Microsoft to Sunset Lens PDF Scanner App, Pushing Users Toward Copilot Ecosystem

Microsoft has announced the impending retirement of its Lens PDF scanner application for iOS and Android devices, marking the end of a widely used productivity tool. Formerly known as Office Lens, the app boasts over 50 million downloads on Google Play and a near-perfect 4.9/5 rating, highlighting its popularity for converting physical documents and handwritten notes into digital formats like PDF, Word, and Excel.

The shutdown will proceed in phases:

• Mid-September 2025: New installs disabled on app stores
• Mid-November 2025: App removed from Apple App Store and Google Play Store
• December 15, 2025: Creation of new scans disabled entirely; existing scans remain accessible but unsupported

Users are directed to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app as the replacement. However, this transition comes with significant functional gaps:

| Feature          | Microsoft Lens | Microsoft 365 Copilot |
|------------------|----------------|------------------------|
| Save to OneNote  | ✓             | ✗                      |
| Business Card Scan| ✓             | ✗                      |
| Read-Out-Loud    | ✓             | ✗                      |
| Immersive Reader | ✓             | ✗                      |
| Direct Save to Word/PPT | ✓ | ✗               |

Microsoft states Copilot will receive ongoing feature enhancements but hasn't committed to restoring these specific capabilities. This retirement follows a pattern of Microsoft consolidating services into its Copilot ecosystem, including:

• Deprecation of Microsoft Authenticator's password autofill (July 2025)
• End of support for Microsoft Publisher (October 2026)
• Discontinuation of Paint 3D (November 2024)

"This change reflects Microsoft's aggressive push to funnel users into its AI-centric Copilot platform," observes a productivity software analyst. "While consolidation can streamline experiences, the removal of deeply integrated features like OneNote scanning disrupts established user workflows and raises questions about feature parity timelines."

The Lens shutdown underscores the fragility of standalone utility apps in an era of platform consolidation. Developers and organizations relying on Lens for document workflows must now evaluate Copilot's limitations, export existing scans, and reassess their mobile scanning strategies before the December deadline.

Source: BleepingComputer