Scanning to PDF with Microsoft Lens

It’s [insert current year] and the ubiquity of the home printer and scanner is waning. If you don’t have easy access to a document scanner, there are apps that you can use to scan your papers for you. This is a great tool for handwritten assignments like in math and science classes. We recommend using Microsoft Lens as it ties into our Microsoft 365 ecosystem; however there are other apps that should also work, including Adobe Scan and SwiftScan. This article will only cover Microsoft Lens.

Download Microsoft Lens

Microsoft Lens is available on Android and iOS only, follow the link that matches your phone below to download the app:

• Microsoft Lens on the Google Play Store

• Microsoft Lens on the Apple App Store

Using the App

1. Open the app

2. Tap Allow when prompted to grant access to your photo library

3. Follow the in-app onboarding, agree to the privacy policy, etc

4. Tap Allow when prompted to grant access to your camera

5. Place the document-to-be-scanned on a flat surface

6. Point the camera at the document and tap the shutter button

7. Use the adjustment handles/dots to adjust the cropping to the edge of the document if needed

8. Tap Confirm

9. Make any adjustments to the image if needed

10. To add more pages, tap on Add then follow steps 5-10 for each page

11. Tap Done

12. Give the file an appropriate name

13. Save and share the file with your instructor

    1. You can save the PDF directly on your phone, or save it to OneDrive

    2. Your instructor may ask you to submit the PDF in Brightspace or via email, consult them if you are unsure of where to submit the file

More about the App

For more information about the Microsoft Lens app from the horses mouth (directly from the source), check out these articles:

• About Microsoft Lens for Android

• About Microsoft Lens for iOS

More Assistance

If you’re having troubles with the Microsoft Lens app, please reach out to BoLTS at BoLTS@kvcc.me.edu for further support.