Migration guide
The HoloLens Alternative for Industrial Teams
Microsoft has ended HoloLens 2 production and announced that the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Guides apps that run on it reach end of support on December 31, 2026. VSight is the device-agnostic post-HoloLens path: AR remote assistance plus digital work instructions on the phones, tablets, web browsers and industrial smart glasses your teams already use — no discontinued headset required.
Key Microsoft dates
- Dec 2024 HoloLens 2 no longer manufactured (Microsoft)
- Dec 31, 2026 Dynamics 365 Remote Assist & Guides — end of support
- Dec 2027 HoloLens 2 security servicing ends
Why teams are looking for a HoloLens alternative
Microsoft HoloLens 2 has reached the end of its lifecycle, and the mixed-reality apps most industrial teams ran on it — Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Dynamics 365 Guides — are being wound down on a fixed schedule. This page summarizes only Microsoft's own published facts (each verifiable via the sources at the end) and outlines a neutral, factual migration path. There are two independent timelines to keep straight: the Dynamics apps end of support, and the HoloLens 2 device/OS security servicing — they are separate events with different dates.
- HoloLens 2 hardware: Microsoft states devices are "no longer manufactured" as of December 2024 (production-end announced October 2024).
- Device/OS security servicing: the November 2024 update was the final feature release, with monthly security servicing updates continuing "through December 2027."
- UK PSTI Act: the minimum security update period for HoloLens 2 is February 28, 2028 (for units purchased until February 28, 2025); after that date the device is no longer compliant with security standards.
- Dynamics 365 Remote Assist & Guides: end of support December 31, 2026 — a separate, earlier date than the device's security servicing.
- Microsoft does not name a like-for-like first-party replacement; its guidance is to plan a transition and explore mixed-reality solutions on the Microsoft Marketplace.
What is happening to HoloLens and its apps?
A neutral, dated summary of Microsoft's published lifecycle information. The hardware and the software follow different clocks, so plan against both. The load-bearing dates below are quoted from Microsoft's HoloLens 2 release notes and the Dynamics 365 Lifecycle announcement.
- Hardware (HoloLens 2 device/OS): "As of December 2024, HoloLens devices are no longer manufactured." Monthly security servicing updates continue "through December 2027." Under the UK PSTI Act, the minimum security update period is February 28, 2028.
- Apps (Dynamics 365 Remote Assist & Guides): end of support December 31, 2026. Subscriptions could be purchased or renewed only until November 1, 2025. After December 31, 2026 these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, or technical support (Microsoft's wording).
- App↔device linkage: Microsoft describes Dynamics 365 Remote Assist as running "on HoloLens 2," so the HoloLens-based AR remote-assistance workflow is being wound down on the December 31, 2026 app timeline.
- Remote Assist mobile was separately deprecated on March 25, 2025; Microsoft directs existing customers to similar capabilities in Microsoft Teams mobile.
- Microsoft's stated next steps: plan the transition before December 31, 2026, explore mixed-reality solutions on the Microsoft Marketplace, and use the "spatial annotation" feature in Microsoft Teams Mobile for certain Remote Assist scenarios.
Two dates, kept straight
The most common mistake when planning a HoloLens exit is conflating the app date with the device date. They are independent. The Dynamics 365 apps that deliver remote assistance and guided work instructions lose support on December 31, 2026 — over a year before the device's general security servicing ends in December 2027 (with the UK PSTI statutory minimum stated as February 28, 2028). For most teams, the operationally binding deadline is the earlier app date, because that is when the day-to-day remote-support and SOP workflows stop receiving updates and support.
- December 31, 2026 — end of support for Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Dynamics 365 Guides (the apps).
- December 2027 — HoloLens 2 monthly security servicing updates continue through this point (the device/OS).
- February 28, 2028 — UK PSTI Act minimum security update period for HoloLens 2 (units purchased until February 28, 2025); after this the device is no longer compliant with security standards.
- Plan to the earliest date that affects your workflows — typically the December 31, 2026 app cutoff.
VSight: the device-agnostic post-HoloLens path
VSight is a Connected Worker Platform that delivers the two jobs HoloLens teams care about most — AR remote assistance and digital work instructions — without depending on any single headset. VSight Remote provides see-what-I-see live video with spatial AR annotations, the direct equivalent of the HoloLens remote-assist workflow. VSight Workflow provides no-code, in-context step-by-step instructions, the equivalent of guided execution. Crucially, both run on hardware most teams already own, so you can migrate off HoloLens without buying discontinued or hard-to-source devices.
