Microsoft is phasing out the Lens app on iOS and Android. The company has started the retirement process and will end full support in the coming weeks. The app still works for now, and your existing scans remain available if you already have it installed. Still, Lens is on the way out. OneDrive now handles the same scanning tasks.
You might ask why Microsoft is doing this. The company wants fewer overlapping apps. Instead of maintaining a separate scanning tool, it has folded Lens features into OneDrive. As a result, Microsoft no longer sees a reason to keep Lens as a standalone product.
In a statement to WindowsLatest, Microsoft confirmed the change. The company said it will begin removing Lens from the App Store and Play Store on February 9. After that date, new users will not be able to download it. Microsoft also explained the difference between the two phases. “Retired” means the app will no longer receive updates. “Unsupported” means Microsoft will not fix it if a future system update breaks the app.
Microsoft also confirmed that Lens depends on its cloud services. Once access to that technology ends, the app will stop working. That cutoff is set for March 9, 2026.
“You can continue to scan documents in the app until March 9, 2026,” the company said. “You will still be able to access your previous scans if the app remains installed on your device.” Microsoft added one more note: “You need to be signed into your last active account on the Microsoft Lens app to access past scans.”
Microsoft Lens Replacement
Microsoft has moved Lens-style scanning into OneDrive. The feature works inside the OneDrive mobile app. You tap the plus icon, choose Scan, and capture your document. OneDrive then processes the image in the same edited style Lens used. You can review it and save it directly to your OneDrive storage.
There is one key difference. OneDrive saves scans to the cloud, not to local storage. If you want a local copy, you must download the file manually. By contrast, Lens lets you choose where to save scans on your device.
Microsoft 365 Copilot also includes basic scanning tools, so it can serve as another option. Still, OneDrive is now the main replacement. If you rely on Lens today, the message is clear. Install it before February 9, use it while it still works, and prepare to move your workflow to OneDrive.
The Lens app allows you to save the image to multiple formats / locations, including, Photos, PDF, OneNote, OneDrive, Word and PowerPoint as well as many other options supported on iOS. It looks like the only option will be jpeg and OneDrive going forward – this is really disappointing.