How to get a Publisher file into Word
Word can't open .pub files. It can open a PDF and turn it into an editable document, so convert the Publisher file to PDF first. This is also the route Microsoft recommends.
Steps
- Convert the .pub file to PDF: in Publisher with File, Save as, PDF, or on PubFileConverter without Publisher.
- In Word, choose File, Open and pick the PDF.
- Word says it will convert the PDF into an editable document. Click OK. Your original PDF stays unchanged.
- Save the result as a Word document and check each page.
What to expect
Publisher places text boxes and pictures anywhere on the page. Word flows text from top to bottom. When Word converts a PDF, it has to guess how your boxes fit into that flow. Microsoft says it works best with PDFs that are mostly text, and that a page made mostly of graphics may arrive as a single picture you can't edit.
| Usually fine in Word | Often needs fixing |
|---|---|
| Letters, programs, simple newsletters with one or two columns | Flyers with text over pictures, brochures with folds, WordArt, glows and shadows |
Do you need Word at all?
If you only need to read, print, e-mail or put the document on a website, keep it as a PDF: it looks exactly like the original on every device. Convert to Word only the files you will really edit again. For designs like posters and flyers, Canva or PowerPoint is usually a better home than Word.
Questions
Does PubFileConverter make Word files?
Not yet. We make PDFs, which keep the layout exactly. Word can open a PDF and turn it into an editable document.
Why does my converted Word file look messy?
Word reflows the PDF into its own page layout. It works best on pages that are mostly text; pages with many pictures or text boxes may come in as one image or with text in different places.