Microsoft Lens is losing its job to AI as Microsoft prepares to retire the popular scanning app on mobile devices. Starting September 15, 2025, Microsoft will begin phasing out Microsoft Lens from iOS and Android.
Users can keep scanning with the app until December 15, 2025, but after that, creating new scans will no longer be possible. The app will be removed entirely from app stores by November 15, 2025.
Originally launched in 2014 as Office Lens on Windows Phone, Microsoft Lens expanded to Android and iPhone in 2015. It was renamed to Microsoft Lens in 2021. Over the years, the app gained praise for its efficient document scanning capabilities.
Users relied on it to scan documents, whiteboards, business cards, and convert handwriting to text or images to tables. Additionally, it offered helpful features like image straightening and shadow removal.
However, Microsoft Lens is losing its job to AI-driven tools embedded in the new Microsoft 365 Copilot app. Microsoft now encourages users to switch to Copilot, which combines AI with scanning functions. The new app offers a more integrated experience by merging scanning with AI-powered productivity features.
Transitioning to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app allows users to access their previous Lens scans from the Create > My Creations menu. Nevertheless, some Microsoft Lens features will not carry over.
For example, users cannot save scans directly to OneNote, PowerPoint, or Word within Copilot. Similarly, scanning business cards to save into OneNote, read-aloud capabilities, and Immersive Reader integration are missing in the new app.
Despite these differences, Microsoft believes the AI-driven approach will deliver more value. The retirement of Microsoft Lens marks a shift toward integrating scanning into broader AI-powered productivity suites. This change reflects Microsoft’s vision of uniting AI with traditional tools.
In conclusion, Microsoft Lens is losing its job to AI as the company retires the app in late 2025. Users should prepare to transition to Microsoft 365 Copilot, which promises enhanced AI features but lacks some legacy options. Microsoft Lens fans will miss certain functions but can look forward to more intelligent tools in the future.
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