How to keep Microsoft Publisher and continue opening .pub files after October 2026?

CA 294 Matthew T Anderson-Secretary 10 Reputation points
2026-06-26T00:29:15.78+00:00
  • Service: I have Microsoft Publisher
  • Scenario: It says it won't work after October 2026.
  • Result: I want to either keep utilizing Microsoft Publisher or have an improved alternative to Microsoft Publisher available.
  • Environment: I utilize Microsoft Publisher to create quarterly newsletters for the Air & Space Forces Association Chapter 294 "Pete" Knight.
  • Troubleshooting efforts: I need instructions on how to solve this scenario. It is as though I haven't a choice to keep utilizing that product that I have been utilizing for a very long time. Is there a replacement product?
  • Supporting materials: When I open Microsoft Publisher, it says it is quitting on or after October, and I don't understand why.
  • Give reproducible steps: When I open a .pub file, a notification arises at the top right of the screen telling me about October 2026. I have several .pub files. Will they continue to open?
Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | For business

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  1. Huy-K 13,990 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-06-26T00:59:02.6133333+00:00

    Dear @CA 294 Matthew T Anderson-Secretary,

    Thank you for sharing this, and I completely understand your concern. Since you have been using Microsoft Publisher for your quarterly newsletters for a long time, it is understandable that the retirement notice would be worrying.

    Microsoft has announced that Publisher will reach end of life after October 2026. If you are using Publisher through a Microsoft 365 subscription, Publisher will no longer be included, and you will no longer be able to open or edit .pub files in Publisher after that date. If you have a perpetual, one-time purchase version of Publisher, Microsoft indicates that it can still be installed and used after support ends, but it will no longer receive support. Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 | Microsoft Support

    To avoid losing access to important newsletter content, I recommend converting your existing .pub files before October 1, 2026. For newsletters that only need to be viewed or printed, save them as PDF. For newsletters that may need future editing, save them as PDF first, then open the PDF in Word to convert it into an editable Word document. Please note that complex layouts may not convert perfectly, especially newsletters with many graphics or design elements.

    For future newsletters, Microsoft recommends using Word as the replacement starting point. Word includes templates and layout tools suitable for newsletters, and final copies can be exported as PDF for sharing or printing.

    I hope the information shared helps point you in the right direction.

    As a moderator, I do not have the tools to investigate your specific account directly, as this is a support forum between users. Moderators and collaborators, including external Microsoft employees, may not directly intervene in the functionality of Microsoft products or access internal systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported problems, requests, or ideas. However, I will do my best to guide you as clearly as possible.

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