- Device-agnostic: phones (iOS, Android), tablets, web browsers, and industrial smart glasses (RealWear, Vuzix, Rokid, Moziware, Epson) — no HoloLens lock-in.
- VSight Remote: HD see-what-I-see video and audio with live AR annotation (point, draw, arrows, shapes, text) for the remote-assistance scenario.
- VSight Workflow: no-code 2D digital work instructions (text, image, voice, video, checklists, branching) for the guided-instruction scenario.
- More on one platform: VSight VideoFlow turns recorded video into instructions, and VSight Nova is an AI copilot — capabilities beyond a single point tool.
- EU company (VSight UAB, Lithuania); EU-citizen personal data on EU-based servers. GDPR & HIPAA compliant, ISO 27001 certified, end-to-end encrypted WebRTC, SSO / Microsoft Entra ID and 2FA.
How to migrate off HoloLens to VSight
A scenario-by-scenario move you can complete well before the December 31, 2026 app cutoff. The goal is to map each HoloLens use case to its VSight equivalent and validate it on devices you already own, so there is no support gap.
- 1. Inventory current usage — list the users, HoloLens devices and scenarios that rely on Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Guides, including small groups using Guides for onboarding or safety.
- 2. Map each scenario to VSight — Remote Assist calls map to VSight Remote; Guides map to VSight Workflow. Note where you can drop HoloLens for a phone, tablet or browser.
- 3. Pilot on existing hardware — run one team or one workflow on devices you already own (phones, tablets, or RealWear/Vuzix glasses) to validate the fit.
- 4. Migrate content & integrate — rebuild SOPs in VSight Workflow, train users, and connect Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Entra ID / SSO and your CRM/ERP/ticketing via the open REST API.
- 5. Roll out before the cutoff — expand across teams and decommission the Dynamics 365 apps ahead of December 31, 2026.
Why VSight for industrial teams
VSight's strengths stand on their own, independent of any competitor's lifecycle. It is built for industrial environments and trusted by organizations including Agramkow, Akyapak, CMP, Anadolu Isuzu and MAN. The platform combines remote assistance, work instructions, AI video capture and an AI copilot on hardware your teams already carry.
- Run on the devices you own — phones, tablets, browsers and supported industrial smart glasses, no headset procurement required.
- All-in-one Connected Worker Platform — VSight Remote, VSight Workflow, VSight VideoFlow and VSight Nova together.
- EU company and EU data residency — VSight UAB (Lithuania); GDPR & HIPAA compliant, ISO 27001 certified.
- Secure by design — end-to-end encrypted WebRTC sessions, SSO / Microsoft Entra ID, 2FA and role-based access.
- Integrates with your stack — Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Entra ID / SSO, and CRM/ERP/ticketing via an open REST API.
The HoloLens-based setup vs VSight
HoloLens 2 is a headset; VSight is software. This compares the HoloLens-based setup — the HoloLens 2 device plus the Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Guides apps that delivered remote assistance and work instructions on it — against VSight, which runs on devices you already own.
| Capability | HoloLens 2 + Dynamics 365 apps | VSight |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware availability | HoloLens 2 "no longer manufactured" as of December 2024 (Microsoft) | Runs on in-production devices — phones, tablets, browsers + RealWear, Vuzix, Rokid, Moziware, Epson |
| App support status | Dynamics 365 Remote Assist & Guides reach end of support December 31, 2026 (Microsoft Lifecycle) | Actively developed and supported on current-generation devices |
| Device/OS security servicing | Monthly security servicing through December 2027; UK PSTI minimum February 28, 2028 | Continuously maintained; no device end-of-life dependency |
| New licensing | Subscriptions could be purchased or renewed only until November 1, 2025 | Available now; seats can be added as teams grow |
| See-what-I-see remote video | Yes — via Dynamics 365 Remote Assist on HoloLens 2 | Yes — HD see-what-I-see video & audio with VSight Remote |
| Live AR annotation | Yes — via Dynamics 365 Remote Assist (anchored annotations on HoloLens) | Yes — point, draw, arrows, shapes & text on the live or still view |
| Digital work instructions / SOPs | Dynamics 365 Guides — holographic, HoloLens-first step-by-step guides | VSight Workflow — no-code 2D instructions (text, image, voice, video, checklists, branching) on mainstream devices |
| Devices required | Built for Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset | iOS, Android, web browsers and industrial smart glasses — no specific headset required |
| AI work-instruction capture | Not a stated capability | VSight VideoFlow turns recorded video into instructions; VSight Nova AI copilot |
| Integrations | Microsoft Teams, Dynamics 365 Field Service, Power Platform / Dataverse | Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Entra ID / SSO, and CRM/ERP/ticketing via open REST API |
| Data residency | Microsoft cloud (Dataverse) | EU company (VSight UAB, Lithuania); EU-citizen personal data on EU-based servers |
HoloLens alternative — FAQ
Is Microsoft HoloLens discontinued?
