Microsoft has announced that its Lens app will be retired from iOS and Android devices starting September 15, 2025. It will then be removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play on November 15, 2025.
Users will still be able to use its scanning features until December 15, 2025, if the app is already on their device. Thereafter, they won’t be able to scan anything new, but their existing scans will remain on the device, as long as they keep the app installed.
How it worked
With Microsoft Lens, users could scan handwritten notes, documents, receipts, or business cards, and turn them into various formats such as PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or images.
It also included filters to enhance the scans, make text clearer, or turn them into black-and-white copies. Once scanned, users could save their files directly to Microsoft apps, other cloud services, or just to their phone’s photo gallery.
Launched in 2015 (it was originally called Office Lens), the app began as an application on Windows Phone devices. Unlike many scanning apps, it didn’t charge extra for features or push users into paid subscriptions.
Copilot to the rescue
With Lens on its way out, Microsoft is now directing its users towards the Copilot AI chat app as an alternative.
However, while Copilot does offer scanning, it doesn’t currently let you save scans directly into Word, OneNote, or PowerPoint. It also doesn’t support business card scans to OneNote or include accessibility tools such as read-aloud or Immersive Reader, which Lens did.
How to access existing scans
Users can still view their old scans in the MyScans section of the Microsoft Lens app, as long as the app is still installed on their device.
They can also access them from the Microsoft 365 Copilot App.
iOS users
Android users
Users will still be able to use its scanning features until December 15, 2025, if the app is already on their device. Thereafter, they won’t be able to scan anything new, but their existing scans will remain on the device, as long as they keep the app installed.
How it worked
With Microsoft Lens, users could scan handwritten notes, documents, receipts, or business cards, and turn them into various formats such as PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or images.
It also included filters to enhance the scans, make text clearer, or turn them into black-and-white copies. Once scanned, users could save their files directly to Microsoft apps, other cloud services, or just to their phone’s photo gallery.
Launched in 2015 (it was originally called Office Lens), the app began as an application on Windows Phone devices. Unlike many scanning apps, it didn’t charge extra for features or push users into paid subscriptions.
Copilot to the rescue
With Lens on its way out, Microsoft is now directing its users towards the Copilot AI chat app as an alternative.
However, while Copilot does offer scanning, it doesn’t currently let you save scans directly into Word, OneNote, or PowerPoint. It also doesn’t support business card scans to OneNote or include accessibility tools such as read-aloud or Immersive Reader, which Lens did.
How to access existing scans
Users can still view their old scans in the MyScans section of the Microsoft Lens app, as long as the app is still installed on their device.
They can also access them from the Microsoft 365 Copilot App.
iOS users
- Cloud scans: Open the Create tab and tap the folder icon at the top right. Then go to My Creations to view saved scans.
- Local scans: Files saved only on the user device with Microsoft Lens won’t appear in the Copilot app.
Android users
- Cloud scans: Just as with iOS, open the Create tab, tap the folder icon, and go to My Creations to view your saved scans.
- Local scans: First enable ‘All Files Access’ for the Microsoft 365 Copilot app in your device settings. Then, follow the same steps described above to view your saved files.
