Fujitsu ScanSnap document scanner and macOS Catalina - the current status

Some Fujitsu document scanners can only be used indirectly after upgrading the Apple Mac to macOS 10.15 Catalina. This is because the ScanSnap Manager app is no longer supported in this operating system. The replacement software ScanSnap Home works with Catalina, but does not support the older devices. This applies in particular to the Fujitsu scanner models S1500, S1500M, S1300, S510M, S500M and S300M. How you can refrain from selling or downgrading to Mojave and still get your scan device running with the current OS on Mac, iMac and MacBook, I'll tell you here.

Also a solution: Install Mojave and Catalina in parallel

Fujitsu document scanners compatible with macOS Catalina

So there is new software for macOS Catalina, while the old software can no longer be executed. And the new app does not support some of the old devices, which therefore cannot be used in the latest OS on the Mac. On the other hand, there are also models that are very well compatible with the new program and thus also with macOS 10.15. Here is an overview:

Using old Fujitsu ScanSnap document scanners on a Mac (Catalina)

Before you declare your Fujitsu ScanSnap document scanner unusable, sell it, give it away or even leave it to its fate in the basement, you can also try out a few scanner apps on your Mac. Most peripheral devices not only run with the manufacturer's drivers, display and processing programs, but also with alternative third-party software. 

It is a free scanning software with OCR capability and pretty good reviews PDFify. As the name suggests, its main purpose is to create PDF files. Scanners are also supported to scan and save documents for text recognition. You can find the free software PDFify on the Mac App Store.

[appbox app store id1435055351]

Alternatively, there are also some paid apps that can prove themselves as a ScanSnap Home alternative for a Fujitsu ScanSnap document scanner under macOS Catalina. One of them is ExactScan; you can use the free 14-day trial via the developer page download. The full version is also available there from € 79,99. The advantage: 400+ scanners are supported.

The ViewScan App - also with Download on the developer page. It supports over 6.000 scanners and can also be tried out for free. The full version is available in two versions, of which for your Fujitsu document scanner only the more expensive one for € 90,69 is worthwhile. Of course, you have to rely on third-party providers for both paid apps, but you save the purchase of a new scanner device.

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.