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How to Use the PC Versions of the Fujitsu ScanSnap on Your Mac (updated)

By J. Benjamin Stevens on Posted in Hardware, How Do I ... ?

I posted an article several years ago explaining how to use a PC version of the Fujitsu ScanSnap on your Mac.  In fact, that post has been one of the most popular ones on this blog.  My office is still using that PC ScanSnap (model 5110EOX2) on our Macs every day, without a hitch (for over five years now).

I have discovered that there is now a way to install the more recent version of ScanSnap Manager with virtually all of the PC ScanSnaps, so I thought that I’d post about the newest process and included models.  Thanks to the folks at the MacOSXHints Forum for their thread on this topic.  There are some important notes and cautions in that thread, and I recommend you read it before installing this software.

First, download and install the updated ScanSnap Manager (revision: V2.2 L11) by clicking here.  Then, you need to install the appropriate patch kit.  For models S300, S500, S510, fi-5110EOX, or fi-5110EOX2, install Patch Rev. 0.4a by clicking here, and for models S300, S500, S510, and fi-5110EOX3, install Patch Rev. 0.4b by clicking here.  Once you have downloaded, unzipped, and installed these, you should be ready to go.

  • http://www.AlabamaFamilyLawBlog.com Michael Sherman

    I love my Scansnap. Just got the S1500M for my iMac and it just works. And, very small footprint, too.

  • http://dxnguyen.com Dan

    I was able to get my PC S510 to work with my Macbook using this procedure. It took me two tries, but it was able to work!

  • Kesler Roberts

    Thanks for posting this. I’ve been using one of the original Scansnaps with my Mac for several years using the Japanese software. It’s nice to be able to use the latest software and now and not have to guess about what’s going on (I don’t know Japanese.)

  • David Shulman

    I’m looking to do the opposite. Can I use the S510M Mac version with my PC?? Help!

  • Bob

    I patched the Scansnap manager and can now use my original generation PC Scansnap on OS X. Great and thanks. Question: if I purchase a new, current Mac model Scansnap, could I use the patched driver with it, so that I could use both Scansnaps on my OS X laptop, one at home, and one at the office?

  • Elizabeth Pullin

    OK. I am new to MACs, and I attempted to follow your instructions on the Scan Snap for MACs above. I am stuck trying to get the patches to work. I download, and then I click to drag and drop, but nothing seems to work. Any advice. EP

  • Bekah

    I tried this using both the a and b patches (tried the b after the a didn’t seem to work). Anyway…the patch said it worked on both the a and b but I still get a red circle/slash through the icon.
    What am I doing wrong?

  • John R Windsor Jr

    Fujitsu has uploaded a patch for Snow Leopard, but as far as I can tell, it only fixes the quick menu functionality, by disabling it. I downloaded it and it did not restore functionality for me on Snow Leopard.
    My MBP and ScanSnap worked basically flawlessly until Snow Leopard, so I am waiting on another patch from Fujitsu, I hope.

  • John R Windsor Jr

    Sorry, forgot to copy the link to the patch for those it might help.
    http://www.fujitsu.com/emea/products/scansnap/support-en-20090828-1.html

  • Dean Kramer

    THANKS! This worked perfectly on the first try. iMac 27, SL 10.6.2 I got the quick menu error at first but I never use the QM (prefer straight to PDF). Didn’t need to apply the Fujistu ‘fix’. I really appreciate you taking the time to put this together. Saved me buying a new scanner.

  • John R Windsor Jr

    Did not see it, elsewhere, so just in case – Fujitsu has a download for Snow Leopard for the Scansnaps, now.
    http://www.fujitsu.com/us/services/computing/peripherals/scanners/support/sl_download.html

  • RacerX90

    Wow.. Someone “blogged” about my ScanSnap patches (yes, I’m the real author that want’s to remain *anonymous*.) While I’m flattered, there’s a much better way now and it doesn’t require any patching, and it even works with Snow Leopard. Just read pages 17 then 16 of the MacOSXHint thread linked above and you’ll find directions on how to install the V3.0 S1500M driver kit and get it to work with ALL the ScanSnap PC-based scanners (not just the S1500M.)
    Also, the 0.4a/b kit doesn’t work with PPC, only Intel. You need the newer 0.5a/b or 0.6a kits for that which are not listed in this blog for the V2.2 L11 driver.
    Finally, the newer Snow Leopard compatible V2.2 kit I never created a patch for. So my old patch kits won’t work. Maybe one of these days when I’m bored I’ll do a patch for it (but with V3.0 working – what’s the point! :)
    Good luck everyone!

  • bobbity bob

    See here for an updated discussion (scroll down to comments), including my own (simple, easy) experience with my fi-5110EOX and OSX 10.6.2.
    http://www.documentsnap.com/fujitsu-scansnap-update-for-mac-osx-snow-leopard-now-available/
    The tiny hack to get the installer to work even if there is no previous Snapscan Manager install is very easy indeed.
    Cheers
    Bobbity bob

  • Aaron

    This guy made a driver that works out of the box. Something tells me he used the information you and some others figured out. At any rate, thanks to all of you for getting this working! I have been using these instructions since I first got my ScanSnap S510 and it’s been hooked to a Mac OS computer for 99.9% of it’s life thanks to you guys!

  • pauly

    I am trying to get my S500 scansnap to work with my mac. I have to use Paralells to make it work. I went for the patch and downloaded the first one. The second one says its no longer available. The patch for snow leopard is for the s500M which is already mac based. Anyone have a patch for me? Thanks!

  • kee

    could you repost the patches? the links seems to be down from rapidshare.. also i’ve been reading there is a 0.5a and a 0.5b patch , as opposed to the 0.4a and 0.4b patches.. any ideas? im desperate to get this scanner working on my mac. thanks!