50 million downloads: Microsoft shuts down popular app

There are apps that you only notice when they are suddenly no longer there.

For years, Microsoft Lens has been such a helper for many, making it easy to scan documents, receipts and whiteboards with your phone’s camera and save the results as Word, PDF and Excel files.

On Android alone, the app has been downloaded more than 50 million times, and it has also received a high rating on the iPhone.

At the same time, TechRadar points out that Microsoft itself counts more than 92 million downloads across platforms during the app’s lifetime.

The common denominator has been the same, with statements about a simple solution that did not require a subscription and could therefore be used for DKK 0 in practice.

This is also why the fact that Lens is now on its way out has provoked strong reactions.

The timetable will be tightened towards Christmas and January

The phase-out will not happen overnight.

TechRadar reports that the app was retired on iOS and Android from September 15, 2025, after which it disappeared from the app stores, and from Monday, December 15, 2025, scanning in the installed app was disabled.

However, other information points to a slightly different timeline.

In practice, the process started on October 25, when the retirement began, and then the functions continued for those who already had the app installed.

The next clear limit will be December 25, 2025, when updates will no longer be available. Microsoft itself has announced this.

The replacement exists, but something is missing

Microsoft points to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app as a replacement, so you can still scan here.

However, several Lens features seem to be missing, including scanning business cards for OneNote, reading aloud and integration with Immersive Reader.

The dissatisfaction can already be felt among users. One fan wrote on Reddit: “Damn. I love that app,” and another called it “a really bad decision”.

The message for those who want to secure their material is pretty clear. You won’t be able to create new scans, but you can still access your old scans if you still have the app installed on your phone.