Microsoft Publisher is shutting down: what to do with your .pub files

Microsoft is retiring Publisher in October 2026. If you have Publisher files, here is what is changing and how to protect them.

What is changing

• Publisher is removed from Microsoft 365 on October 1, 2026. After that you can no longer open or edit .pub files in Publisher through a Microsoft 365 subscription.
• Support for the one-time-purchase Publisher 2021 ends on October 13, 2026. It keeps working if you already installed it, but it no longer gets updates or help.
• Microsoft recommends converting your files to PDF or Word before the deadline.

Source: Microsoft Support: Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026.

A simple checklist

1. Find your files. Search your computer, Google Drive, OneDrive and old USB drives for files ending in .pub.
2. Save PDFs of everything you may still need. Use the PubToPDF converter to do many at once. It works without Publisher, so it also helps if you no longer have the program.
3. Decide what needs editing. If a design has to keep changing, rebuild it in Word, PowerPoint or Canva, or open it in the free LibreOffice program.
4. Keep the originals. Do not delete the .pub files. They are still your source files.

Where to rebuild your designs

• Microsoft Word or PowerPoint: good for flyers, newsletters and simple layouts.
• Canva: easy, template-based design in the browser.
• Affinity Publisher, Adobe InDesign or Scribus: for professional page layout.
• LibreOffice Draw: free, and it can open .pub files directly.

What about schools, churches and small businesses?

Organizations often have years of newsletters, forms and flyers saved as .pub files. Converting them to PDF now means they stay readable on any device, including Chromebooks and Macs, long after Publisher is gone.