February 6, 2026, 9:26 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Since Microsoft stopped manufacturing its own smartphones, the company has focused on developing apps for iOS and Android. Previously, users could use Microsoft Lens to scan documents as an extension of the classic Office apps. With the app’s discontinuation, this option is no longer available—Microsoft does not offer a full-fledged alternative.
Timeline for the App’s Discontinuation
Microsoft announced in a support document that the Lens app will be discontinued on February 9, 2026. However, the company is giving users a grace period: “You can continue to scan documents in the app until March 9, 2026.” After this date, it will no longer be possible to create new scans with Microsoft Lens.
Although Microsoft will remove the app from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store on February 9, those who have already installed it on an iPhone or Android smartphone can continue to use it to view previous scans. The company notes that users must be logged in with the “last active account in the Microsoft Lens app” to access their scans.
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Microsoft Recommends Its Own Lens Alternative
Microsoft now recommends using OneDrive for scanning documents. The cloud service offers an integrated scanner function accessible via the plus symbol at the bottom of the app.
An important difference from Microsoft Lens, which is why OneDrive may not be a suitable replacement for many: Scans cannot be saved locally on the device in OneDrive. Instead, the app uploads scanned documents exclusively to the cloud storage of the respective account.
The function is thus more integrated into Microsoft’s cloud concept. For users who want to store their documents exclusively locally, this is a limitation.
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Lens Was Popular Among Users
The app launched in 2014 under the name Office Lens for Windows Phone. Later, versions for Android and iOS followed. In 2021, it was renamed Microsoft Lens. Currently, the app is among the highest-rated Microsoft apps with 4.7 stars in the Play Store and 4.8 stars in the App Store. Reviews praised its ease of use, local storage, and direct integration for further processing in Microsoft Office apps.
However, in recent years, it has become apparent that many users disagree with the company’s strategy of linking all apps and services to a Microsoft account. One user reported that the app automatically connected to their work Microsoft Teams account, making all personal scans visible to colleagues. Another wrote that local saving of PDF files was only possible with cloud connectivity to the so-called “Connected Experiences” in Microsoft 365 after an update.