Microsoft has recently updated the timeline for phasing out its popular free scanning app, Microsoft Lens, which is now widely used. On February 9, support will stop, as the app will also be removed from the mobile app stores and is slated to end on February 9. Lens will cease to work purely by March 9, when it stops working altogether. For those who wonder what to do next, Microsoft recommends switching to OneDrive for users wishing to use the most of the Lens’ scanning features now integrated into onedrive.
Good to know : learn how to stop forced app updates in the Microsoft Store.
Using OneDrive for Scanning Documents
For many users, one of the reasons that flocked to Microsoft Lens was it was an intuitive and easy solution which didn’t require creating or logging in with an account. I downloaded and it was scanning instantly.
To use the OneDrive app, well, you’ll need a Microsoft account. That shouldn’t be a problem if you’re also Windows user, as most likely have one already. In a statement about the tech giant’s recent death of serveral Microsft account bypass tricks, while some still work on servers, it has also killed serverally Micro-spt accounts bypasses.
Install OneDrive on your phone and log in with your account.
From the main interface, press the + button in the lower right corner. Press the Capture button.
When scanning, select what you are looking for at the bottom –** Document *********** *Video** – Whiteboard (Business Card *********) or **Photo. But of course, these options are not even available in the iOS app only when it comes to . For example, if you tap + on Android, it will open the scanning screen with no further options available.
But the Actions menu that made Lens so useful with its options to extract text, contact info, read text out loud or scan a QR code is not available in OneDrive. For the most part, at least for now.
When selecting the type of text that you would like to take, put your phone over the text you want it scanning and then press the shutter button below.
Crop the scan as needed, and rotate the image if necessary. Finally, press the Review and Edit button.
The edit menu here is the same as in Microsoft Lens for editing, and it’s exactly the way that does. The image can be further cropped, added text or doodle on the picture with different colors.
At the bottom, you can add filters to improve legibility or overall appearance.
Once you’re done, press Finish to save it at your desired location in OneDrive.
My PC’s app allows me to access all my documents and images from the app, which is a seamless option for using OneDrive as an Windows user. My experience with Syncing has been consistently reliable and it is easy to stay active on my mobile whenever I need it. I have a PC with scans made in the OneDrive app, but even better scan is showing up on my PC so no file transfers are required.
Tip : get up to speed on how to enable and install extensions on Microsoft Edge for mobile.
Alternatives for Microsoft Lens on Your Mobile Device
If, for whatever reason, you don’t like OneDrive, the good news is that there are plenty of good alternatives out there. The Google Drive app (also on iOS) has already been installed in many Android phones, and is the easiest way to use it if you’re an Android user. This solution includes an AI-powered enhancement tool, as well as a handy Clean option for improving scan quality even further.
The native scans of documents from the camera app without installing an additional app are also available for some Android phones, such as Samsung or Honor ones, so you may want to check first if your device supports this option. Similarly, for example, Honor’s solution can also extract text.
For more scanning apps for Android, check our post that highlights additional solutions for your needs.
Alternatively, if you’re on iOS, you can scan directly from the new Preview app in iOS 26, or the Files app. The Files app previously had the option to scan documents, but it appears Apple has removed it from there (at least in iOS 26).
OneDrive is a good tool for learning how to use the most of your One Drive storage, even if you regularly use it (not just scan)?
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