Microsoft to shut down Lens and push users to Copilot - but you have other options

• 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. 

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