Sometimes a simple app that performs a single function efficiently is appreciated.
Microsoft Lens was such an app: a mobile document scanner that converted paper documents, business cards, and receipts into readable digital files. Microsoft has announced its discontinuation, guiding users to its Copilot AI chat app instead.
As per a new support document, Lens will retire from iOS and Android starting September 15, 2025, and will be removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play by November 15, 2025. Current users can use its scanning features until December 15, 2025. Post this date, no new scans will be possible, though access to previous scans will remain as long as the app is on the device.
Introduced in 2015, Microsoft Lens (formerly Office Lens) originated for Windows Phone devices. While it shared core features with other scanning apps, it didn’t push users towards subscriptions or additional charges—a rare feature in today’s App Store.
It transformed any handwriting or printed material—notes, documents, receipts, business cards, or even whiteboard scribbles—into your chosen file format, such as PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or images. It included several built-in filters to enhance the image, brighten the document, and create a sharper black-and-white copy.
Files could then be saved to Microsoft’s apps, other online services, or your camera roll. It was straightforward and effective.
The impending shutdown was noted by Bleeping Computer, mentioning users are directed to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, which lacks many Lens functionalities. While Copilot can perform scans, it doesn’t save them directly to OneNote, Word, or PowerPoint, nor does it support business card scans to OneNote. It also misses Lens’ accessibility features like read-out-loud and Immersive Reader integration, notes the site.
Despite being older, Lens remains popular, gathering over 322,000 downloads on the App Store and Google Play in the past 30 days, based on data from Appfigures. Since January 2017, it has been downloaded 92.3 million times, as stated by the firm’s data.
Microsoft has not commented on the decision to discontinue Lens.