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How can I continue to use Microsoft Publisher after 10/1/26?

Juliana O'Connor 0 Reputation points
2026-04-09T02:33:55.79+00:00

Can I use Publisher after 10/1/26? I use it for my church's weekly bulletins.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | For home

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-04-09T02:34:08.18+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Publisher can be used with full functionality only until October 2026.

    Key dates and impact:

    • Until October 2026: Publisher continues to work as it does today.
    • October 1, 2026: Support for the perpetual version of Publisher ends when Office LTSC 2021 reaches end of support.
    • After October 2026: Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer have access to the Publisher application and will not be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher.

    That means Publisher cannot be relied on for ongoing weekly bulletin creation after that date. To prepare:

    1. Convert existing Publisher bulletins so they remain usable
      • Open each .pub file in Publisher.
      • Select File > Save As.
      • Choose a location.
      • Select PDF as the file type and Save.
      • For many files, use the documented PowerShell bulk conversion approach to convert .pub files to PDF automatically.
    2. Plan where to create future bulletins Recommended Microsoft 365 apps for typical Publisher scenarios include:
      • Ads or flyers, brochures, banners, signs, posters, cards: Word, PowerPoint, or Designer
      • Newsletters, programs, folded paper projects, church bulletins: Word (or PowerPoint, depending on layout needs)
    3. If editing past content is required after retirement
      • Convert the .pub file to PDF as above.
      • In Word: File > Open, select the PDF, then OK to convert it to an editable Word document. Layout may change, especially where many images are used.
      • Alternatively, consider a third‑party conversion tool to move .pub files to another editable format. Quality and support vary and are not provided by Microsoft.

    There is no supported way to continue using Publisher itself or opening .pub files in Publisher with Microsoft 365 after October 2026, so moving bulletins to Word, PowerPoint, or another tool before that date is required.

    References:

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