You can try it by this
sudo snap install simple-scan
– soumyadghosh Dec 18 '24 at 15:56
I did and it does not detect my scanner at all. Moreover, now I have two Document Scanners installed. – Jomo Dec 20 '24 at 00:14
Did you ran this after installing the snap?
sudo snap connect simple-scan:raw-usb
– soumyadghosh Dec 21 '24 at 08:39
Yes, I did but nothing happened. So, I removed the snap Document Scanner. At least, the Debian package recognizes the scanner, although it loses connection after a while. I am still looking for a solution. – Jomo Dec 26 '24 at 02:14
Can you kindly share the logs? Run the snap from the terminal by the command, snap run simple-scan and share us what error log is showing up? – soumyadghosh Dec 27 '24 at 05:52

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 03 '25 at 16:30

If your device driver is installed, but your scanner is not recognized, it is easier to use the San-Libs utility which will do all necessary operations for detection of the USB scanner. The application allows to return to the original configuration in order to follow manually the indications indicated below

Scanner not detected in simple-scan in Ubuntu 24.04

Notes

No SCSI scanners found. If you expected something different, make sure that

you have loaded a kernel SCSI driver for your SCSI adapter.

Your USB scanner was (probably) detected. It may or may not be supported by

SANE. Try scanimage -L and read the backend's manpage.

Not checking for parallel port scanners.

Most Scanners connected to the parallel port or other proprietary ports

can't be detected by this program.

Resources I've already read

3 Answers3

Linked