Need help replacing Ppblisher

Search for your .pub files on the PC, OneDrive, and SharePoint; because Publisher has now been removed from Microsoft 365, opening and converting them requires a perpetual copy of Publisher or a third-party tool. ^1^

1. Find your Publisher documents

Search for *.pub in each place where you may have saved them:

• Windows: Open File Explorer, select This PC, and enter *.pub in the search box.
• OneDrive: Sign in to OneDrive and search for .pub.
• SharePoint: Search each document library where the files may have been stored.
• Also check external drives, backups, email attachments, and the Recycle Bin.

Microsoft specifically recommends searching the PC, OneDrive, and SharePoint for .pub files.^1^

If the documents were deleted or were stored under an old work or school account, locating them does not restore account access. The account owner or organization’s Microsoft 365 administrator would need to recover or provide the files.

2. Regain usable access

Which option works depends on the Publisher license available:

• Microsoft 365 Publisher: Publisher is no longer available for installation or download after October 2026, and Microsoft 365 subscribers can no longer open or edit .pub files in Publisher.
• Perpetual Publisher: A separately purchased perpetual version can still be installed and used, although support ended in October 2026.^1^

If you or someone you trust has a working perpetual installation:

1. Open each .pub file in Publisher.
2. Select File → Save As and save a copy as PDF.
3. Keep the original .pub file as an archive.
4. To edit the converted copy, open Word → File → Open, select the PDF, and choose OK.

Word converts the PDF into an editable Word document, but graphic-heavy layouts may shift and require reformatting.^1^

For a higher-quality PDF intended for printing, Publisher also provides File → Export → Create PDF/XPS Document → Create PDF/XPS, with output choices including Standard, High Quality Printing, and Commercial Press.^2^

If no perpetual Publisher installation is available, Microsoft does not provide a current standalone Publisher viewer. A third-party converter may be able to import .pub files, but conversion quality varies and Microsoft does not support those tools. Work on copies rather than your only original files.

3. Choose the replacement program

There is no single Microsoft application that directly replaces Publisher or natively takes over every .pub workflow. Microsoft recommends:

These applications do not directly preserve every Publisher layout. Convert the file first, then expect to rebuild or adjust complex page designs.^1^

References

1. Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 | Microsoft Support
2. Save As or convert a publication to .pdf or .xps using Publisher | Microsoft Support