Is Microsoft Lens still available in 2026?

No. Microsoft Lens (also known as Office Lens) was fully retired by Microsoft in early 2026. The app no longer works and is no longer available to download. 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 the best Microsoft Lens alternative for iPhone. It scans documents, whiteboards, and business cards to PDF, offers AI OCR in 17 languages, lets you search inside your scans, and 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 ID — no new sign-ups needed.

← Back to ScanWow

Microsoft Lens has been retired. The app no longer works as of early 2026. If you are looking for a replacement, you are in the right place.

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, and export PDFs without an internet connection. iCloud backup syncs when you reconnect.

Microsoft Lens (Office Lens) is fully retired — not "retiring soon," but gone. If you used it for quick scans, you need a replacement today. ScanWow covers the same core workflow — scan → auto-crop → enhance → export PDF — with a set of features that meaningfully improve on what Lens offered.

Download ScanWow — Free

What ScanWow 3.0 offers

Scan documents, receipts, whiteboards, and business cards 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) — syncs to your own iCloud, not a third-party server
Import from Photos and Files, including existing PDFs
On-device privacy option — document data never leaves your iPhone if you prefer
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	Basic, English-focused	AI OCR, 17 languages
Search inside scans	No	Yes
Cloud backup	OneDrive (Microsoft account required)	Your own iCloud (Pro, no extra account)
Account required	Microsoft account for full features	No account required
On-device privacy	No	Yes
Siri & Shortcuts	No	Yes
Pricing	Free (Microsoft 365 for extras)	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. Not a bloated platform requiring 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 synced 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. Download anything important from OneDrive at your convenience.

Does ScanWow work offline?

Yes. ScanWow is built with an offline-first approach. You can scan, crop, enhance, and export PDFs without an internet connection. iCloud backup syncs when you reconnect.

What's the fastest way to export to PDF?

Scan, confirm crop, then tap export and choose PDF. The whole process takes under 15 seconds. 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. You can extract text from documents in languages Microsoft Lens did not support well.

Ready to replace Microsoft Lens?

ScanWow is free to download. The free tier gives you enough to test the workflow. 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