PUBLISHER - Please let users download a legacy app for local installation & disclaim no support

Question

Just got an email about Publisher going away. I have used it for years and have thousands of files. Why can't MS provide the most recent client app people like me can use into the future, even if there is no support. The Office apps are NOT a replacement and conversion creates a document disaster. This happened 20+ years ago when MS stopped AppleWorks for Windows which many of us Macintosh users relied on when making the transition from Mac to PC, and Google did this when they stopped supporting Picasa, an excellent image management app that Google Photo did not replace in all features. At least Google let users download the last version of the app to install locally. PLEASE consider doing the same. Publisher is an Excellent eay to use graphics design app. Thank you

Answer 1

Microsoft has announced that support for Microsoft Publisher will end on October 1, 2026, which means that users will no longer have access to the application after that date. While there is no option currently available for users to download a legacy version of Publisher for local installation, you can continue to use the application with full functionality until the end of support date.

For users with a significant number of Publisher files, Microsoft recommends converting these files to PDF format in bulk to preserve their content. This can be done using a PowerShell script designed for this purpose. However, it is acknowledged that the conversion process may not perfectly retain the original formatting, which can lead to issues when transitioning to other applications like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint.

Unfortunately, Microsoft does not provide a legacy version for local installation similar to what Google did with Picasa. The transition away from Publisher may be challenging for users who have relied on it for years, and while alternative applications are suggested, they may not fully replicate the features of Publisher.

If you have further concerns or need assistance with file conversion, Microsoft encourages users to reach out for support.