I want to purchase a standalone Publisher 2021

Hi Trevor Molyneux,

Thank you contacting to Microsoft Q&A Forum regarding Microsoft Publisher.

If you want to run Microsoft 365 Personal/Family alongside a perpetual version of Office (like Office 2021 or Publisher 2021), the two don’t work well when installed under the same Windows user account. The workaround is to create a second Windows user account on your PC and install the perpetual Office version there, while keeping Microsoft 365 installed on your primary account. This way:

• Each Windows user account has its own settings, documents, and applications.
• Microsoft 365 runs smoothly in one account, while the perpetual Office version runs in the other.
• You avoid conflicts where Microsoft tries to default to one version over the other.

Here's how to add a new Windows user account:

1. Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Select Add a user account.
3. Create a new Microsoft account with a different username/email.
4. Sign in with this new account and install the perpetual Office version there.

This separation keeps both versions usable on the same device without interfering with each other.

Looking ahead, Microsoft has announced that Publisher will be retired in October 2026, with no new versions planned beyond Publisher 2021. Until then, Publisher 2021 will continue to receive support and security updates. After the retirement date, you can still keep using Publisher 2021 if it’s installed, but it will no longer receive updates or official support. For long‑term planning, it’s worth considering alternatives such as Word, PowerPoint, or third‑party desktop publishing tools.

If your workflow relies heavily on Publisher, securing the 2021 version now is a valid option, while also beginning to explore transition paths before retirement.

I hope this gives you a better picture of the situation. In case you have other concerns, feel free to let me know.
Best regards,