Want a Microsoft Lens alternative? 5 scanning apps you can try today

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Microsoft's document scanning Lens app is being retired.
• For basic scanning, try Apple Notes, Google Drive, or PhotoScan.
• For more advanced features, look at Adobe Scan or iScanner.

I scan a fair number of paper documents via my phone, and one mobile app I've grown to rely on is Microsoft Lens. With Lens, I can scan documents, business cards, photos, and other physical items and save or share the digital versions. Now, I'm going to have to find a different program, as Lens is fading into the sunset.

In a recent support document, Microsoft announced that the Lens app would be retired from iPhones and Android devices as of Jan. 9, 2026. With that date already having passed, actual support for the app will vanish after ...