Microsoft Publisher Retired (October 2026): What Happens Now, .pub Files and Best Alternatives

Quick answer: Microsoft Publisher reached end of life in October 2026. Microsoft 365 users lost access to the app from 1 October 2026, and support for the last perpetual versions (Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021) ended on 13 October 2026. Your .pub files are not deleted, but a Microsoft 365 subscriber can no longer open them in Publisher.

What should you do? Convert important .pub files to PDF (to keep the exact look) and to Word (to keep editing), then move new work to Word or PowerPoint. If you no longer have Publisher, LibreOffice Draw (free) can open most .pub files and export them to PDF.

Last updated: 28 October 2026. Dates and steps are taken from Microsoft's official support page; see the sources at the end.

For more than 30 years, Microsoft Publisher was the go-to app for quick flyers, visiting cards, school newsletters, certificates, wedding cards and shop banners. In India especially, many small businesses, schools and DTP shops still keep years of work in .pub files.

That era is now over. Microsoft has retired Publisher, and the October 2026 deadline has passed. In this guide I explain, in simple language, exactly what changed, who is affected, what happens to your old files, how to convert them (one by one or in bulk), and which app to use instead for each type of document. If you manage PCs for a company, there is also an IT admin checklist.

Table of contents

1. What happened to Microsoft Publisher?
2. Key dates at a glance
3. Which versions are affected?
4. What happens to my .pub files?
5. How to convert .pub files to PDF and Word
6. Bulk convert many .pub files with PowerShell
7. Already lost Publisher? How to open .pub files now
8. Which app to use instead (by document type)
9. Best Microsoft Publisher alternatives compared
10. Checklist for IT admins
11. Why did Microsoft retire Publisher?
12. FAQ
13. Sources

What happened to Microsoft Publisher?

Microsoft announced the retirement in 2024 and said Publisher would reach end of life in October 2026. In practice, it means three things:

• No more Publisher in Microsoft 365. The app is no longer included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions (Personal, Family, Business or Enterprise). A removal update blocks access on or shortly after 1 October 2026.
• No new downloads. After October 2026, Publisher is no longer available to install or download.
• No more support for old versions. Perpetual (one-time purchase) versions stop getting security updates and technical help.

Microsoft's official advice is simple: convert your files and use Word or PowerPoint for the same kind of work.

Key dates at a glance

Date	What happened	Who it affects
2024	Microsoft announced Publisher's retirement. Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 were released without Publisher.	Everyone
1 October 2026	Publisher's functionality in Microsoft 365 ended. A removal update blocks the app on or shortly after this date.	Microsoft 365 subscribers
13 October 2026	Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 reached end of support, so the last supported perpetual Publisher lost security updates.	Perpetual licence users
After October 2026	Publisher can no longer be installed or downloaded.	New installs

Which versions are affected?

Microsoft's notice applies to Publisher for Microsoft 365, Publisher 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007 (including the developer editions). Here is what that means for you:

Your setup	Can you still open Publisher?	Security updates?	What to do
Microsoft 365 subscription	No, the app is removed or blocked	N/A	Convert files (see below) and move to Word/PowerPoint
Office 2021 / LTSC 2021 (one-time purchase)	Yes, it keeps working	No, after 13 Oct 2026	Use it only to convert old files, then stop using it
Office 2019, 2016, 2013 or older	Yes, if installed	No (already out of support)	Same as above; these are even riskier
Office 2024 / LTSC 2024	Publisher was never included	N/A	Use Word/PowerPoint or a third-party app

Important: an old copy that "still works" is not the same as a safe copy. Without security updates, opening a malicious .pub file received by email becomes a real risk. Keep any remaining copy only for converting your own files.

What happens to my .pub files?

Your files are not deleted. They stay on your PC, OneDrive or SharePoint exactly as before. The problem is opening them:

• Microsoft 365 users cannot open or edit .pub files in Publisher any more, and Word and PowerPoint cannot open .pub files directly.
• Perpetual licence users can still open and edit their files in their installed copy.
• Everyone can open many .pub files in free tools like LibreOffice Draw, but complex layouts may not look perfect.

Tip: to find all your Publisher files, search for .pub in File Explorer, OneDrive and SharePoint. On a PC, type *.pub in the File Explorer search box at the top level of your drive.

How to convert .pub files to PDF and Word

Microsoft recommends two formats, each for a different purpose:

• PDF: keeps the exact look (fonts, images, layout). Best for printing, sharing and archiving.
• Word (.docx): lets you keep editing. The layout may shift, especially in designs with many images or text boxes.

Method 1: Save a .pub file as PDF (needs Publisher)

1. Open the file in Publisher.
2. Go to File > Save As (or File > Export > Create PDF/XPS).
3. Choose PDF as the file type.
4. For printing, click Options and pick Commercial Press or High Quality Printing.
5. Click Save.

