Is Microsoft Lens still available in 2026?

No. Microsoft Lens (also known as Office Lens) was fully retired by Microsoft in early 2026. It was removed from the App Store and Google Play on February 9, 2026, and it can no longer create new scans after March 9, 2026. If you need a replacement, ScanWow covers the same scan-to-PDF workflow on iPhone and iPad.

What is the best Microsoft Lens alternative for iPhone?

ScanWow is a strong Microsoft Lens alternative for iPhone. It scans documents, receipts, notes, and whiteboards to PDF, offers AI OCR in 17 languages, lets you search inside your scans, and with Pro backs up automatically to your own iCloud. No account required, no subscription: Pro is a one-time $4.99 purchase.

How do I migrate my old Lens scans to ScanWow?

Your old Lens scans are still in OneDrive. Download them to your iPhone's Files app, then use ScanWow's import feature to bring them in. ScanWow can import PDFs directly from Files or images from Photos.

Does ScanWow require a Microsoft account or any account?

No. ScanWow requires no account of any kind. iCloud backup (Pro) uses your existing Apple Account: no new sign-ups needed.

← Back to ScanWow

The best Microsoft Lens alternative for iPhone in 2026.

Q: Can I scan to PDF offline with ScanWow?

Yes. ScanWow is built with an offline-first workflow. You can scan, crop, enhance, read text (for most languages), and export PDFs without an internet connection. Your iCloud backup uploads when you reconnect.

Microsoft Lens (Office Lens) is fully retired. If you used it for quick scans, you need a replacement today. ScanWow covers the same core workflow (scan → auto-crop → enhance → export PDF) and adds search inside your scans and backup to your own iCloud.

Download ScanWow Free

What ScanWow 3.0 offers

Scan documents, receipts, notes, and whiteboards to PDF: auto-crop and image enhancement included
AI OCR text extraction in 17 languages: extract text from any scan accurately
Search inside your scans: find any document by the words it contains
Automatic iCloud backup (Pro) to your own iCloud, not a third-party server
Import from Photos and Files, including existing PDFs
Text recognition on your device: for text work, a page goes to a server only if you tap Magic Enhance, and you can turn that off
Siri and Shortcuts support: automate your scanning workflow
No account required: start scanning immediately, no sign-up
One-time $4.99 Pro: no subscription, no auto-renewal

How ScanWow compares to Microsoft Lens

Feature	Microsoft Lens (retired)	ScanWow 3.0
Scan to PDF	Yes	Yes
OCR text extraction	Yes, in many languages	Yes, on your device, 17 languages
Cloud backup	OneDrive, with sign-in	Your own iCloud (Pro, no extra account)
Account required	Only to save to OneNote, OneDrive, Word or PowerPoint	No account required
Pricing	Free	Free tier + one-time $4.99 Pro
Available in 2026	No, retired	Yes, App Store

What ScanWow is

A document scanner for iPhone and iPad. Fast PDF capture, AI OCR, in-scan search, and iCloud backup: all without requiring a Microsoft or other third-party account.

What ScanWow isn't

Not a Microsoft product. Not a subscription app. No sign-up before you can scan a single page.

Migrate from Lens in five steps

Download your existing Lens scans from OneDrive to your iPhone Files app.
Install ScanWow from the App Store: no account needed.
Import your existing scans using ScanWow's import from Files or Photos.
Enable iCloud backup in ScanWow Pro settings to keep everything backed up going forward.
Scan your first new document and confirm the workflow feels right.

Full step-by-step migration guide →

Common questions

Is ScanWow affiliated with Microsoft?

No. ScanWow is an independent app and is not affiliated with Microsoft in any way.

Are my old Lens scans deleted?

No. Your scans saved in OneDrive are still accessible through OneDrive as long as your Microsoft account is active. Only the scanning app itself was retired. Scans kept only inside the Lens app stay viewable if the app is still installed and you are signed in to your last active account, so export anything important while you can.

Does ScanWow work offline?

Yes. ScanWow is built with an offline-first approach. You can scan, crop, enhance, read text (for most languages), and export PDFs without an internet connection. Your iCloud backup uploads when you reconnect.

What's the fastest way to export to PDF?

Scan, confirm crop, then tap export and choose PDF. It takes a few taps. You can save to Files, share via the iOS share sheet, or copy directly to another app.

Does ScanWow handle multiple languages?

Yes. ScanWow's AI OCR covers 17 languages. Pick the language in Settings to match your document.

Ready to replace Microsoft Lens?

ScanWow is free to download. Your first 3 documents are free. Pro is a one-time $4.99: no subscription.

Download ScanWow Free

Also read: Microsoft Lens is gone: the best iPhone replacement in 2026 · Full migration guide · Side-by-side feature comparison