Migration guide · Android and iPhone
Replacing Microsoft Lens: choose by the file you need
Start with your next task: a local PDF, searchable paperwork, editable Word text, or a copy saved to an existing cloud account. You may already have a suitable scanner on your phone.
OnlyScans documentation · Reviewed 21 September 2026
What happened to Microsoft Lens?
Microsoft says Lens stopped creating new scans after 9 March 2026. Existing scans remain accessible while the app is installed and you are signed into its last active account. Before removing Lens, check that you can open the documents you need and retain independent copies. Microsoft’s retirement notice.
Microsoft recommends OneDrive, but its notice says the OneDrive scanning flow does not save scans locally. That storage choice is the first thing to check if you previously used Lens for files kept on your phone.
Compare the destination and the output
This comparison uses the linked publishers’ documentation, reviewed on the date above. It is not a side-by-side speed or OCR-accuracy benchmark. OnlyScans is our product; our guides separately label its demonstration assets and test conditions.
| Option | A practical fit | Storage and output to check |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Notes / Files iPhone and iPad | Occasional document capture using built-in apps; Notes also offers signature markup. | Files lets you choose the save location. Choose a local destination if that is your requirement; cloud destinations follow their own settings. Apple instructions. |
| Files by Google Android | A straightforward searchable PDF workflow with crop, filters and additional pages. | Google documents a Scanned folder inside Downloads. Check the finished PDF in the reader you use. Google instructions. |
| OneDrive Android and iPhone | People who want their scans stored in OneDrive. | Microsoft’s replacement workflow saves to OneDrive and does not support local saving within that scanning flow. Microsoft instructions. |
| Adobe Scan iPhone documentation reviewed | People who want PDF capture and OCR within Adobe’s document workflow. | Adobe’s iOS guide says Save PDF stores the scan in Adobe cloud storage. Check your current plan before relying on extra conversion or editing features. Adobe instructions. |
| OnlyScans Android and iPhone | A local document library with PDF, Word and image export, plus optional OCR, ID layouts and signing tools. | Processing runs on-device; choose where exported copies go. Standard Word export is free. Pro adds advanced tools; available feature packs unlock their specific functions. Check the in-app upgrade screen and plan overview. |
Choose the smallest workflow that does the job
Just a PDF: try the scanner already available through Apple Files or Files by Google. Before changing apps, confirm that you can find the exported file and send it to the intended recipient.
Text you can edit: a PDF text layer is different from an editable document. OnlyScans offers Standard and Enhanced Word export. Compare names, amounts and table cells with your source, and expect to adjust complex layouts.
Searchable records: test a distinctive word in the saved PDF, not only in the scanner’s preview. Follow the searchable-PDF verification steps.
ID copies or signatures: check the recipient’s required layout and signing method first. Our front-and-back ID guide and signing guide explain the resulting files and their limits.
Test the replacement before moving your paperwork
- Keep independent copies of the old documents you still need. Open them outside Lens before uninstalling it.
- Try a non-sensitive page with small text, a date and a total. Check the crop and orientation, then add a second page and inspect its order.
- Export the format you actually use. Reopen it in a separate reader or editor and check search, readability and file size.
- Find the file after closing the scanner. Confirm whether it is local, in a cloud account, or in both places.
- If offline use matters, prepare required downloads and repeat the intended task without a connection. Review OnlyScans’ offline and storage boundaries.
Choose based on this completed task rather than a long feature checklist. Keeping the original page image is useful when OCR or Word reconstruction needs correction later.