Publisher Leaving

Question

why is publisher going away. any files that are already created should still be able to be opened, used and edited. is there a turning back on this?

Answer 1

Microsoft Publisher is being phased out as part of the planned retirement of the application, which will no longer be supported after October 2026. This decision is part of Microsoft's broader strategy for its Office products. While existing Publisher files can still be opened, used, and edited in the versions of Publisher that are currently available, there will not be any new versions or updates to Publisher after its retirement date. Therefore, users will need to consider alternative solutions for their publishing needs in the future.

As for turning back on this decision, there is no indication from Microsoft that they will reverse the retirement of Publisher.

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References:

• Overview of Office LTSC 2024

Answer 2

Dear @Rose Burkowski, 

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.   

I understand your concern about Microsoft Publisher being phased out, so I’m happy to help clarify what’s happening and how you can prepare. 

Microsoft has decided to retire Publisher as part of a shift toward reducing overlap and focusing innovation within Microsoft 365. Many of Publisher’s key features, such as template-based layouts, printing envelopes or labels and creating calendars or business cards are now available in other apps like Word and PowerPoint. This strategic move allows Microsoft to simplify support and development across its suite. 

 

• You’ll still be able to open, edit, and save your existing Publisher files until October 2026: 

During this time, Publisher will continue to work as usual, and all your existing files will remain accessible. 

After October 1, 2026, Publisher will no longer be supported and it will be removed from Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Perpetual versions (like Office LTSC 2021) also lose support at that time. 

Unfortunately, there’s no option to revert or re-enable Publisher once it’s retired. 

 

• Here are some steps to ensure you won’t lose access to your work: 

Convert .pub files before October 2026: 

PDF: Ideal for finalized designs when editing won’t be needed. 

DOCX (Word): Suitable for documents you plan to edit later, note layouts may adjust.  

 

• You can transition your workflows to other Microsoft 365 apps: 

Word: Great for flyers, brochures, and simple layouts. 

PowerPoint: Versatile for visually rich layouts and design-based content. 

Microsoft Designer: Offers professionally styled, template-based design options. 

Additional information is available in the following resource: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 - Microsoft Support 

As a forum moderator, I hope you understand that I don’t have the ability to modify or escalate product issues directly. However, I strongly recommend submitting your feedback through the Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub . This is the most effective way to ensure your voice reaches the product team and can be considered for future improvements.  

 

Once you've submitted your feedback, feel free to share the link here in the comments. I’ll be happy to upvote it to help bring more visibility.  

Additionally, since many other users have expressed similar concerns but may not know where to submit feedback, if my response has helped you better understand the situation and guided you toward a possible next step, please mark it as the “Accepted Answer.” Your action will help pin this post to the top, making it easier for others in the community who are experiencing the same issue to find your feedback and support it.  

Thank you again for your time and for raising this important usability concern.

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