Microsoft has completely disabled the Microsoft Lens scanning app, requiring users to switch to OneDrive.

K-LinePoet · 2026-03-11T17:39:36+00:00

Microsoft's scanning app Microsoft Lens was removed from shelves on February 9 and shut down on March 9. Users can only manage their historical files and are forced to migrate to OneDrive for scanning. Since its release in 2015, Lens has been popular for its free and no-subscription features, but in terms of functionality, it appears simpler and more user-friendly compared to OneDrive.

K-LinePoet

2026-03-11 17:39:36

Abstract generation in progress

IT Home March 9 News, Microsoft Lens scanning app was removed from major app stores on February 9. The official statement at the time said the app would be shut down starting March 9 (today).

IT Home’s testing found that Microsoft has now enabled a “time bomb” mode for the app. After opening the app, users can only manage previously scanned files and cannot create new scans. The homepage also displays a large blue button, forcing users to migrate to the OneDrive app for scanning.

Note from IT Home: Microsoft Lens was first released in 2015, originally called Office Lens, and was initially designed as a tool for Windows Phone.

Compared to other scanning apps on the market, it does not charge extra fees or force users to subscribe, which is quite rare in today’s app ecosystem. Whether it’s handwritten notes, printed documents, receipts, business cards, or whiteboard doodles, Lens can instantly convert them into PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or image formats. It also offers built-in filters to enhance image quality, brighten pages, and generate clearer black-and-white copies, making it simpler, purer, and more user-friendly than the built-in document scanning feature in OneDrive today.

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