There is good news for Microsoft customers seeking to attach a scanner or fax machine to their Windows 11 hardware. Support for eSCL has been fixed, and a compatibility hold will be lifted.
The issue, reported in November, caused problems with connected devices that support the Scanner Communication Language (eSCL) protocol. The problem occurred when Windows attempted to discover these devices, with Microsoft stating, “the device discovery does not complete.”
According to Redmond, the fix has come in the KB5048667 security update, which arrived on December 10 alongside a variety of important fixes.
Microsoft has said it will lift the hold in the next few days but warned that it might take up to 48 hours before affected devices are offered an upgrade to Windows 11 24H2. “Restarting your device might expedite the process,” it added.
As for the problem itself, the tech giant explained, “This issue is caused due to the device not switching out of eSCL mode to USB mode, which allows the scanner drivers to be matched.”
The eSCL protocol comes from the Mopria eSCL specification. It enables driverless scanning over a network – Ethernet or Wi-Fi – or USB connections.
The result was a compatibility hold on devices connected to a USB device that supports the eSCL scan protocol. It was possible to get around the hold manually, but Microsoft warned against doing so.
“Please note that this safeguard applies not only to scanners but also applies to other devices connected over an eSCL protocol such as printers, fax machines, modems, and network devices,” Microsoft said.
The fix is good news for users relying on scanners or multifunction printers with fax capabilities, as these devices should now appear correctly during discovery in Windows 11.®
