Microsoft is officially retiring its standalone Lens app, a move that signals a broader shift toward AI-first productivity. Lens, once a quiet workhorse for mobile scanning, allowed users to digitize documents, whiteboards, and business cards with precision and zero friction. Starting September 15, 2025, the app will stop accepting new installs; by November, it will be delisted from app stores entirely. After December 15, active scanning will no longer function, though access to previously saved content will remain.
The company now encourages users to rely on Microsoft 365 Copilot, its AI-powered assistant, which integrates scanning among broader productivity features. But the transition has raised user concerns. Copilot, while advanced in natural language processing, lacks several key features that Lens users relied on: direct exports to Word or PowerPoint, business card digitization, Immersive Reader integration, and core accessibility tools such as text-to-speech. The shift from a lightweight, purpose-built utility to a bundled AI platform may reflect Microsoft’s broader strategic realignment—but it risks alienating long-time users who valued simplicity, speed, and focus.
