Microsoft Lens alternatives for iPhone: what to use now
The iPhone's Files and Notes apps can replace Microsoft Lens for ordinary document scans without another download. Microsoft recommends OneDrive, which saves scans to OneDrive rather than locally; Dokus is an option when you also want to organize and protect the documents you keep on your iPhone.
Microsoft Lens no longer creates new scans. Before choosing another app, decide what you need after taking the picture: a PDF to send now, a file in OneDrive, or a document you will need again.
Choose a replacement by where the scan belongs
| What you need | Where to start | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| A separate PDF without installing another app | Files | Choose the folder when saving. |
| A scan kept with your notes | Notes | The scanned document stays inside the note. |
| Scanning into your Microsoft storage | OneDrive | Microsoft's recommended replacement saves to OneDrive, not locally on the device. |
| Documents kept together and protected for repeated use | Dokus | Local document storage, folders, a biometric lock and sharing tools; the free plan holds five documents. |
We make Dokus. The comparison below focuses on those jobs rather than treating every former Lens feature as interchangeable.
Make your next scan with Files
For a paper form you need to send today, try the scanner already on the iPhone. Follow Apple's Files scanning instructions:
- Open Files and tap More, the three dots.
- Choose Scan Documents and put the paper in view.
- Let Auto capture it, or tap the shutter yourself.
- Adjust the corners if needed, then tap Keep Scan. Capture any remaining pages in the same session.
- Tap Done, choose a folder and tap Save.
- Open the saved file and check that the pages are complete and readable before sharing it.
If you prefer a note, open Notes, choose a note, tap Attachment and then Scan Documents. The resulting scan stays in that note. See the full iPhone scanning guide for keeping and protecting a copy.
What happened to Microsoft Lens?
Microsoft's retirement notice says support ended after February 9, 2026, when Lens left the app stores. New scanning stopped after March 9, 2026.
The notice says previous scans remain accessible if Lens is still installed and you are signed into its last active account. Before removing the app, check the files you need and keep an accessible copy elsewhere. Replacing the scanner does not automatically move its earlier files.
When OneDrive is the right replacement
If your documents already belong in OneDrive, open that app, tap the plus button, choose Scan photo and save the capture to your intended location.
Microsoft says this scanner cannot save scans locally. Choose it when cloud storage suits the task.
When to keep your documents in Dokus
An ID, an insurance document or a contract may be requested repeatedly. Dokus combines capture with a place to keep those documents: scan the paper or import a file, give it a recognizable name and put it in a folder. Documents stored on the device can be opened offline, with Face ID or Touch ID protecting access. Sync through your own iCloud is optional, and there is no Dokus account to create.
When someone requests a copy, the sharing tools let you add a watermark, hide selected areas or convert between PDF and JPG. Check what the recipient accepts before changing the shared copy. The stored document stays as it was.
New free installations can hold five documents. Dokus Plus removes that cap and adds expiry reminders. Combining separate documents into one PDF or ZIP is also a Plus feature; a scan containing several pages is a different task. Dokus plans explains the boundaries.
Check the feature you actually used in Lens
Before moving a large collection, try one representative document in your replacement:
- If you need a readable copy, check page edges, orientation and small print.
- If you need searchable text, editable Word output or another Microsoft workflow, verify that exact output in the replacement. A cropped image saved as a PDF does not, by itself, provide those features.
- If your source is already a picture in Photos, use the guide to turning document photos into scans. You do not need to photograph the screen or print the image to scan it again.
- If the result must contain many pages, follow the multipage PDF guide and check the final order.
Keep the documents you use again in Dokus, starting with one scan you can open and share successfully.
Common questions
What is Microsoft's official replacement for Lens?
Microsoft recommends OneDrive's scanner. It saves to OneDrive rather than locally on your device.
Can I replace Lens without downloading another scanner?
Yes. Files and Notes have built-in document scanners on iPhone. Files is useful for a separate PDF in a chosen folder; Notes keeps the scan inside a note.
Is Dokus free to use as a document scanner?
The scanner and ordinary document sharing are included in the free app, with a five-document storage cap for new installations. Dokus Plus removes the cap and adds features including expiry reminders and combining separate documents into a PDF or ZIP.