End of Publisher

Question

End of Publisher

Christine Ashcroft 35

Is there anyway I can get to use my publisher files after October, I have hundreds of Publisher files, and do not have the time to convert them all in time for Publisher ending.

I am not a experienced computer user and I use Publisher a lot. I can make booklets in other programmes, but I will need to access previous Publisher files for relevant detailsSurely someone can find a way to bulk convert the files. I struggle to afford the annual cost for m

Microsoft so cannot buy PDF. In any case when I tried the free trial I found it too complicated.

I can manage to make new files in Word, but I need to access the old Publisher files. I don't even mind if to use them I have to convert them, but I do need to be able to open them after October.

This may seem trivial to more experienced computer users, but surely Microsoft should consider those not as competent in computer use

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Answer accepted by question author

Julie Huynh 3,085 Independent Advisor

Dear @Christine Ashcroft,

Good day! Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum!

Based on your post, I understand that you are seeking a way to continue accessing your existing Microsoft Publisher files after Publisher is discontinued in October. You have a large number of Publisher documents that contain important information, and converting all of them individually is not practical for you given time, cost, and technical constraints. While you are able to create new documents in Word or other programs, your primary concern is being able to open or convert your older Publisher files when needed. You are also finding current conversion options difficult to use and would like to see solutions that better support users with varying levels of computer experience.

To clarify, Microsoft Publisher will be removed only from Microsoft 365 subscriptions after October 2026. This means that subscribers will no longer be able to install or use Publisher through Microsoft 365 after that date. However, your existing files will not be deleted or harmed by this change.

If you currently use a perpetual (one‑time purchase) version of Publisher, such as Publisher 2019 or 2021 included with Office Professional, you will still be able to open and use Publisher on the same computer after October 2026. The application will continue to function, although it will no longer receive updates or official support from Microsoft.

For Microsoft 365 users, Microsoft recommends planning a gradual transition so that important Publisher documents remain accessible in the long term. Therefore, depending on your needs:

Files can be saved as PDF if you mainly need to view or reference past content.
Some layouts can also be saved as Word (.docx) files to preserve editable text for future use, although formatting may change.

I hope this information helps clarify what to expect and what options are available.

Please note that this is a community forum where users help one another. We are not involved in product design decisions and do not have direct access to the development roadmap, we want to assure you that your feedback has been acknowledged and is valued.

Thank you for your kindness and understanding!

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in [our documentation] to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Christine Ashcroft 35 Reputation points

2026-04-24T07:22:21.9866667+00:00

Thank you to all that have answered. I have purchased PDF and have managed to open publisher files with it and then save them as PDF. Will I be able to do this after October 26. I haven't time to do this with all my publisher files at the minute, and only a quantity of them will be needed after October 26.

I have worked out how to make booklets in Word for after October, so new booklets will be ok. But most often I take previous booklets and adjust them to the ones required today,

I am a volunteer in the Church and the School so nothing I am doing is for profit, but at my own expense.
Julie Huynh 3,085 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-24T12:22:25.0466667+00:00

Dear @Christine Ashcroft,

Thank you for your response.

Regarding this, Microsoft recommends converting important Publisher files to PDF or Word ahead of time, because future versions of Windows or Microsoft 365 may not fully support Publisher.

Since you often adjust previous booklets, your approach of moving to Word for new work is a good long‑term solution.

For older Publisher files that may need updating in the future, converting them to Word now or as needed will make future edits much easier.

There is no requirement to purchase anything additional and using Word and PDF, as you are already doing, is the recommended path and avoids extra expense.

For more information, please refer to this article: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026

I appreciate your kindness and understanding!

Wishing you a wonderful day ahead!

3 additional answers

Christine Ashcroft 35 Reputation points

2026-04-24T07:22:21.9866667+00:00

Thank you to all that have answered. I have purchased PDF and have managed to open publisher files with it and then save them as PDF. Will I be able to do this after October 26. I haven't time to do this with all my publisher files at the minute, and only a quantity of them will be needed after October 26.

I have worked out how to make booklets in Word for after October, so new booklets will be ok. But most often I take previous booklets and adjust them to the ones required today,

I am a volunteer in the Church and the School so nothing I am doing is for profit, but at my own expense.
Julie Huynh 3,085 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-04-24T12:22:25.0466667+00:00

Dear @Christine Ashcroft,

Thank you for your response.

Regarding this, Microsoft recommends converting important Publisher files to PDF or Word ahead of time, because future versions of Windows or Microsoft 365 may not fully support Publisher.

Since you often adjust previous booklets, your approach of moving to Word for new work is a good long‑term solution.

For older Publisher files that may need updating in the future, converting them to Word now or as needed will make future edits much easier.

There is no requirement to purchase anything additional and using Word and PDF, as you are already doing, is the recommended path and avoids extra expense.

For more information, please refer to this article: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026

I appreciate your kindness and understanding!

Wishing you a wonderful day ahead!

