Sign-in & Login Problems

How to Stop Microsoft Lens from Requiring OneDrive Sign-In

Amos Gikunda Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent Microsoft Lens from repeatedly asking for a OneDrive sign-in every time they try to save a scanned document.

How to Fix Microsoft Lens Repeatedly Requiring OneDrive Sign-In

Product: Microsoft Lens, OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Saving scanned documents from Microsoft Lens to OneDrive.
Observed behavior: The app repeatedly prompts the user to sign in to their Microsoft or OneDrive account instead of remembering the saved login credentials.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Microsoft account email and password ready, as you may need to remove and re-add your account credentials to resolve the synchronization loop.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove and Re-add Your Microsoft Account (Android)

Clearing your saved credentials from the Android system settings often resolves persistent login prompts caused by corrupted authentication tokens.

Sometimes the operating system fails to pass the correct login token to Microsoft Lens. Manually refreshing your account credentials at the system level can force the app to recognize your sign-in state.

Open your device Settings

Navigate to the 'Settings' app on your Android device and tap on 'Accounts' or 'Users & Accounts' depending on your phone's manufacturer.

Remove the Microsoft account

Find your Microsoft or OneDrive account in the list, tap on it, and select 'Remove Account'.

Restart your device

Reboot your smartphone or tablet to ensure all cached background credential errors are completely cleared.

Sign in to Lens again

Open Microsoft Lens, scan a document, and sign in to your Microsoft account when prompted. The credentials should now be saved successfully.

Remove and Re-add Your Microsoft Account (Android)

By Design Behavior: Please note that Microsoft Lens requires a valid signed-in account by design when uploading directly to cloud services like OneDrive.

Solution 2

Reset Credentials via App Settings (iOS)

For iPhone or iPad users, resetting the app settings can help refresh cached login tokens and fix the continuous prompt loop.

Built-in Document Scanner

Scan and Save Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office

Avoid frustrating login loops by using the built-in document scanner in WPS Office. It allows you to scan, convert to PDF, and securely save your files to the cloud without dealing with repeated sign-in prompts.

1. Download the app: Download and open the WPS Office app on your mobile device.
2. Access the Scanner: Tap the '+' (Add) button on the home screen and select 'Scanner' to activate the camera.
3. Capture and edit: Capture your document and use the built-in tools to crop, enhance, or extract text from the image.
4. Save to cloud: Save the scanned file directly as a PDF or image to your preferred cloud storage without repetitive logins.

All-in-one mobile app for scanning, editing, and managing your documents securely.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and PDFs.Seamless and stable cloud synchronization with WPS Cloud, Google Drive, and more.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Lens keep asking me to sign in?

This usually happens due to a corrupted authentication token on your device, or if your device's operating system is aggressively clearing the app's cache in the background. It is also a system requirement to authenticate when uploading files directly to cloud services like OneDrive.

Can I use Microsoft Lens without signing in?

Yes, you can use Microsoft Lens to scan and save images locally to your device's photo gallery without signing in. However, to save files directly to OneDrive, Word, or PowerPoint, an active Microsoft account login is strictly required.

Does this persistent login issue happen on both personal and work accounts?

Yes, the persistent sign-in prompt can affect both personal Microsoft accounts and Work or School accounts. If it's a Work account, your organization's security policies, such as conditional access rules or frequent session timeouts, might be enforcing the repeated login requests.

Login & Account Issues