How can we as small business owners get Microsoft to extend the life of Publisher indefinitely?

Question

I tried for 3 days to put about 100 people in a directory using Word. I used a 2 column sheet with a table having 2 cells, one for contact information and one to hold a image. One would think that would work right? I was also using styles and sections breaks where the tables rolled over without me doing anything into the next page. Three days of my time!!!! I finally gave up --- extremely disgusted and mad at Microsoft (MS). I got out my publisher program and in 3 hours I had everything corrected, looking good and working towards a final product. Currently, I am so mad at Microsoft that I do not want any updates on any of my computers ... and I have a total of 5 with business and personal. I know that is not possible, but I am not happy with MS. I am starting to feel MS is like the disease of MS! I have got to figure out a work-around for this situation so I can continue to use Publisher!

Answer 1

Hello @Snooky,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

I understand your frustration, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns. Based on the information you provided, it appears that the issue you are encountering is related to Microsoft Publisher, which Microsoft has officially announced will be retired in October 2026.

According to the Microsoft Support article “Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026”, Publisher will no longer be available for installation or download for Microsoft 365 subscription users after the retirement date. However, if you own a perpetual (standalone) version of Microsoft Publisher, you will still be able to install and use the application beyond October 2026, although it will no longer receive updates or technical support.

You can continue using your existing Publisher installation after the deprecation date, or consider transitioning to a standalone version if you wish to maintain your current workflow.

If you are exploring alternative options or wish to build a more sustainable workflow using other Office applications, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, the Microsoft Tech Community is an excellent place to seek guidance. This forum is actively monitored by Microsoft engineers and MVPs who can provide more specialized and targeted recommendations based on your specific needs.

My intention is to ensure that you receive the most accurate and complete support, rather than providing partial or potentially incorrect information.

I fully understand that this change may significantly impact your workflow, especially if Publisher plays an important role in your daily tasks. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please feel free to let me know. I am here to help.

Answer 2

So now MS does not even look at a human's question--- I get AI to respond in seconds with a prepared script! GREAT!!! What is this world coming to?