Microsoft / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
ZDNET's key takeaways
Microsoft Lens retires in stages, ending scans by Dec. 15, 2025.
365 Copilot app offers scanning but with fewer features.
Adobe Scan, PhotoScan, TurboScan are solid Lens alternatives.
I often use Microsoft Lens on my iPhone to scan photos, business cards, and documents. It's a handy and helpful app for scanning physical items. But come December, I'll have to rely on a different program for my scanning needs. That's because Microsoft is giving the app the heave-ho.
A multi-stage retirement
In a new support page, Microsoft announced that Lens will be retired starting Sept. 15. But the actual retirement will come in stages. The app will lose official support on Nov. 15, at which time it will be removed from Apple's App Store and Google Play.
Also: Microsoft rolls out GPT-5 across its Copilot suite - here's where you'll find it
Even then, you'll still be able to create new scans. However, that capability will go away on Dec. 15. At that point, you can continue to view and access previous scans as long as you keep the app on your device, but you'll no longer be able to scan new items.
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