How to open a .pub file on a Mac

Microsoft never made Publisher for Mac, so double-clicking a .pub file does not work. You have a few free options.

Option 1: Convert it to PDF in your browser

1. Open the PubToPDF converter in Safari or Chrome.
2. Drop your .pub file onto the page.
3. Download the PDF. It opens in Preview like any other PDF.

Nothing is uploaded. The conversion runs on your Mac.

Option 2: Use LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a free program that can open .pub files. Install it, then choose File, then Open, and pick your .pub file. It opens in LibreOffice Draw, where you can look at it, edit it a little, and export it as a PDF. Some designs will not look identical to the original.

Option 3: Ask for a PDF

If someone sent you the file, ask them to open it in Publisher and choose File, then Save As, then PDF. That is the most exact copy you can get.

Why not Pages or Preview?

Apple's Pages and Preview do not understand the Publisher file format, so they cannot open .pub files.