# My scanner isn't recognised by Accentis in Windows 11

KB520

### Overview

Accentis communicates with barcode scanners by opening a Windows COM port, rather than interacting with the devices at a driver level. This means that Accentis will work with any scanner that supports Windows COM port emulation.

If you find that your scanner is not working, this often means that it is not being recognised by Windows as a COM port device.

### Using barcode scanners with Accentis

##### Basic operation of COM port emulation

Scanners are often connected to your physical computer via a USB port. The scanner should come with a Windows driver which allows it to present itself to Windows as a COM port device.

##### Verify the scanner supports Windows COM port emulation

The first thing to check is that the scanner device supports Windows COM port emulation. This will usually be listed on the manufacturer’s website or in the documentation provided with the scanner.

##### Ensure COM port emulation mode is enabled.

Most scanners that support COM port emulation include a configuration barcode in their documentation. Scanning this barcode instructs the device to switch COM port emulation mode instead of appearing as a keyboard device. This enables it to communicate properly with Accentis.

##### Contact the scanner’s vendor or manufacturer for support.

If you have a scanner that claims to support COM port emulation but you’re unable to get it working on Windows 11, the recommended approach is to contact the vendor or manufacturer’s support team. They can assist with troubleshooting, provide updated drivers or firmware, and help ensure the device is correctly configured.

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Last edit 15/08/25