Using Publisher app

For a Microsoft 365 subscription, Publisher will be removed and no longer accessible after October 2026. With that subscription, Publisher cannot be used beyond that date, and Publisher files (.pub) cannot be opened or edited in Publisher.

To prepare:

1. Convert existing Publisher files before October 2026
   • Open important .pub files in Publisher now and save/export them as:
     • PDF (for final, non-editable versions), or
     • Word format where suitable.
   • For many files, use automation such as a PowerShell script to bulk export .pub files to PDF as described in the guidance. This allows converting thousands of files without opening each one manually.
2. Consider alternatives for future work
   • Common Publisher scenarios can be handled in other Microsoft 365 apps:
     • Ads, flyers, cards, banners, posters, brochures: Word, PowerPoint, or Designer
     • Business cards, certificates, calendars, newsletters, programs, forms, labels, envelopes, letterhead: primarily Word or PowerPoint.
   • Templates for these scenarios are available in Word, PowerPoint, and via Microsoft Create.
3. Using a perpetual (non‑subscription) version
   • If a perpetual (one‑time purchase) version of Publisher is installed (for example as part of Office LTSC 2021), it can still be installed and used after October 1, 2026, but it will no longer be supported. In that case, Publisher files remain accessible in that perpetual app even after support ends.

Because Publisher will not be part of Microsoft 365 after October 2026, the only way to continue using Publisher itself is with a perpetual version installed on a PC; otherwise, files must be converted and future work moved to Word, PowerPoint, or other recommended apps.

References:

• Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026
• Publisher help
• Basic tasks in Publisher
• 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