Microsoft announced last week that it will discontinue the Lens app later this year. This application was designed to scan and convert physical documents, handwritten notes, and whiteboards into digital files. The tech giant, based in Redmond, will implement a phased retirement of the app by year-end. Although Microsoft has not specified the reasoning behind this decision, it has encouraged users to transition to Microsoft Copilot 365 as a replacement.
Copilot Replaces Microsoft Lens App
With the ongoing discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) impacting the job market, it seems to be affecting app availability as well. The Microsoft Lens app, which premiered in 2015 as a document scanning solution, will be phased out as the company shifts its focus to the Copilot app.
According to a statement on its support page, Microsoft confirmed that the Lens app will be removed from both the iOS and Android app stores starting September 15. Following this, support for the app will cease on November 15, though users who have the app installed will still be able to scan new documents. This functionality will be fully disabled by December 2025, after which users can only access previously scanned documents via the MyScans section.
Originally, Microsoft launched the app for its Windows Phone line under the name Office Lens. It distinguished itself from other third-party applications by offering its features free of charge, without requiring users to purchase or subscribe for premium options.
As an alternative, the company is now advocating for the use of Copilot for scanning documents. Within the mobile application, users can navigate to the Create tab in the menu to scan documents directly. Similar functionality is available on the desktop version and website when prompted.
However, Microsoft pointed out that certain features from the Lens app will not be carried over to the Copilot app. These excluded functionalities include the ability to save scans to OneNote, Word, or PowerPoint, scanning business cards into OneNote, reading documents aloud, and the immersive Reader integration.
