Sometimes, a simple app that does one thing exceptionally well, without unnecessary complexity, is precisely what users appreciate. Microsoft Lens, a popular mobile document scanner, was precisely that kind of application.
However, Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of Microsoft Lens, directing its users to its more comprehensive AI chat application, Copilot, instead. This move marks the end of an era for a tool praised for its simplicity and effectiveness in digitizing physical documents.
According to a new support document from Microsoft, the Lens app will be retired from iOS and Android devices starting September 15, 2025. Following this, it will be removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store on November 15, 2025. Existing users will have until December 15, 2025, to utilize the app’s scanning capabilities. After this date, no new scans will be possible, although access to previously saved scans will remain as long as the app is installed on a user’s device.
First launched in 2015 as Office Lens, the application evolved from its origins on Windows Phone devices. Unlike many modern scanning apps, Microsoft Lens stood out by offering its core functionality without additional charges or pushing users towards subscriptions. Its primary role was to convert paper documents, business cards, receipts, and even whiteboard scribbles into easily readable digital files, offering formats such as PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and various image types. It also featured built-in filters to enhance scanned images, making them sharper and more legible.
The impending shutdown of the app was first highlighted by the site Bleeping Computer. They noted that users are being directed to Microsoft 365 Copilot, an application that, while capable of scanning, reportedly lacks several key functionalities present in Lens. Specifically, Copilot does not support saving scans directly to OneNote or Word, nor does it handle business card scans to OneNote. Furthermore, it omits Lens’s accessibility features, such as the read-out-loud option and integration with Immersive Reader.
Despite its age, Microsoft Lens has maintained significant user engagement. Recent data from app intelligence provider Appfigures indicates that the app garnered over 322,000 downloads across the App Store and Google Play in the past 30 days. Since January 2017, its total downloads have reached an impressive 92.3 million, underscoring its continued relevance and popularity among users seeking a straightforward scanning solution.
Microsoft has not yet provided an official comment regarding its decision to retire the Microsoft Lens application. This transition represents a shift from dedicated, single-purpose tools towards more integrated AI platforms, leaving many users to lament the loss of a beloved, functional app.
