Scan documents and photos with Microsoft Lens

Download and install Microsoft Lens in the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iPhone/iPad).

Open the Microsoft Lens app. There is no need to sign in with a Microsoft account. When using the camera for the first time, you must give permission to use the camera. It then becomes active immediately when you open the app. The bottom quarter of the screen is reserved for a menu with the following options:

• whiteboard
  In the office often used upright writing board. Choose this option to make a copy from such a whiteboard. The app then optimizes the background and contrast.
• Document
  For handwritten or typed text on paper, folders, entrance tickets, newspapers, magazines, etc.
• Actions
  This option contains a number of further options:
  • Text
    Convert the text to digital text that can be edited in, for example, Word or an e-mail program.
  • Table
    Convert a table to a digital table that can be edited.
  • Read
    Text from a document is copied and then read with a built-in reader.
  • Contact
    Can be used to extract contact details from a business card. Use this option when the ‘Business card’ option does not work properly.
  • QR code
    Option to scan a QR code.
• Business card
  Use this option to copy contact details from a business card. These are stored in the contacts app on the device.
• Photo
  Make a copy of an image from a magazine or book, or from a single photo.

Microsoft Lens recognizes the edges of documents, photos and other things being scanned. The app also straightens edges by itself, so that a perfect copy is created. Even when the original is crooked on the table. Or was photographed from an oblique angle. That’s the app’s greatest asset.

To practice with the app, grab something that can be scanned. Does not matter what; a newspaper, magazine or letter. Make a copy as follows:

• Open Microsoft Lens.
• Choose the appropriate option from the menu at the bottom. In this article we practice with the option ‘Document’.
• Tap on Document.
• Point the device at what needs to be scanned. A red frame appears. That defines what the app will scan.
• Tap the white capture button if the frame encompasses your sample document.
• The copy appears. A white frame around it. Adjust this frame manually if necessary. Press a finger on one of the dots in the corners and slide the edge.
• As you scroll, the area around the edge is magnified so that you can easily find the edges of the copy. Tap on Confirm if the photocopy is properly framed.
• Tap on Ready.
• Give the document a name. Tap the pencil icon in the top right, type a name and tap the Enter key.
• The copy can be saved in several places. Exactly which they are depends on the apps you have installed. Check ‘Gallery’ to save the copy in the photos app. If you use the OneDrive app, it is also possible to save the copy there.
• Tap on Save.
• You will see an overview of previous saved copies, plus the new copy. Tap the camera icon or arrow to make another copy.

The user can keep a copy in several places. Fortunately, Microsoft Lens keeps a record of all copies.

• Open Microsoft Lens.
• Tap the three vertical dots at the top right.
• Tap on My files.
• An overview appears of the previously made copies. Ordered from newest to oldest. This order cannot be changed. Tap the three vertical dots at the bottom of one of the copies.
• Edit, share or delete the copy.

The location of the file is indicated in a gray bar at the bottom of the screen. For example ‘[uw naam] One Drive > Files > Pictures’.

Microsoft Lens can recognize text and convert it to digital text.

• Open Microsoft Lens.
• Tap on Actions.
• By default, the ‘Text’ option is selected.
• Point the device at what needs to be scanned.
• Tap the white record button.
• The copy appears with a white frame around it. Adjust this frame manually. Press a finger on one of the dots in the corners and slide the edge.
• As you scroll, the area around the edge is magnified so that you can easily find the edges of the copy. It doesn’t have to be very precise, as long as you have all the text within the frame. Tap on Get on if the text is properly framed.
• Microsoft Lens converts the text to digital editable text. Tap on To copy to put the text on your device’s clipboard. For example, the Word app or an app where notes can be taken.
• Tap on To share to forward the text. For example to yourself via an e-mail or WhatsApp message.

Extracting a table from a document or photo (copy) is similar to extracting text from a photo.

• Open Microsoft Lens.
• Tap on Actions.
• Tap on Table.
• Point the device at the table you want to transfer.
• Tap the white record button.
• The copy appears with a white frame around it. Adjust this frame manually. Press a finger on one of the dots in the corners and slide the edge.
• As you scroll, the area around the border is magnified so that you can easily find the borders of the table. Tap on Get on if the table is framed correctly.
• Microsoft Lens converts the table. In the example of the copied table, cells may turn light red. That means the app has doubts about whether the content has been copied properly. Tap such a cell to edit its contents. Or choose ‘ignore’. This means that the content has been copied correctly.
• Walk through all the red cells in this way. Finished? Tap on To copy or To share.

Text difficult to read? Have Microsoft Lens read it to you.

• Open Microsoft Lens.
• Tap on Actions.
• Tap on Read.
• Point the device at the text you want to read.
• Tap the white record button.
• The copy appears with a white frame around it. Adjust this frame manually. Press a finger on one of the dots in the corners and slide the edge.
• As you scroll, the area around the border is magnified so that you can easily find the edges of the text. Tap on Get on if the text is framed correctly.
• The app shows the reading function. Tap the play button (the dot with the triangle).
• Optionally, tap the speaker icon next to the play button for more options. Such as voice choice (male or female) and playback speed.