Microsoft Publisher - others have ask about this but there is no visible answer from Microsoft

Tom Barnes 5 Reputation points
2026-10-01T01:57:51.4566667+00:00

Microsoft Publisher - others have ask about this but there is no visible answer from Microsoft

**Can you use the Publisher program from Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows **alongside of Microsoft 365.
I have used Publisher for over 25 years and have many files. Your conversion options do not work well at all and your recommended programs for future file creation do not compare to Publisher.

Please respond to my compatibility question.

A very disappointed long-term Microsoft user,

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | For home
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  1. EmilyS_726 30,360 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-01T02:26:35.6666667+00:00

    Hello

    No, unfortunately they cannot run side-by-side because they are both using click-to-run installation technology.

    It cannot run on separate user profile either because such installation is on system level.

    I am sorry, wish I had better news, but I think you want a clear/honest answer.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-01T01:58:02.1+00:00

    No supported side-by-side configuration is documented for using Microsoft 365 Apps and Office 2021 on the same Windows device when they include overlapping apps such as Publisher, Word, Excel, or Outlook.

    The supported guidance in the available Microsoft Q&A content is:

    1. Microsoft 365 Publisher ends for subscribers after October 1, 2026. After that date, Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher.
    2. A perpetual version of Publisher, such as the one included with Office Professional 2021, can continue to run locally after 2026, but support for that perpetual version ends in October 2026.
    3. Running Microsoft 365 Apps and Office 2021 together on the same device is not considered a supported setup when the installations overlap. Reported issues include activation conflicts, shared installation behavior, or one version overriding the other.
    4. The most reliable approach is to keep them separate, such as:
      • Microsoft 365 on the primary device for current Microsoft 365 apps and services
      • Office 2021 with Publisher in a separate environment, such as a second PC or virtual machine

    If checking an existing Office 2021 installation, the documented way to confirm what is activated is:

    1. Open Publisher or another Office app.
    2. Go to File > Account > Product Information.
    3. Verify whether it shows Office Professional 2021 or Office Professional Plus 2021 under the activated product.

    That confirms which product is activated, but it does not change the side-by-side support limitation.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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