In this guide · 7 sections
Short answer
Publisher was removed from Microsoft 365 from 1 October 2026, and perpetual Publisher support ended on 13 October 2026. Convert .pub files to PDF (then Word to edit) on a PC that still has perpetual Publisher, or open them in free LibreOffice Draw. Rebuild designs in Word or PowerPoint.
What Microsoft changed in October 2026
Microsoft's support page Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 sets out the timeline. Publisher reached end of life in October 2026, is no longer included in Microsoft 365, and existing on-premises versions are no longer supported.
| Your setup | What happens now | Can you still open .pub files? |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 subscription | Publisher removed on or shortly after 1 Oct 2026; no longer installable | Not in Publisher |
| Office 2021, 2019, 2016 (one-time purchase) | Support ended 13 Oct 2026; app still installs and runs | Yes, but without security updates |
| Mac users | Publisher never had a Mac version | Only through other apps |
Microsoft's FAQ on the same page is clear on two points: Microsoft 365 users can no longer install Publisher after October 2026, and perpetual-licence users can still install and use the app and edit their files, just without support. The perpetual date matches the end of support for Office 2021, covered in our guide to Office 2021 end of support.
How to open a .pub file now
You have three practical routes, depending on what you still have installed and whether you need to edit the file or only see it.
A PC with perpetual Publisher
Best fidelity- Office 2021, 2019 or 2016 with Publisher still installed
- Opens files exactly as designed
- Use it to export PDFs, then retire it
- No security updates, so do not use it for daily work
Best for: Converting an archive one last time.
LibreOffice Draw
Free- Has a Microsoft Publisher 98-2010 import filter
- Opens .pub files and exports PDF or ODF
- Layouts, fonts and effects may shift
- Windows, Mac and Linux
Best for: Offices with no Publisher licence left.
Third-party converters
- Online or desktop tools that convert .pub to PDF or other formats
- Quality varies; Microsoft does not support them
- Uploading files sends them to someone else's server
Best for: Odd one-off files, if nothing customer-related is inside.
LibreOffice's file conversion filter list includes a "Publisher Document" import filter for Microsoft Publisher 98 to 2010 files, added in LibreOffice 4.0. Newer .pub files usually open too, but check each one against a printed copy if layout matters.
Convert .pub to PDF or Word, step by step
Microsoft's own recommendation is PDF for viewing and PDF-then-Word for editing. If you have one PC that still runs perpetual Publisher, do the whole archive on it now.
Collect every .pub file in one folder
Search shared drives, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams folders for *.pub. Copy them to one working folder so nothing is missed.
Open each file and Save As PDF
In Publisher: File, Save As, choose a location, select PDF as the file type, and Save. In LibreOffice Draw: File, Export as PDF.
For editable copies, open the PDF in Word
In Word, open the PDF; Word converts it to an editable document. Microsoft warns the layout may change, especially with lots of graphics.
Check the result against the original
Look for missing fonts, shifted images and cut-off text boxes. Fix the important templates, such as menus or forms you reuse.
Keep the original .pub files
Do not delete them. Store them in an archive folder in case a better converter becomes available later.
For large archives, Microsoft publishes a sample PowerShell script, Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1, that exports a single file, a folder, or a folder and its subfolders to PDF. It needs a working, licensed copy of Publisher on the same PC, and it skips files whose PDF name already exists, so run it on a clean output folder.
Which app should replace Publisher?
Microsoft's support page lists where to make each common Publisher document. In short: Word for text-heavy documents and print jobs like labels and envelopes, PowerPoint for visual layouts like posters and banners. Outside Microsoft 365, Canva and Affinity cover design work.
| You make... | Microsoft suggests | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| Flyers and ads | Word or PowerPoint | Canva templates, sized for print and social |
| Posters, banners and signs | PowerPoint | Canva; Affinity for print-ready files |
| Menus and brochures | Word or PowerPoint | Canva, especially with a brand kit |
| Business cards, certificates, greeting cards | Word or PowerPoint | Canva or a printer's online template |
| Labels, envelopes, letterhead, forms | Word | Word mail merge remains the easiest |
| Newsletters and programmes | Word | Canva for short visual newsletters |
Affinity's website states the app is free for individuals, and Canva has a free plan with paid tiers. If several people design for your business, our comparison of Canva vs Adobe Express covers brand kits, team pricing and commercial use. Microsoft also points to templates on Microsoft Create for starting points in Word and PowerPoint.
Clean up after the switch
Once your files are converted, tidy up so staff are not stuck on a file they cannot open.
Publisher retirement clean-up
If you are reviewing licences at the same time, our guide on whether Microsoft 365 Business Premium is worth it explains what each plan includes.
Do it yourself or get help?
A handful of flyers and menus is easy to do yourself with LibreOffice Draw and Word. It takes longer if you have hundreds of .pub files spread across shared drives, need the PowerShell script run, or want templates rebuilt so they stay on brand.
Our Quick Fix (1 hour) (S$119) suits small jobs such as locating and bulk-converting a Publisher archive or setting up LibreOffice on the PCs that need it. IT Sorted is a Singapore-based team of developers with over 10 years of experience. You pay upfront, describe the job in writing through the site chat or contact form, and track it on your order page.
Frequently asked questions
Not with a Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft says Publisher is no longer available to install for Microsoft 365 subscribers after October 2026. If you own a perpetual licence such as Office 2021 or 2019 with Publisher, you can still install and use it, but it no longer receives security updates after 13 October 2026.
No. Your files stay wherever they are stored, such as OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams or a shared drive. What changed is that Microsoft 365 users can no longer open them in Publisher. Convert them to PDF with perpetual Publisher or LibreOffice Draw, keep the originals in an archive folder, and rebuild templates you reuse in another app.
No. Word cannot open .pub files. Microsoft's recommended route is to save the Publisher file as a PDF first, then open the PDF in Word, which converts it to an editable document. Microsoft warns the layout may differ from the original, particularly for designs with many graphics, so check the result before printing.
LibreOffice is free, open-source software from The Document Foundation and can be used in businesses. Download it only from the official libreoffice.org website. Its Draw app includes an import filter for Microsoft Publisher files, so it is a practical way to open old .pub files when no Publisher licence is left. Expect some layout and font differences.
For most offices, Word and PowerPoint are already paid for and cover flyers, cards, labels and newsletters, which is what Microsoft recommends. If you design social posts and print materials often, Canva is easier for non-designers and has brand kits. Affinity suits people who need precise print layouts and is free for individuals.