Publisher's end of life: what changed and what to do with your files
Microsoft retired Publisher in October 2026. Your .pub files still exist, but fewer computers can open them. The safe move is to turn them into PDFs while you can still check them.
What changed
| If you have | What happened |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 (subscription) | Publisher was removed on or shortly after October 1, 2026. You can't open or edit .pub files in Publisher, and you can't install it again. |
| Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021 (bought once) | Support ended on October 13, 2026. The program keeps working and still opens your files, but gets no more security updates. |
| Office LTSC 2024 | Publisher is not included. |
Source: Microsoft's announcement, "Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026".
What Microsoft suggests
Microsoft's advice is to convert your files: open each one in Publisher and choose File, Save as, PDF. To edit one later, open the PDF in Word, knowing the layout may change, especially in files with lots of pictures. For new documents Microsoft points to Word (newsletters, programs, labels) and PowerPoint (posters, signs, banners).
Your options, depending on what you have
You still have Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021
Save your important files as PDF now, before that computer is replaced. For many files, Microsoft offers a PowerShell script that converts a whole folder, as long as Publisher is installed.
You don't have Publisher any more
- Convert in your browser: drop the files or the whole folder on PubFileConverter, check each page, download PDFs in the same folders. No software, and the first 3 files are free.
- LibreOffice: free software for Windows, Mac and Linux that can open .pub files one by one, or convert them from the command line. Fonts may differ from the original.
You want to keep editing your designs
Convert to PDF first, then import the PDF into Canva or Word. Expect to tidy up text boxes; layouts made for print rarely survive an editor perfectly.
A simple plan for an office archive
- Collect every .pub file into one folder, keeping your year or event subfolders.
- Convert the whole folder to PDF and keep the
report.csvthat lists any file that didn't convert. - Store the PDFs where everyone can find them (a shared drive, your website, Google Drive).
- Keep the original .pub files too. They cost nothing to store.
Questions
When did Microsoft Publisher stop working?
Microsoft 365 subscribers lost access to Publisher on or shortly after October 1, 2026. Support for the one-time-purchase versions (Publisher 2016, 2019 and 2021) ended on October 13, 2026.
Can I still open my .pub files?
If you have a one-time-purchase copy such as Publisher 2021, it keeps working and opens your files; it just gets no more updates. Without Publisher, convert your files to PDF.
Is Publisher in Office 2024?
No. Microsoft says Publisher is not included in Office LTSC 2024 because of the planned retirement.
What does Microsoft recommend instead?
Word for newsletters, programs, labels and letterheads, PowerPoint for banners, signs and posters, and either one for flyers, brochures, cards and calendars.