Printer SMB Scan to Folder Authentication Failed — What It Means & How to Fix It

Fix network printer scan-to-folder SMB authentication errors when the printer cannot authenticate to the shared folder on Windows or NAS. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: Scan-to-folder sends scanned documents directly to a shared network folder via SMB protocol. Authentication failures prevent the printer from writing files to the destination folder. Windows 11 and recent Windows 10 updates have changed SMB security defaults affecting older printers. NAS devices may also require specific SMB configurations to accept connections from printers. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Windows disabled SMBv1 which older printers require for scan-to-folder. Guest access to SMB shares disabled in Windows security policy. Incorrect username/password configured in the printer's scan-to-folder settings. SMB signing required by Windows but not supported by the printer. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Verify the shared folder permissions: right-click folder > Properties > Sharing > ensure the user has read/write access. On the printer's web interface, verify the scan destination settings: server IP, share name, username (DOMAIN\user format), and password. If the printer only supports SMBv1, enable it on Windows: Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on > SMB 1.0 (security risk). Alternatively, enable guest access: Group Policy > Computer Config > Admin Templates > Network > Lanman Workstation > Enable insecure guest logons. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Printer Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.