Method 2: Turn the PDF into an editable Word file

1. Open Word.
2. Go to File > Open and pick the PDF you created.
3. Word shows a message that it will convert the PDF into an editable document. Click OK.
4. Check the result carefully, fix any shifted text boxes or images, and save it as .docx.

Pro tip: keep both files. The PDF is your "master copy" of how the design looked; the Word file is the one you edit next time.

Other formats

Publisher's Save As also offers image formats (PNG, JPG, TIFF). Save a visiting card or poster as a high-resolution PNG if you want to reuse it in Canva, PowerPoint or on social media.

Bulk convert many .pub files with PowerShell

If you have hundreds of files (a school, a print shop or a company file share), converting them one by one is painful. Microsoft provides a sample PowerShell script called Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1, linked from its official support page, that exports many .pub files to PDF. It skips files that already have a PDF with the same name.

Requirement: the script drives Publisher in the background, so the PC must have a working, licensed copy of Publisher (for example Office 2021 or LTSC 2021).

Step 1: Find all .pub files and make a list

Run this in PowerShell to create a CSV inventory of every Publisher file under a folder:

Get-ChildItem -Path "D:\Data" -Recurse -Filter *.pub -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
  Select-Object FullName, @{n='SizeKB';e={[math]::Round($_.Length/1KB)}}, LastWriteTime |
  Export-Csv "$env:USERPROFILE\Desktop\pub-files.csv" -NoTypeInformation

Change D:\Data to your folder. Open the CSV in Excel to decide which files are worth converting.

Step 2: Convert them all to PDF (simple version)

This short script follows the same idea as Microsoft's sample: it opens each .pub file read-only and saves a PDF next to it. Test it on a copy of a few files first.

$folder = "D:\Data"
$pub = New-Object -ComObject Publisher.Application
Get-ChildItem -Path $folder -Recurse -Filter *.pub | ForEach-Object {
    $pdf = [System.IO.Path]::ChangeExtension($_.FullName, ".pdf")
    if (Test-Path $pdf) { "Skipped (PDF exists): $pdf"; return }
    try {
        $doc = $pub.Open($_.FullName, $true)   # open read-only
        $doc.ExportAsFixedFormat(2, $pdf)      # 2 = PDF
        $doc.Close()
        "Converted: $pdf"
    } catch {
        "FAILED: $($_.FullName)"
    }
}
$pub.Quit()

For a production run, use Microsoft's official script from the support page. Either way, spot-check a sample of PDFs before you archive or delete anything.

Already lost Publisher? How to open .pub files now

If you are a Microsoft 365 user and Publisher has already disappeared from your PC, you still have options:

1. LibreOffice Draw (free): install LibreOffice, open the .pub file in LibreOffice Draw, then use File > Export as PDF. Simple layouts usually come through well. Complex tables, WordArt and special effects may need fixing.
2. Ask someone with a perpetual licence: a colleague or a local DTP shop with Office 2021 can convert your files to PDF in minutes.
3. Third-party converters: some apps and websites convert .pub to PDF or Word. Quality varies, and Microsoft does not support them. Do not upload confidential files (salary slips, ID cards, client data) to unknown online converters.
4. Affinity: Microsoft's own support page mentions Affinity as a third-party option that may import native Publisher files. Test it with your own files before relying on it.

Which app to use instead (by document type)

Microsoft's official recommendation splits Publisher's work between Word and PowerPoint, which most people already have:

What you used to make in Publisher	Use this now	Why
Invoices, forms, applications, letterhead	Word	Text-heavy, needs tables and easy editing
Newsletters, school programmes, envelopes, labels	Word	Columns, mail merge and label templates are built in
Flyers, brochures, ads	Word or PowerPoint	PowerPoint is easier for free-form design
Visiting cards, certificates, greeting and wedding cards, calendars	Word or PowerPoint	Set a custom slide/page size and use templates
Banners, signs, posters	PowerPoint	Custom slide size up to large formats, drag-and-drop layout

PowerPoint tip: go to Design > Slide Size > Custom Slide Size and enter your print size (for example A4, or 3.5 x 2 inches for a visiting card). Then design on the slide like a canvas and export with File > Export > PDF.

Best Microsoft Publisher alternatives compared

If Word and PowerPoint feel limiting, these are the most popular replacements:

App	Price	Opens .pub?	Best for	Learning curve
Microsoft Word / PowerPoint	Included in Microsoft 365	No (convert first)	Most Publisher users, offices, schools	Easy
LibreOffice Draw	Free, open source	Yes (simple layouts best)	Opening and converting old .pub files	Easy to medium
Affinity (by Canva)	Free core app; paid extras	Check with your files	Professional print layouts, magazines	Medium
Canva	Free plan; Pro is paid	No	Social media posts, quick flyers, invitations	Very easy
Scribus	Free, open source	No	Serious desktop publishing on a budget	Hard
Adobe InDesign	Paid subscription	No	Print shops, agencies, books	Hard

My recommendation:

• Home users and small offices: Word and PowerPoint. You already pay for them.
• Old .pub archive with no Publisher: LibreOffice Draw to convert to PDF.
• Quick designs for WhatsApp, Instagram or events: Canva.
• DTP shops and designers: Affinity (free) or InDesign.

