Microsoft is closing Lens. The popular document scanner is being sacrificed to artificial intelligence

Microsoft has decided to gradually shut down the Lens mobile app, which allowed users to quickly scan documents, business cards, receipts, and other materials. The company is encouraging users to switch to Copilot, although experts note that it does not have the full functionality of Lens.

According to TechCrunch, updated support documents state that Lens will no longer receive updates on iOS and Android starting September 15, 2025. On November 15, the app will be removed from the App Store and Google Play. Documents can only be scanned until December 15, after which it will no longer be possible to create new scans.

After this date, new scans will no longer be possible, but access to previously saved files will remain as long as the app remains on the user’s device.

Launched in 2015 as Office Lens, the app gained significant popularity due to its simplicity and efficiency. It allowed users to convert paper documents, business cards, receipts, notes, etc. into digital files in various formats, including PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and images. Unlike many other mobile scanners, Lens provided full functionality without the need for a subscription or additional payment.

Bleeping Computer journalists note that the Copilot app, to which Microsoft redirects users, has limited capabilities. It does not support direct saving of scanned documents to OneNote, Word, or PowerPoint, nor can it save contacts from business cards. In addition, Copilot lacks accessibility features such as text-to-speech and integration with Immersive Reader.

Microsoft Lens remains quite popular. According to analytics company Appfigures, Lens has been downloaded more than 322,000 times in the last 30 days alone. In total, the app has been downloaded 92.3 million times since January 2017.

Microsoft has not yet commented on the reasons for its decision to shut down Lens.

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