Microsoft states in its HoloLens 2 release notes that, "As of December 2024, HoloLens devices are no longer manufactured." Production-end was announced in October 2024. The November 2024 update was the final feature release for HoloLens 2, with monthly security servicing updates continuing through December 2027. For UK Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act conformance, Microsoft states the minimum security update period is February 28, 2028 (for units purchased until February 28, 2025). The device dates are separate from the apps' end-of-support date — see below.
What happens to Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Guides on HoloLens?
Microsoft has announced that Dynamics 365 Guides and Dynamics 365 Remote Assist — the mixed-reality apps that run on HoloLens — reach end of support on December 31, 2026. Subscriptions could be purchased or renewed only until November 1, 2025, and after December 31, 2026 Microsoft states these products will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. This app date is independent of the HoloLens 2 device security-servicing dates.
What is the best HoloLens alternative for industrial teams?
For industrial AR remote assistance and digital work instructions, VSight is a strong alternative because it is device-agnostic. VSight Remote delivers see-what-I-see AR remote assistance on phones, tablets, web browsers and industrial smart glasses (RealWear, Vuzix, Rokid, Moziware, Epson) rather than only on HoloLens, and VSight Workflow covers the guided work-instruction job that Dynamics 365 Guides handled. The platform also adds AI video capture (VideoFlow) and an AI copilot (Nova) on one license.
Does VSight require HoloLens or any specific headset?
No. VSight is intentionally device-agnostic and does not depend on Microsoft HoloLens or any single headset. It runs on iOS, Android and web browsers, plus a wide range of in-production industrial smart glasses. That means you can migrate from HoloLens using devices your teams already own, without buying discontinued or hard-to-source hardware.
How do I migrate from HoloLens to VSight?
In five steps: (1) inventory current Remote Assist and Guides usage, users and HoloLens devices; (2) map each scenario to its VSight equivalent — Remote Assist to VSight Remote, Guides to VSight Workflow; (3) pilot one team or workflow on devices you already own; (4) migrate SOPs and connect Microsoft Teams, Entra ID/SSO and your CRM/ERP via the open REST API; (5) roll out before the December 31, 2026 app end-of-support cutoff.
Can VSight replace Dynamics 365 Guides for work instructions?
VSight Workflow performs the same job as Dynamics 365 Guides — no-code authored, in-context step-by-step guidance with media, checklists, analytics and remote-expert escalation. The difference is form factor: VSight delivers 2D digital work instructions across phones, tablets and smart glasses rather than world-locked 3D holograms on HoloLens, which makes it deployable on hardware most teams already have.
Until when is HoloLens 2 supported, and how is that different from the apps?
Keep two timelines straight. The HoloLens 2 device/OS receives monthly security servicing updates through December 2027, with a UK PSTI Act statutory minimum security update period stated as February 28, 2028 (for units purchased until February 28, 2025). The Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and Guides apps are separate and reach end of support earlier, on December 31, 2026. For most teams the December 31, 2026 app date is the operationally binding deadline because that is when the remote-support and SOP workflows stop receiving updates and support.
Is VSight suitable for EU companies and data-residency requirements?
Yes. VSight is built and operated by an EU company, VSight UAB in Lithuania, and stores EU-citizen personal data on EU-based servers. The platform is GDPR-compliant and HIPAA-compliant, ISO 27001 certified, and uses end-to-end encrypted WebRTC sessions with SSO / Microsoft Entra ID and 2FA.
See your post-HoloLens path
Book a demo and we'll map your HoloLens use cases to VSight on the phones, tablets and smart glasses your teams already own.
References
- learn.microsoft.com — source
- learn.microsoft.com — source
- learn.microsoft.com — source
- learn.microsoft.com — source
- learn.microsoft.com — source
Microsoft, HoloLens, Dynamics 365 and all related marks are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information as of June 2, 2026, and does not imply any partnership with or endorsement by Microsoft. VSight is not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft. Dates and lifecycle statements are quoted from Microsoft's own published documentation; see the references below.