Sometimes it's convenient to use a simple app that does its job without complications or hidden costs. Microsoft Lens was just that. It was a reliable mobile document scanner that quickly turned paper receipts, business cards, and notes into readable digital files. But now Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of the app and is directing users to its own AI-powered app, Copilot.
According to new support documentation, Lens will stop working on iOS and Android starting September 15, 2025, with removal from the App Store and Google Play on November 15, 2025. Users will be able to scan until December 15, 2025, after which they will only be able to view existing scans as long as the app remains installed.
Launched in 2015 as Office Lens for Windows Phone, Lens quickly became popular due to its free features, with no subscriptions or extra charges, something rare these days. It actually allowed users to convert handwritten notes, documents, and even whiteboard notes into PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or images. And the built-in filters actually improved contrast, sharpness, and readability.
Scans could be saved to Microsoft apps, the cloud, or locally in the gallery. Simple, fast, and efficient. As reported by Bleeping Computer, Microsoft will be redirecting users to the cloud-based Microsoft 365 Copilot solution, which does not have all the features of the popular Lens app. It lacks support for saving to OneNote, PowerPoint, or text-to-speech, as well as accessibility features.
Despite its age, Lens is still popular. It was downloaded more than 322,000 times in the last month alone, and a total of 92.3 million since 2017. Microsoft has not yet made an official comment on this decision.<\/p>\n