Microsoft has officially announced the discontinuation of its widely used mobile app, Microsoft Lens (previously Office Lens), which converts images into PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, and more. The phased retirement will begin in September 2025, with full shutdown by December 15, 2025, when new scans will no longer be possible.
Retirement Timeline
- September 15, 2025: Phase-out begins; new installations will be blocked
- Mid-October 2025: All new downloads from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store disabled.
- Mid-November 2025: App removed from both stores entirely
- December 15, 2025: Creating new scans in the Lens app will be disabled, though existing scans remain accessible as long as the app stays installed
Why It Matters
Microsoft Lens gained immense popularity since its launch in 2015, accumulating over 50 million downloads on Google Play and high ratings across platforms. It offered seamless OCR scanning, integration with Microsoft Office apps, and intuitive features like read-aloud and whiteboard scanning
Replacement: Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft encourages users to migrate to Microsoft 365 Copilot, which includes built-in scanning capabilities and access to previously saved OneDrive scans in its “My Creations” section
However, not all Lens features are present in Copilot, including:
- Direct saving to Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote
- Business card scanning to OneNote
- Read-aloud and Immersive Reader functions
What to Do Now
- Backup Your Scans: Access and save existing scans from the app’s MyScans folder while the app is still functional.
- Install Microsoft 365 Copilot: Transition scanning workflows to Copilot, and locate old OneDrive-stored scans under My Creations.
- Explore Alternatives: Consider other scanners like Adobe Scan, Google Drive, CamScanner, or Tiny Scanner to replace missing features.
User Reaction
Lens was beloved for its simplicity and utility across user communities. Many long-time users are disappointed, especially given Copilot’s incomplete feature set.