Answer 1

Cheri Fane 0

I am extremely disappointed in your decision to kick Publisher to the curb. You have not given a valid reason for doing so and I am amazed that you would piss off so many loyal users. I have many, many documents created in Publisher. I have tried in the past to create the same thing in Word and it is just not user friendly for what I'm doing. In fact, many times I have created a document in Word only to get frustrated and end up cutting and pasting the material to Publisher in order to get it to layout the way I want it to. Why? Why? are you ending it? Please please reconsider keeping it, even if it is not included in Office 365 and has to be subscribed to separately. Your many users will thank you profusely!

Bulldog 4,385 Reputation points

2026-08-01T22:25:59.84+00:00

Publisher is being discontinued due to declining use. There are fewer users for the paper-based content for which Publisher was created. Instead, content is becoming increasingly digital.

There is an expense involved in developing code, maintaining code, testing it, fixing bugs and supporting it, and with insufficient users, the expense could no longer be justified.

If more evidence of this is needed, note that there is no competing app that has the same features of Publisher.

Knowing this, Microsoft announced on February 15, 2024 that Publisher would be discontinued on October 13, 2026, giving users more than two and a half years to adjust their workflows.

Publisher now joins the ranks of other once-popular apps that fell victim to changing user tastes, like Windows Media Player, Zune and Windows Movie Maker, among others.
Stefan Blom 351.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-02T08:16:26.0066667+00:00

@Cheri Fane

You can post feedback to Microsoft at https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback (Microsoft developers do not read the Q&A forums).

However, the decision was announced over two years ago, as Bulldog pointed out, so it is very unlikely that Microsoft decision makers would change their mind.

Affinity seems like a good replacement (though I haven't tested it very thoroughly myself).

Answer 2

L Stolz 5

I have used Publisher for almost 30 years, and have thousands of files. I have tried to use Word and PowerPoint to accomplish the same things, but those products don’t have nearly the same functionality. I have never called Microsoft for support. I am willing to continue my 365 subscription, but would like to purchase a standalone copy of Publisher that would allow me a perpetual license. COULD MICROSOFT PLEASE MAKE THAT AVAILABLE?

Stefan Blom 351.3K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-04-24T07:53:32.4066667+00:00

@L Stolz,

As far as I know, there is no stand-alone version of Publisher available. Microsoft does still offer Office Professional 2021, which includes Publisher (and you will be able to use it after October 2026).

EDIT**: At some time during the summer of 2026, Microsoft stopped selling Office Professional 2021 (which included Publisher).**

Answer 3

After October 2026, Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to install, open, or edit Publisher, so Publisher files (.pub) will not open in Publisher anymore with a Microsoft 365 subscription. To keep access to the content, files must be converted before that date.

Key options based on the provided information:

Continue using a perpetual (one‑time purchase) Publisher

If a perpetual version of Publisher (for example, part of Office LTSC 2021) is owned and installed, it can still be installed and used after October 2026, even though support ends. In that case, .pub files can still be opened and edited in that perpetual version.

Convert existing Publisher files so they remain usable Microsoft recommends converting existing .pub files to other formats before 1 October 2026:

To keep a view‑only copy (easy, least change):
1. Open the Publisher file.
2. Select File > Save As.
3. Choose where to save.
4. Select PDF as the file type and select Save.
These PDFs can be opened for free in many PDF readers.
To keep an editable copy in Word:
1. First convert the Publisher file to PDF as above.
2. Open Word.
3. Select File > Open and choose the PDF.
4. Select OK in the dialog box.
5. Word will convert the PDF to an editable Word document. The layout may change, especially if there are many pictures or complex formatting.
To convert many files in bulk:
- A sample PowerShell script is provided that can bulk‑export .pub files to PDF (or other export formats). It requires:
  1. A working, licensed version of Publisher installed.
  2. Downloading the sample script Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1.
  3. Opening PowerShell with the required execution policy.
  4. Running the script with filters such as:
    - Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1 -Filter "C:\\Documents\\MyFile.pub"
    - Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1 -Filter "*.pub" (all .pub files in the current folder)
    - Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1 -Filter "*.pub" -Recurse (current folder and all subfolders)
The script is designed to continue even if some files fail and will list which files were converted and which had errors. If a PDF with the same name already exists, it will skip that file and show an error; rename or delete the existing PDF and run again if needed.

Finding all Publisher files to convert

Run a file search for *.pub on the PC, OneDrive, or SharePoint to locate all Publisher files, then run the bulk conversion script against those folders.

Alternatives for new work

For new documents going forward, Microsoft suggests using other Microsoft 365 apps depending on the type of content (for example, Word or PowerPoint for brochures, flyers, newsletters, and cards). These can be saved as PDF or edited directly without Publisher.

There is no built‑in way in Microsoft 365 to keep opening .pub files in Publisher after October 2026 without either:

Using a perpetual (non‑subscription) version of Publisher that remains installed, or
Converting the .pub files to other formats (PDF/Word or via third‑party tools) before that date.

References: