Why is Publisher being discontinued?

Question

I am very upset that Publisher will no longer be supported or will be used in Microsoft 365. I have used this program for the majority of my work and it upsets me that I will lose all of my past work and have to adjust all my layouts and projects through a program that does not feature what can be accomplished through Publisher. Publisher has a lot of features that Word does not have. It is easier to do layout - adding items and publishing documents through Publisher. If you do not want to include it in the package deal than I would like to see it as an add-on.

PLEASE consider this option!!!

[Moderator note: personal info removed]

Answer 1

Publisher was created for printed documents. Like it or not, the world is turning away from printed materials and moving online, so it isn't surprising that Publisher's user base has been steadily decreasing over the years. It costs money to maintain software, fix bugs, defend it against attackers, keep it supported on new hardware, maintain current translations, update documentation and keep current with competitors. With increasingly fewer users, it was no longer economically viable to maintain Publisher, so Microsoft decided to pull the plug.

Answer 2

Dear @Debbie Hays, 

Good day, and I appreciate the clear explanation of your concern.   

I understand how inconvenient it is to hear that Publisher is being retired, especially when it feels like the most intuitive tool for your projects. Unfortunately, Microsoft has shared that, in order to focus on delivering new benefits and improvements, some products and features are occasionally retired.  

Below is some information you may find helpful as the retirement approaches: 

Note: You can refer to this information in Q&A Assist; however, I’ve highlighted some key points below for your convenience. 

• 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.   

• If you have a standalone version of Publisher, you may keep using it beyond this date. 

However, please note that after October 1, 2026, Microsoft will no longer provide updates or technical support. The software will still function, and your existing documents will remain accessible.   

That said, using an unsupported version may lead to security vulnerabilities and compatibility challenges over time. 

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

In the official Microsoft support article: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 - Microsoft Support, you’ll also find a section highlighting recommended alternatives to Microsoft Publisher. This resource can help you explore options that best fit your future publishing needs.

     

If you’re looking for future-ready alternatives, here are some excellent options:   

• Affinity Publisher (by Canva): A one-time purchase offering robust layout features such as master pages, bleed settings, styles, and PDF/X export. Ideal for multi-page booklets with full text and graphic control.   
• Adobe InDesign: The industry standard for professional layout and booklet production. Includes a native “Print Booklet” feature for automated page imposition, bleed, and printer marks.   

Note: These apps are shared by the community for your convenience and are provided by third parties. They are not managed, developed, or verified by Microsoft. I can't guarantee the quality, safety, or suitability of the apps, or any content or software they may include. Please review them carefully and ensure you understand any potential risks before using them. 

I completely understand that the upcoming retirement of Publisher may cause disruption and impact your existing workflows. It’s not just about visual differences; these differences can genuinely affect how smoothly you work and navigate your day. 

I’m really sorry, I know this isn’t the outcome you were hoping for. 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 Ideas · Community. 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. If you prefer, I can also submit this great idea on your behalf. Just let me know, and I’ll post it for you and share the link once it’s published. I’m here to help ensure your feedback gets the attention it deserves. 

Additionally, as other users have raised similar concerns and may not be aware of where to share their feedback, I hope this response helps clarify the situation and suggests a potential next step. Highlighting this information can make it more visible to others in the community who may be facing the same issue, making it easier for them to find guidance and contribute their feedback as well. 

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

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Answer 3

Microsoft Publisher is being retired as part of Microsoft’s broader effort to focus development and support on other Microsoft 365 apps and newer experiences.

According to the retirement notice:

• Publisher will reach end of life in October 2026.
• After that time, Publisher will no longer be included in Microsoft 365, and existing on‑premises suites that include Publisher will no longer be supported.
• Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher after that date.

The documentation explains that many common Publisher scenarios are already supported in other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word and PowerPoint, and it points users to those apps (and to templates on Microsoft Create) as the long‑term direction instead of continuing to invest in Publisher.

For existing work, the guidance is:

• Continue using Publisher with its current functionality until October 2026.
• Before that date, convert important .pub files to formats like PDF or Word so they remain accessible after Publisher is no longer available in Microsoft 365.
• If using a perpetual (non‑subscription) version of Publisher, it can still be installed and used after support ends, but it will no longer receive support once Office LTSC 2021 reaches end of support on October 1, 2026.

There is no indication in the documentation that Publisher will be offered as a separate add‑on for Microsoft 365 after retirement; instead, the official path is to move scenarios to other Microsoft 365 apps and convert existing files.

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References:

• Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026
• Publisher help & learning
• Publisher help
• I have thousands of Publisher files; I'm not opening each one individually to convert them. What is this BS about retiring publisher and losing access to all those files? This is 20 years of work that my business is going to lose, we won't recover from th - Microsoft Q&A