Checklist for IT admins

If you support users in a company, school or institute, use this checklist (it is exactly what I would do on a real helpdesk):

1. Inventory: run the PowerShell inventory above on file servers, and ask users to search OneDrive and SharePoint for .pub. In SharePoint, a search for filetype:pub helps.
2. Keep one conversion machine: keep a single isolated PC (or VM) with a licensed Office 2021/LTSC 2021 Publisher just for bulk conversion, then retire it.
3. Convert business-critical files: forms, letterheads, certificate templates and brochures first. Save a PDF master and a Word working copy.
4. Remove Publisher from user PCs: unsupported software is a security finding in audits (for example ISO 27001 or internal vulnerability scans). Uninstall it or exclude it in your Office deployment configuration.
5. Update templates: rebuild the company letterhead, ID-card and certificate templates in Word or PowerPoint and publish them as organisation templates.
6. Review attachments: since nobody should need .pub files any more, consider blocking or quarantining .pub attachments in your email filter.
7. Communicate: send users a short note: "Publisher is retired. Your files are safe. Here is how to convert them, and here is the new template location."
8. Update documentation: remove Publisher from your standard software list, golden image and user onboarding guides.

Why did Microsoft retire Publisher?

Microsoft has not given a long explanation, but the reasons are fairly clear:

• Word and PowerPoint caught up. Both now handle templates, images, custom page sizes and PDF export well enough for most Publisher tasks.
• Publisher was Windows-only and never got a proper web or Mac version, while the rest of Microsoft 365 moved to the cloud and the browser.
• Design moved online. Tools like Canva and Microsoft's own Designer made quick design work easier for everyday users.
• Less to maintain and secure. Retiring an older, less-used app reduces the security surface Microsoft must patch.

FAQ

Is Microsoft Publisher discontinued?

Yes. Microsoft Publisher reached end of life in October 2026. It is no longer included in Microsoft 365 and can no longer be downloaded or installed.

When exactly did Microsoft Publisher stop working?

For Microsoft 365 subscribers, access was blocked on or shortly after 1 October 2026 through a removal update. Perpetual versions (Office 2021 / LTSC 2021) lost support on 13 October 2026 but keep running.

Will my .pub files be deleted?

No. Your files remain on your PC, OneDrive or SharePoint. You just cannot open them in Publisher through Microsoft 365 any more.

Can I still use Publisher 2021 or 2019 that I bought?

Yes, a perpetual copy continues to run and can open your files. However, it no longer gets security updates, so use it only to convert your files and avoid opening .pub files from unknown senders.

Can Word open .pub files?

No. Word cannot open .pub files directly. Convert the file to PDF first, then open the PDF in Word to get an editable document.

How do I open a .pub file without Publisher?

Install the free LibreOffice suite and open the file in LibreOffice Draw. From there, export it to PDF. Complex designs may need small fixes.

What is the best free alternative to Microsoft Publisher?

For most people, Word and PowerPoint (if you already have Microsoft 365). For a completely free option, LibreOffice Draw for simple layouts, Canva for quick designs and Affinity for professional print work.

Is Publisher included in Office 2024?

No. Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 were released without Publisher.

Can I bulk convert .pub files to PDF?

Yes. Microsoft provides a sample PowerShell script (Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1) on its support page. It needs a PC with a licensed Publisher installed.

Is it safe to keep using an unsupported version of Publisher?

It is not recommended. Unsupported software does not get security fixes, and attackers often target old file formats. In a company, unsupported software can also become an audit finding.

Final words

Publisher's retirement is not a disaster, but it does need a little planning. Find your .pub files, convert the important ones to PDF and Word, and move new work to Word, PowerPoint or a free alternative. Do it now while you (or someone near you) can still open the files cleanly.

Looking for more Microsoft 365 help? Browse our Microsoft 365 guides and Windows guides.

Sources

• Microsoft Support: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026: official dates, affected versions, conversion steps, bulk-conversion script and recommended Word/PowerPoint replacements.
• Petri: Microsoft Publisher retirement announcement: coverage of the original 2024 announcement.
• Computerworld: Microsoft Publisher alternatives: LibreOffice Draw .pub import, Affinity, Scribus and conversion options.
• CyberShack: Microsoft Publisher support ends, free alternatives: LibreOffice, Affinity and Canva compared.

Techyami is not affiliated with Microsoft. Product names are trademarks of their owners. Always test conversions on copies of your files before deleting anything.