Mad about Microsoft lens

Microsoft Lens is being retired, but there are supported alternatives to get documents into editable formats instead of JPEG.

1. Use OneDrive’s built-in scanner
   • Install and open the OneDrive app on the mobile device.
   • Select the + button at the bottom corner.
   • Choose Scan photo to capture the document.
   • Save it to the desired folder in OneDrive.
   • The scan is saved as a PDF in OneDrive (not as a local JPEG), which can then be opened and edited in Word or other Microsoft 365 apps.
   • Note: OneDrive does not support saving scans locally on the device.
2. Use Microsoft Lens (while still available) to create editable documents
   • On iOS or Android, Microsoft Lens can still be used until March 9, 2026 to scan documents.
   • When capturing, choose to save as Word or PDF instead of JPEG.
   • Files saved as Word or PDF go into the Documents folder in OneDrive, where they can be opened as fully editable Word documents.
   • Lens uses OCR so printed text and layout are recognized and become editable in Word.
3. Convert existing JPEGs to editable Word documents
   • If only JPEG images are available, first convert or save them as PDFs (for example, by inserting the image into Word and saving as PDF, or using a scanner/printer app that outputs PDF).
   • In Word, select File > Open, choose the PDF, and let Word import it as an editable document.
   • Proofread and adjust formatting as needed, since OCR accuracy depends on image quality.

Using OneDrive’s scanner going forward, and Word’s ability to open PDFs as editable documents, restores a workflow similar to what was available with Lens without being limited to JPEGs.

References:

• Retirement of Microsoft Lens
• Microsoft Lens for iOS
• Microsoft Lens for Android
• Insert scanned text or images into Word