Microsoft has announced that the Microsoft Lens app will be retired on mobile (iOS and Android) devices. After September 15, support for the app will end and over time users will no longer be able to create new scans.
To replace Microsoft Lens, Microsoft recommends users transition to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app which offers integrated scanning functionality and other productivity features. This app is available on both app stores and is designed to help users continue their work with minimal disruption.
You should still be able to access previously created scans, as long as the app remains installed on your device. This gives you some time to transition to alternative methods for scanning and managing your documents. Some files created in specific formats such as VCF may not be available in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.
For iOS users, local scans saved on your device from Microsoft Lens will not be available in the Copilot app.
Android users can have the Copilot app scan local storage. Grant All Files Access to the Copilot app, then open the Create tab and tap the folder icon to access the scans from your local storage.
To scan with the Microsoft 365 Copilot app:
- Open the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on your mobile device.
- Tap the horizontal lines icon in the top left corner to open the app’s menu.
- Select the Create tab.
- Tap Scan to begin scanning your documents.
Once you’ve scanned documents, you can access them at any time through the folder icon in the top right corner of the Create tab under My Creations.
Some features from Microsoft Lens aren’t supported in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app such as business card scanning to OneNote, or scanning directly to OneNote, Word, or PowerPoint isn’t available. The Read Out Loud functionality and Immersive Reader integration also are not available.
As the planned retirement of Microsoft Lens approaches, users should start transitioning their scanning workflows. Microsoft 365 Copilot offers an integrated solution within the 365 ecosystem, making it easier to manage your documents alongside other services.
Learn more about Lens’ retirement and Microsoft’s best suggestions on their official announcement post here.
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