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How to Recover Missing Microsoft Lens Scanned Documents on iPhone
Question details
The user needs to recover scanned PDF documents from Microsoft Lens that have disappeared from the local iPhone storage folder.
- Product
- Microsoft Lens
- Device & OS
- iPhone (iOS)
- Scenario
- Locating and restoring scanned documents that are no longer visible in the local iPhone directory.
- Observed behavior
- PDF scans previously saved to the 'On My iPhone' location in Microsoft Lens are missing and cannot be found locally.
Ensure your iPhone has an active internet connection to access cloud backups, and have your Microsoft account login credentials ready.
Search and Recover from OneDrive on the Web
Check if the missing Microsoft Lens scans were synced to your connected Microsoft OneDrive account.
When files disappear from the local 'On My iPhone' storage, they may have been automatically synced, moved, or accidentally deleted. Accessing OneDrive via a web browser provides the most comprehensive search and recovery options.
Open a web browser, navigate to OneDrive.com, and sign in using the Microsoft account associated with your Microsoft Lens app.
Click the search bar at the top of the OneDrive page and type the specific file names or relevant keywords of your missing scanned documents.
If the search yields no results, click on 'Recycle bin' in the left-hand navigation menu to see if the files were accidentally deleted.
Navigate to 'My files' and unlock your 'Personal Vault' by verifying your identity, to ensure the scans were not securely moved there.
Scan and Secure Documents Reliably with WPS Office
Switch to WPS Office for a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office. With its built-in document scanner and secure cloud backup, you can easily digitize documents without the risk of losing them, while enjoying full compatibility with Office formats.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office app on your mobile device.
- 2. Access the Scanner: Tap the '+' icon on the home screen and select 'Scanner' to capture your physical documents.
- 3. Save and Sync: Save the newly scanned PDF directly to WPS Cloud to ensure it is securely backed up and accessible across all your devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Microsoft Lens scans disappear from my iPhone?
Scans can go missing due to incomplete app synchronization, accidental deletion, or storage management features offloading files. They might also have been saved directly to your cloud storage instead of the local 'On My iPhone' folder.
How long do deleted files stay in the OneDrive Recycle Bin?
For personal Microsoft accounts, deleted items are typically kept in the OneDrive Recycle Bin for 30 days before being permanently removed. For work or school accounts, the retention period is usually 93 days.
Can I recover Microsoft Lens files if I don't use OneDrive?
If the files were exclusively saved to your local device storage and deleted, they can generally only be recovered if you made a full device backup (via iCloud or iTunes) prior to the files going missing.
